While searching for something or other a couple days ago, I ran across these vintage menus, which I found to be very interesting. Most of these date from the early 1900's to 1949. It's interesting to see the name of the items for some of the food, and the simplicity of some others in the verbiage, compared to menu these days. Check out the prices on the Plaza Hotel's menu. And this was years ago!!!
Where can one eat for these prices today, let alone a whole Thanksgiving meal!!!!
Cigarettes???
What the hell the frozen Tom and Jerry?
that last menu... the BUTTOLPH collection? WTH?????
ReplyDeletehave a great holiday, mistress! don't eat anything I wouldn't eat!
please, if there is a bird, he'll he eat.
DeleteMiss Frank E. Buttolph stamped nearly every menu she collected for the New York Public Library, hence the Buttolph Collection, twenty-three years worth, amounting to roughly 25,000 menus under her tenure alone.Her most notable collection, her menu collection, began on January 1, 1900.Her principal method of acquisition was to write to every restaurant she could think of, soliciting menus. When letters failed, she often marched into a restaurant and pleaded her case in person.
Deletewhoa, that's interesting history! just thought BUTTolph was a funny name...
DeleteNow this is an interesting post. Fun to see the different menus. I haven't seen Turtle soup on a menu in YEARS! I think I just dated myself. The Plaza certainly had a array of game birds to offer.
ReplyDeleteinteresting!! stay warm and cozy and enjoy thanksgiving! xoxoxox
ReplyDeleteINteresting that some of them didn't list prices... Is that, perhaps, where we got the adage, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."?
ReplyDeleteApparently there weren't too many partridges singing back then.
ReplyDeleteWow, the one is dated to back to 1899 at the Plaza! To rich for my blood even then. I see Roasted Beef with Yorkshire Pudding also. I think to me Christmas menu.
ReplyDeleteI like a roast beef with yorkshire pudding...you don't see THAT on the menu these days.
DeleteLove roast beef and yorkshire pudding...and we've got a restaurant here in town with that as the main item of their menu. $$$$
DeleteThese menus remind me, have I ever told you about my giblets story?
ReplyDeleteno, but our sources say it may be an x-rated story.
DeleteI see the Plaza once offered Woodcock. I wonder if it's like that kind I get these days? Pretty cool to see these.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post! I love old stuff! I've never seen so many different types of grapes listed on a menu before...lol. And, it's comforting to know that prices may change but it's still pretty much the same. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting thanksgiving post. I wondered about these too, till I read your comment above. And reading these menus, boy how times have changed. Nothing seems formal.
ReplyDeletePhiladelphia Squab and Champagne Jelly?!?! Cigarettes? Are you trying to seduce me? Pretty cool to see.
ReplyDeleteThe hothouse chicken (first menu) sounds intriguing........(*smile*)
ReplyDeleteFascinating stuff.
All these selections and no buttered buns?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me I once read an article about these menus and the lady who collected them. She took it very seriously. It was a interesting read. Back then menus even had artwork.
ReplyDeleteI want to be alive in a 100 years to find out what people will be saying about what we eat for Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteFrozen Tom and Jerry? My dad makes a holiday drink called the Tom and Jerry with milk and spices and lotsa booze. It's usually served warm, though I imagine you can add ice, or ice cream, and blend to make it frozen.
$25 for waffles? Leggo my Eggo!
ReplyDeleteLooking at these menus is making me very hungry.
ReplyDeleteWhich menu did you end up serving?
ReplyDelete