Clik here to view.
African-American tea rooms
When I wrote my book about the history of tea rooms, Tea at the Blue Lantern Inn, I knew very little about tea rooms run by and for African-Americans. There were few historical sources available on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Anatomy of a restaurateur: Anna de Naucaze
In 1908 two women adventurers opened The Rose Tree Inn, a tea room in a 200-year old house in Northampton, Massachusetts. Both called themselves “Madame” and claimed to be related to European nobility...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Famous in its day: Miss Hulling’s Cafeteria
In 1978 two of the nation’s top grossing independent restaurants were New York’s Tavern on the Green and Mama Leone’s, according to Restaurant Hospitality magazine. At the first, guest checks averaged...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Find of the day: Mrs. K’s Toll House Tavern
Over the weekend, at a vintage paper and postcard show in Boxborough MA, I found a charming diecut menu from a restaurant in Silver Spring MD. Established in 1930 by Olive and Harvey Kreuzburg, the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finds of the day: two taverns
Steuben Taverns Two small finds on a cold, rainy day at the Brimfield flea market. Both are from the 1930s, both are taverns, and both conjure up bygone days. But beyond that, the two – one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Anatomy of a restaurateur: Ruby Foo
Is any proof needed that restaurants are show business to a high degree – given that they are enveloped in mystique made up of names, signs, logos, lighting, decor, artistically arranged food, and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Holiday greetings from 11th Heaven
A while back I found two small Christmas cards from the 11th Heaven Tea Room, run by Ella Roberts. The name was evidently inspired by the tea room’s location on the 11th floor of the Browning...
View Article
