The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-16
THE BACHELORS OF ALBANY.
How the Men About Town Live Who
Never Have the Service of a Woman.
Dishes Prepared for the Dedication of the
''Stags'-Boiled Sardines, and Delicacies
Which No Feminine Cook Can Attain.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK. May I5.-Persons who know this
country like book assert that there is no place
in it wherein bachelor entertaining has reached
such perfection DIS in Albany. Unlike other
capitals, 1t abounds in elegantly furnished lodg-
inghouses. where legislators and others who
spend their winter there hire apartments whence
they go or send three more times day for
meals at the hotels, restaurants private estab-
lishments where meals are paid for by the week
AS the men who live in this way are mainly poll
ticians, and as many are rich men from the large
cities of the State the custom of keeping edibles
on hand for company, and for themselves in in
clement weather, has developed to point that is
remarkable Men like William W. Aston, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, James w. Hustled, Wal
ter Howe. W. s. Andrews, Warner Miller
John Morrlssey, Samuel j. Tilden and
others of wealth and experience all given to
entertaining, and either bachelors in fact. or
living as bachelors, have led the way 10 this un-
common hospitality. and each ones specialties
have been merged into the general fund of
knowledge until it has grown to be an art as
well as a science. All men more or less
fond of "stag parties" as these gatherings are
called to which women are invited Men who
have no homes in the large cities enjoy these
masculine meetings at the clubs, or at the mod
ern restaurants, but this would not do for the
bachelors of Albany, for they meet either to talk
politics, to drink or to chuck the tiger at
hearts" or poker In either case
in fact, in all cases, great
deal of drinking is done at these
gatherings; and as they last far past midnight,
hunger must be considered. :. AS there is no food
to be had in the usual way in these lodging
houses, the problem how to supply the deficiency
has to be studied. Men who drink heavily soon
learn that the effects of alcohol diminishes when
food is partaken of; so that whenever politician
is found with closet or cellar of liquors, there
is also found supply of edibles.
The list of good things that have in this man.
ner come into use at Albany among these bache
lor entertainers, and the number of delicious
dishes that can be prepared by persons who do
not pretend to know anything more in the art of
cooking, would surprise one who made study of
the subject Information will prove valua
BILE to the thousands of men of social
instincts who keep bachelor quarters
outside of Albany, and who are often puzzled by
the necessity of entertaining callers. Of course,
whatever culinary art is thus exercised must be
carried out with no better cooking machinery
than an open CRATE, or an ordinary parlor-stove.
and without many pots, pans dishes or other
kitchen dining room utensils. Even II the
bachelor has valet, or male servant by any
other name, it would not be likely that, in this
era of labor REFORM such domestic would sub
NIT to the humiliation of having to care for
much china or tnware. A butler or groom will
open wine bottles till his arm aches and never
grumble but he will resign If he has servant girls
work TO perform. The consequence is that in
those Albany houses whore no woman is ever
allowed to put her foot-and there are not few
such ores-the host uses so few kitchen traps
that, if he has to care for them himself, or if
his man servant has to do so, there is little room
for protest.
One of the most appetzing of the dishes that
often runs across at poker or political parties
there is broiled sardines They are delicious, and
consort with claret. sauterne, Rhine wine. malt
liquors, or whisky; in fact, they palat
able with all except sweet drinks. The bachelor
who offers them has two wire boilers. In one
he puts some slices of bread to be toasted and in
the other many sardines as he can get be-
tween the sheets of wire. If he has crate FIRE
he toasts the bread and broils the little fishes
simultaneously. If he has parlor stove he
broils the fishes first and makes the toast last,
as the fishes will keep a few minutes with less
damage to themselves than the toast will The
toast is then buttered and cut into fingers. and
one sardne. broiled dry of oil. is put on each
finger of toast
Similar is the method of serving beefsteak, and
very tasty and welcome to a man who is drink
ing is this apparently commonplace dish found.
1t sounds as If it was ordinary thing but it is
not In order to serve it to his guests the bach
elor must 60 to his butcher about a week before
he wants the meat, and order the tenderest
steak put into the refrigerator until he sends
for it, or he can take it home and put it in his
own ice-box, but it must be cold and alright
one, or the meat will spoil At the end of
week. at the least four days, the beef will be
found in good condition. 1t is then put into
broiler with its upper side covered an inch
deep with butter, well sailed and pep
pered. When the meat is to be
turned, the other side must be similarly
buttered. Experienced men say that women
cooks are no good as a rule, and the reason is
that they are too economical. However that
may be, few women would put as much butter
on beefsteak as this method of cooking re-
qures. While the steak is brolipg the bach
elor in the presence of his guests, perhaps, cuts
up some nice, new bread into strips three inches
long and half An inch thick Afterwards he
cuts the steak in the same way, and hands each
guest bit of bread and steak together, to be
eaten from the fingers. 1t will be found unlike
any steak to be had at hotel or restaurant. 1t
will melt on the tongue, and it's delicacy and
SAVIOR will touch the heart even of an Indian.
For a change, mutton kidneys, broiled in the
same way, and served on little pieces of bread
are very popular this year at the best bachelor
apartments in Albany. Whole kidneys are used,
and when cooked a piece of butter is put in the
center. For those who like to devil" them, red
and black pepper, mixed, is handed around.
Salt is necessary. These two dishes. kidneys
and steak GO we'll with most wines, with ale and
beer, and with all distilled liquors. Some bach
elors serve them with champagne, but the mix
ture is not highly commended. Champagne
will spoil almost any ordinary dish if much of it
has been drunk before eating.
One legislator serves balls and they
much praised and sought after; but they hardly
deserve to be mentioned here, for he has to have
them made at restaurant and sent to him,
while all he does is to cook them in a frying pan
when the time comes. The fish ball is mixture,
half and half, of mashed Irish potato and dessi-
Gated Goldfish, with little salt and pepper for
SAVIOR, and butter for frying and for making
nice brown crust.
A great delicacy introduced at Albany this
year is Edam cheese and wine. The usual Edam