OLD DIARIES, THE INTERNET, CHILLED WATERMELON CUPS AND LUXURO CHOCOLATE

Old diaries and the internet - it's like peanut butter and jelly!

Reading through THE RED LEATHER DIARIES, I yearned for even more visual input than the numerous (but limited) photographs in the edition that hearkened back to the Manhattan of yore.

Oddly enough, I found solace in an ETSY commerce account - an individual seller who was offering wonderful old SCHRAFFT'S menus from the 1940's (some years after those described in the book, but still, evoking much of the same era.) Here are a few:

Ah ... when was the last time you ordered a Frankfurter Roll? Tomato Aspic, or Deviled Ham? The words and foods themselves seemed to have silently slipped away. And a celery and egg sandwich? My expert friends tell me that is simply egg salad today (I had to find out.)

Others noted the disarming lack of salesmanship in these menus - 'Cold Roast Veal Sandwich' - appealing? It just doesn't grab you by the taste buds, now does it?

I can't help but notice how much more FRUIT was involved in desserts back then - Rhubarb (with a typo), Cherry Pie, Chilled Half Grapefruit - even Calimyrna Figs! Of course, I would have opted for the Napoleon or Ice Cream Eclair, because, after all, those are REAL desserts (and close to extinct on lists today.) Still, I can't help but be tempted by a pineapple that is both fresh and supreme.

This is a list that makes me burst out in poetry. Or should. I am thinking it's the Fresh Blueberry Queen Cakes. How about you?  It's the middle of winter, but I would still adore a Chilled Watermelon Cup. Those words belong together.

I have a friend who related a story of having lunch at Schrafft's as a kid, and she gave me yet another reason to love it. She was with her mother and her friends, and they asked for water refills on two occasions during the meal. After the second, the waitress said, "If I knew you ladies were going to be so thirsty, I would have brought over the hose!"

Ah, to return to the days of Cherry Marshmallow Sundaes, Luxuro Chocolate and sassy waitresses!

endnote: I tried to order these menus from the proprietor, but they were sold old. They did offer a 19598 dinner menu, and so I snatched that up. I will share it with you when it arrives...