Evening star., 1943-04-05
Hotel Diners
Forego Meat;
Few Complain
First MeotIess Day
Taken Cheerfu|Iy
By Most Potrons

Oy SVSVSl OlIOUS
Hotel patrons in Washington yes
terday munched their first meatless
meals with only few complaints,
giving rise to belief the plan for
two such days weekly will be an un-
qualified success.
Headwaiters reported business as
brisk as usual, with diners taking
their fish. fowl and game substitutes
for red meat with good grace. Nor
do they anticipate serious complaints
Wednesday, the second day of the
experiment.
A soldier and his girl who wanted
beefsteak badly. a few Army officers
with similar tastes. and a couple of
civilians who objected to a divorce
between long welded ham and eggs,
evidently were the only disappointed
customers. But suave major domos
Of the dining rooms assuaged their
wounded feelings and they departed
smiling and we'll fed.
Restaurant Trade Unaffected,
Several large restaurants in the
downtown area. which might have
benefited by additional trade from
hotel diners as they continued to
serve meat courses. noticed no un-
usual increase in business. A pop
ular E street establishment was filled
10 minutes after opening at 3 o'clock,
but the manager attributed it to the
usual cherry blossom crowd.
Another place. half block away.
had guests standing and awaiting
tables half hour after opening
but said that was a normal condi-
ton. Restaurants featuring sea food
were crowded, but not with people
clamoring for steaks. None of these
places expected to be stampeded by
hotel patrons refusing to accept a
substitute for meat.
Most menus featured roast turkey
broiled spring chicken, broiled shad
roe, egg omelette with fresh mush-
rooms or creamed shrimp. roast
duckling, capon, breast of guinea
hen. partridge and lobster. Spa
ghettl. macaroni and cheese dishes
also were plentiful. along with a
variety OF fish. The identity of
eggs was carefully hidden under
heavy, tempting sauces and behind
alluring titles.
Compromise on Chicken.
James Cone, captain of walters
at the Hamilton. said the soldier
and his girl who wanted steaks were
plainly chagrined, but compromised
on fried chicken, Maryland STYLE.
The Hamilton's Alexander room was
comfortably filed" throughout the
day.
John" of the new statler's EN-
bassy room, had to explain the
meatless days plan to several Army
omcers who demanded an explana-
ton why they could not be served
steaks. They cheerfully accepted a
substitute. John" said you MIGHT
call the Statler's business ''terrific.
far above usual, with 50 or so people
awaiting tables around 3 o'clock.
The Mayhower's head waiter. too
busy to talk, said, Everybody hap
py. No meat-no kicks" and dashed
Oh to direct safari of trav-bearers
winding through roomful of
diners.
The Wizards main dining room
IS closed on Sunday, but Mrs. Clara
Wlnneld, manager of the coffee
snop, said patrons 'on the whole
were very agreeable" about the meat
situation. One party of three left
without being served when unable
to obtain steaks.
More Concerned About Coffee.
The coffee demi-tasse gets un-
der their skins more than anything
else Mrs. Winfield reported. re-
ferring to rationing of that bever-
age. She said the coffee shop a
few days ago had limited meat at
breakfast to only one variety daily,
and the public made no complaint.
Gay Long. Shoreham captain. said
few men found it hard to digest
their breakfast eggs without the
time-honored ham. but accepted
meatless Sunday good ma turedly.
There was no sign of grumbling or
| discomfort.
The Washington Hotel was an
other reporting an upswing in busi-
ness. Frank Jowett. captain there,
said Sunday was the best dav for
hotels to try the experiment and
that the menu would be sufficiently
diversified for the average diner.
Its really a beefless and not a
meatless day. he said, pointing to
mouth-watering list of fowl listed
among the entrees.
Arthur Marchisio. maitre de hotel
at the Raleigh, found the public
willing to forego meat. A few per-
sons absent-mindedly ordered steaks
but readily changed when reminded
OF the ban. The Raleigh's menu
listed three meatless days instead of
two agreed upon by the hotels, in
cluding Friday on the list.
Public Co-operates.
Mr.. Marchisio explained it al
ready was an "unofncial" meatless
day for thousands of church people
especially those observing the Lenten
fast.
Adolph Klein. captain of the Am
oassador Hotels walters. said affairs
were going "swimmingy" but it
sometimes was necessary to "kid 'em
along" when they complained about
the lack of meat. Most patrons, he
found, responded more readily to
cheerful explanations than matter
of-fact statements,
The Ambassador last week elimi-
mated double-decker sandwiches
containing two kinds of rationed
foods. such as ham and cheese. Thus
lar there have been no complaints.
Reconstruction Planned