Tag Archives: 19th century
Confectionery restaurants
A little-recognized restaurant type that has had considerable influence historically was the restaurant that grew out of or was associated with a confectionery business. The closest this type of eating place came to public acknowledgment was in the 1920s when … Continue reading
Filed under food, history, restaurants
Romantic dinners
No respectable person in the 19th century would have dreamed of even mentioning such a thing as a romantic dinner in a restaurant. The whole topic of “romance” and restaurants was scandalous. Basically it implied a man having sex – … Continue reading
Filed under history, restaurants
Variations on the word restaurant
It wasn’t until about 1850 that the word restaurant became common in the United States. Before that there were a variety of related words which can be seen developing into the present-day usage. The first, in this country, was restorator, … Continue reading
Filed under food, history, restaurants
Basic fare: French fries
I suspect that in the 19th century more Americans ate French fried potatoes at home than in restaurants. Boiled, baked, and mashed potatoes were more common on restaurant menus than fried potatoes of any sort. However there were probably a … Continue reading
Filed under food, history, restaurants
Linens and things — part I
I hadn’t thought about this until I started to write this post but now I realize that I’m picky about restaurant napkins. I abhor polyester and am sort of iffy about colors. My favorite fold is a compact, squarish one … Continue reading
Filed under history, restaurants
High-volume restaurants: Smith & McNell’s
All things considered, the best restaurants that this country has produced probably have been unpretentious, inexpensive, high-volume eateries located close to sources of fresh food. In 19th-century New York City’s Smith & McNell’s, across from the booming Washington Market, was … Continue reading
Filed under food, history, restaurants
We eat in restaurants several times a week and yet know very little about their history. I plan to dip into my archive of research and images every so often to present a little tidbit that highlights aspects of our American restaurant culture. Let me know your thoughts.
