NYHS menus (continued)

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     More treasures from the New York Historical Society's menu collection.

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CLUB SANDWICH (continued)

_club sandwich._  (...) A letter to _The New York Times_ (March 9, 1983)
cited an explanation of the sandwich's origins in a book entitled _New York,
a Guide to the Empire State_ (1962): "In 1894 Richard Canfield (1865-1914),
the debonaire patron of art, purchased the Saratoga Club (in Saratoga, New
York) to make it a casino.  Canfield Solitaire originated in the casino's
gambling rooms and the club sandwich in its kitchens."
--John Mariani, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN FOOD & DRINK (1999).

     If it's in The New York Times, it must be true!
     The earliest "club sandwich" date I had found previously was 1896.
     I went back to the NY Historical Society and looked at menus from 1889,
1890, 1896 and 1897.

KINSLEY'S (Chicago?), menu 1889-1B
Sandwiches--Club

STILLSON'S (NY), 1890 (no NYHS number--ed.)
Sandwiches--Club House

LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD AND CONNECTIONS (PA), menu 1890-14D
Club Sandwich, Double 50 cents, single 30 cents

THE WINDSOR (NY), 1 October 1896, menu 1896-11A
Club Sandwiches
(The NYPL menu collection also had this establishment--ed.)

WALDORF-ASTORIA TEA ROOM (NY), menu 1897-12C
Club Sandwiches
(The NYPL menu collection also had this establishment--ed.)

     None of the three 1889-1890 menus has a date on it.  All three dates are
handwritten in pencil.  Still--could all three be wrong?  Maybe "club
sandwich" came from the Lehigh Valley RR and its Club House car?
     How could the railroad charge 30 cents for a sandwich in 1890?  That's
outrageously expensive for 1890, but then it would be expensive for any year
in that decade.
     I'll have to check the NYPL menu collection for the years 1889-1891.
Unfortunately, the menus are from banquets at places like Delmonico's, where
club sandwiches are not likely to be on the menu.

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BAKED ALASKA (continued)

     NYHS menu 1889-2E (restaurant not indicated) has "Alaska" in its ice
cream section.
     The Stillson's menu (1890) has "Baked Alaska Pudding."
     Boldt's Restaurant, Bullitt Building, Fourth Street, Philadelphia, 30
July 1896 (no NYHS menu number) has "Baked Alaska."

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MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER (continued)

     Boldt's Restaurant, Bullitt Building, Fourth Street, Philadelphia, 30
July 1896 (no NYHS menu number), has "Clam Chowder, Manhattan Style."
     Faust, St. Louis, MO, 1896 (no NYHS menu number), has "Fulton Market
Clam Chowder."

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ANTOINE'S (NEW ORLEANS, 1889)

     Antoine's, 717 St. Louis Street, New Orleans, LA, is famous for "Oysters
Rockefeller" and other dishes.  This NYHS menu 1889-3A also has a handwritten
date.  It's in poor condition.  "Jules Alciatore, Proprietor" is on the menu,
so it perhaps can be dated from that.
     "Huitre en Coquille, Rockefellow" is offered, listed under "Try Our
Specialties."  Also there are "Toast Rotschild" and "Toste St. Antoine."
     "Cafe Creole" is offered.
     "Orange brulot a la Jules" is offered.

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GRAND UNION HOTEL WINE LIST (1895?)(continued)

     I rechecked this.  The only drink with a date is:

RYE
Old Kentucky, 1889, Very Fine.