Above, we have the menu for an 1899 ThanksÂgivÂing dinÂner at the Plaza Hotel in New York. If you were a turkey, you had it relÂaÂtiveÂly easy. But the ducks? Not so much. On the menu, you’ll find MalÂlard duck and RudÂdy duck. But also Red-head duck, Long Island duckÂling, Teal duck and CanÂvas-back duck, too. A duck in NYC was not a good place to be.
And, oh, those prices! Not one item above a dolÂlar. But let’s account for inflaÂtion, shall we? In 2021, one RedÂdiÂtor notÂed: “I found a calÂcuÂlaÂtor and it turns out that $.30 in 1899 equals $10.00 now. The Fried oysÂter crabs would be $24.99 now and a PhiladelÂphia chickÂen would be $66.65. So, the cheapÂest thing on the menu is Sweet butÂterÂmilk for $.10, but today would be $3.33.”
For our U.S. readÂers, enjoy your holÂiÂday tomorÂrow…
RelatÂed ConÂtent
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Read 900+ ThanksÂgivÂing Books Free at the InterÂnet Archive
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SevÂerÂal items above a dolÂlar, they just didÂn’t use decÂiÂmal points. The most expenÂsive item was the canÂvas back duck, at $3.50, folÂlowed by the roast PhiladelÂphia chickÂen at $2.00. A couÂple of othÂer dishÂes come in at $1.75. What a selecÂtion, though!
I was curiÂous about “reed-birds”. Found an artiÂcle, which I can’t seem to post here as a link withÂout runÂning afoul of your spamÂcatchÂer. It’s easÂiÂly found in a search: it’s at theamÂerÂiÂcanÂmenu dot com, called “The Reed Birds-of San FranÂcisÂco” ApparÂentÂly “reed birds” was a catch-all term for pretÂty much whatÂevÂer small birds were availÂable in abunÂdance.
This was very interÂestÂing I want to see more of this conÂtent thank you very much.
Agreed there are quite a few things that start at 3:50 and go down to a dolÂlar itself someÂbody didÂn’t read the actuÂal menu before they wrote the artiÂcle
Very interÂestÂing menu.
I enjoy readÂing about the way peoÂple
ate in the past. ConÂgratÂuÂlaÂtions to the chefs of that day. Keep artiÂcles like this one comÂing. You have an audiÂence for this!
And bananas cost the same today.
The author must feel like a retard. How ignoÂrant!
I love stuff like this. Keep them comÂing please