Monday, January 23, 2012

Dinner In My Hometown (1896)


I just fond this remarkable dinner menu from an establishment (hotel? restaurant?) named The Arlington in my hometown of Binghamton New York dated from 1896.

Big hat tip to the New York Public Library which has digitized near 10,000 items from it's vast collection of menus going back to the early 19th century.  Just randomly glancing through them gives one a strange glimpse of the past from the perspective of what people ate and how dining out (or dining others in) was an often important social function.

4 comments:

  1. Wow, talk about a spread! Wish I could've been at that one! Unfortunately, most can't afford to eat that well anymore. "We're the nouveaux poor; the wolves are at the door..."

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  2. Love the fonts, especially the title header.

    Too bad they didn't print the prices. Would've been a lesson on inflation.

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  3. John, If you track down The Arlington, please publish the results of your search. Perhaps a new hotel trying to attract the business of traveling salesmen?

    I need to look up some of the sauces.

    Bill, tGf

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  4. Mmmm. Must have tasted good - what with all that organic, heirloom produce.

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