5k menus from the New York Public Library’s Buttolph Collection (1880-1920)
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The NYPL's Buttolph Collection of 5,000 menus from 1880-1920 documents the emergence of modern restaurant dining.
Frank E. Buttolph spent decades collecting menus for the New York Public Library's Buttolph Collection, dated 1880-1920. The archive captures the emergence of modern-day restaurant dining. The article asks what America's earliest restaurant menus teach about America.
What commenters are saying
Commenters noted that many old menus resemble modern ones, with dishes like tongue sandwiches and hot beef tea still found today. Some lamented the post-COVID shift from printed menus to QR codes in parts of Europe, while others disputed this trend. Oysters and celery were highlighted as once-common menu items, explained by historical abundance and nutrition. A smaller thread discussed German beer coaster culture and its legal implications for marking consumption and signaling when finished.