The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-31

A gentleman sends me "hlll Of
fare"-it was not then Il menu -
which one night in the spring of lSol
caused a party of New York "ricures
to fall down for the rest of thir lives
III worship at the shrine Of Philddel-
phia's greatness as "a palatc-tiCkier'
Fifteen Philadelphians had hnn en-
tertained i'm New York with the very
best that Charles DelmoniCu could
gather on his table. When they came
LONE they sent word back that they
would like to have their New YORK
friends try pot luck with them. There
were no special promises. no boasts,
and when the party went to the aim
ing-room of the once famous caterer.
Parkinson, after shaking off the dust
of the train. their expectations had in
no wise been excited. They WEI" told,
indeed, that Philadelphia habits were
simple and unostentatiUus, ana that
their hosts were sorry that they could
not do as much as they would like to
do. When the New Yorkera entered
the hall they were astOniShod at the
superbness of the table. 1t had been
decorated and embellisheC, as one OF
the New York survivors said long af-
terward, with designs and ornaments
and with such an array # tinC table
ware as threw their entertainment
completely in the shade. Probably. in
the great progress With prandial
taste has made in the beauty of ban
quets in recent years, the display
would not now be Consileed unusual
At least It does not APPEAR to be 50
from the description, AMI certaiilv ii
was the fashion i'm 1851 t. take more
pains that the table shOlld 'grOan'
than that it should be a thing of beau
ty. To the New Workers, however. ii
was a revelation of the art of a master
hand. But when they picked up the
pill of fare their astOnishmCnt turned
almost to paralysis. 1t was in the
month of April. and-forty-siX years
ago wonderful achieVtmcnt--therc
they found green peas and cauliilowers
end reed birds from Georgia and the
Carolinas. and Maine sa mon which
had been i'm the KennebeC the day be-
fore; there was Madeira which Joshua
Price had sent in bottles cncrustcd
with half an inch of cObwebS from the
cellar of his great t-grcat- at-Crandfather
in addition to cognaC at 50 pint. there
were fifteen kinds of win s, some of
them of the choicest vintage; ana be-
fore each of the thirty guests there
was a wine cooler ana behind each
chair a black waiter, in the full eVen-
ing party dress of the da.'.
THE MENU.
have caused transcript to he
made of the remarkable bill Of fare on
this occasion, because it is well worth
preserving as an illustration Of the
gastronomic manners and customs of
Philadelphia in the sos. l. is literally
as follows:
EMPIRE AND KEYSTONE.
(Coat-of-arms of the States of New York
and PennsylVanial
April 49, lS5l
BEFORE DINNER.
Cognac of 1921.
Wine bttcrs.
with
Madeira and sherry.
LA CARTE
FIRST COURSE
oysters:
Morris River cove on shep
Wines:
Sauterne. vintage of sic specially select
ed from the stock of Washington
Morton, at bordeaux.
SECOND COURsl
Soups
Green turtle.
Pottage "A la refine.
Wines:
Snifers Imperial cognac lin pint bottlesl.
THIRD COURSE.
Fish:
Fresh salmon, lobster sauce.
Baked Rock, a la Chambord,
Wines:
Extra Cabinet.
Steinberg-Nintage of 1884
Specially selected from the cellars of the
Duke of Nassau
FOURTH COURSE.
Boiled:
Turkey, celery and oyster sauce.
Chicken and egg sauce.
Beef tongues.
Wines:
ChRmpagne-Sparkli of Peuvrel IA
Avize.
Specially on table.
Medoc-lIaut Brion. 1871.
Burgundy-Cote rou. 1899.
FIFTH COURSE.
Cold dishes:
Galatinc de dindc la gelcc.
Salanda a la russo en- bordure de gniee,
Boeuf a la mode.
Salads de Volatile, Il la mode Angase.
JambOn decore.
Aspie des huitres.
Mayonnaise of lobster.
Aspic de volatile aux trutfes.
Wines:
Rare old cask.
Amontillade-Pale sherry.
Specially selected from the private stock
of Thomas Osborne, ESQ, of the
house of Duff, Gordon q Co.,
Port Andalusia, Spain.
SIXTH COURSE.
Entree No. /.
Fillet de boeuf aux champiEnone.
Ris de veau, sauce tomato.
Nol-au-Vent, a la finanCerS.
COtelecees de mOutOn.
Croquettes de volatile.
SEVENTH COURSE.
Entree No. >.
Pigeons Braisa, sauce, MadcTc.
Arcade de Volatile.
Fricasee de pOulets a la ChcValiCr.
Lamb chops, Milanaise,
Turtle steak.
Caltepash.
Wines:
Moet-Extra sparkling champagne,
Vintage lSi0-Sniders special importation
n A RwgA