The American Story in Menus, 1841–1941

The Grolier Club in New York (26 April–29 July) traces the development of the menu in the United States from the its earliest beginnings through to the Great Depression. Bringing together some 225 objects, the show explores how these ephemeral creations serve as invaluable records of changing tastes and social mores, proving beyond doubt that we are what we eat. Highlights include a menu from Palmer House in Chicago, which Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde frequented, proudly stating that the establishment is now ‘thoroughly fireproof’ after the restaurant famously burnt down in 1871. Other menus offer a window on the history of design, ranging from a highly decorative example produced for the Hasty Pudding Club at Harvard in 1852 to an art deco-style menu of 1938 for Steinberg’s Dairy Restaurant in New York. Find out more on the Grolier Club’s website.

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