The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-08
DELMONICO'S.

From q Coffee Room to . World Famous
Restaurant.
Who has not heard of "~Delmonico's,"
Now York? No name is more familiar to
e%picures than Delmonico, and yet few peo-
pie know anything about the original Del
monicos, of whom there were three brothers
John, Lorenzo and Pierre. The real
founder of the name was John, the young
eat and most energetic of the three, says a
Saratoga correspondent of the Troy Times.
He was the first who came to New York and
he sent out for the other wo. John orig
inally began his career as a trader betwpen
money and went to New York, dreaming,
probably, rs little of his future success as
did A, Il. Stewart when he first landed from
Ireland.
John started n little bakery and did fairly
well-so we'll that he thought that with the
he wrote to his elder brothers to come over
the Atlantic. This was quite a venture
some journey. especially for two Swiss
peasant lads, for such they were. But they
had faith in John, in fortune and in each
other, SO over they came-by sail ship of
course.
The first Delmonico building was a COM
bined bakery, bar, coffee room and restau-
rant. The bakery was run upon the pom
honor plan recently adopted at some lunch
counters in New York-that is, no watch
was kept on customers. who helped them
selves to pies, tarts, %turnovers and cakes.
and their word was taken as to the mount
they consumed. The coffee was always
good and the meals we'll cooked and served,
and the prices were reasonable. A cup of
fresh coffee and some delicious rolls and
butter could be had for a shilling. and a
dinner. with wine, could be enjoyed, with
fine service. for a dollar-fully equal to a
So Delmonico dinner now. A good Havana
cigar cost but four ~cents-such as costs 20
cents to-day.
The house of Delmonico prospered from
the first. and by and by Il second generation
came on the carpet and took part in the
thriving concern. John, the founder of
the house, took life easily toward the end,
doing the marketing only, while his BROTH
ers played dominoes and smoked cigar
cites. None Of the Delmonicos, either the
been educated men. The original belmont
cos were decidedly uncultured. They
spoke, in the latter part Of their lives, three
languaQes-English, French and Italian
but all three imperfectly. Nor were any of
the Delmonlcos good business men, in the
American sense Of that term. This may
seems strange. considering their success,
but it is a fact. Mono of them were keen
or shrewd. None of them drove bargains.
They attended strictly to one line of du-
ties, treated everybody well, sold good arti-
cles and SO got rich, and their fame as res
taursteurs filled not only New York, not
only America. but Europe. II is not gener-
ally known, but old timers will still remem-
Der that the Delmonicos once kept a sum-
mer garden in what is now East New York.
Attached to this garden was q vegetable
and dairy farm, which was free to the guests
pleasant privilege in warm weather.
There were various attractions, such as a
band of music n a ten-pin alley. There
was also an open space for target shooting
and for athletic games-these wore the
happy days before base ball. This Del
monico summer garden was a great resort
for all the foreign residents in New York,
particularly on Sundays, when all the Ger
man, French. Italian and Spanish notables
could be seen there enjoying themselves.