Beim Blättern in meinem neu erworbenen Exemplar von Wards Grocer’s Encyclopedia stieß ich auf ein faszinierendes Relikt: eingelegt war die Speisekarte von Spreckels Rotisserie aus San Francisco vom 2. September 1904.
Die Spreckels Rotisserie „In the Clouds“ befand sich im 14. Stock (15th floor) des Call Building, zu dieser Zeit das höchste Gebäude an der Westküste der USA, das 1884 von dem Zuckerfabrikanten Claus Spreckels errichtet wurde, einem gebürtigen Deutschen.
Die Speisekarte wirbt:
From the floor of the Café there is an unobstructed view of the entire city, bay and surruounding country. North, East, South, West, in every direction, the eye beholds a panorama of still and active life, nature and art.
Das faszinierende an der Karte sind zwei Aspekte. Zum einen sehen wir ein Touristen-Menu in Californien zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts, d. h. fernab von Europa und noch wirkliches Frontier-Gebiet, zum zweiten aufgrund der Aura: nur anderthalb Jahre später wurde San Francisco durch ein Erdbeben verwüstet und auch das Spreckels Gebäude brannte vollständig aus.
Das Menu unterscheidet sich gar nicht so stark von Speisekarten an der Westküste von heute, sieht man von mexikanischen oder asiatischen Einflüssen ab. Sehr typisch sind doch die Venusmuscheln – als Chowder oder gedämpft, Kabeljaupastete, Prime-Rib-Steak, Hühner-Sandwich und insbesondere die Auswahl an Ice Cream.
Hier der Transkript:
| SOUPS. | |||
| Clam Chowder | Consommé | Vermicelli Tomato | |
| SALADS. | |||
| Cucumber | Lobster Crab | ||
| Radishes | Sliced Tomatoes | ||
| FISH. | |||
| Halibut | Codfish Cake with Bacon | Salmon à la Hollandaise | Sea Bass |
| Smelts | Tom Cod | English Sole | Salmon |
| Fresh Cod | Fillet of Sole, Tartar Sauce | Steamed Clams | |
| ENTREES. | |||
| Fried Chicken Maryland | Filet Mignon with Peas | ||
| Breaded Pig’s Feet with Spinach | Ox-Tail Sauté Family | ||
| VEGETABLES. | |||
| String Beans | Suffed Bell Peppers | ||
| ROASTS. | |||
| Prime Rib of Beef | Spring Lamb au Jus | ||
| Squab Chicken on Toast | |||
| DESSERT. | |||
| Ice Cream | Vanilla | Pistachio | Strawberry |
| Water Ice | Orange | Lemon | Romain Punch |
| Assorted Cakes | Fresh Fruit | Café noir | |
| Extra | |||
| Straberries and Cream 25 cts. | Nutmeg Melon 25 cts. |
What a fascinating piece of culinary history. A souvenir menu. Any idea how it landed in your book? The menu is very traditional, with pig’s feet and spinach, chicken Maryland and clam chowder, still popular in that area.
Guard this treasure well, it’s a museum piece.
I just found this menu when first scrolling through the book, which I had acquired by mail order. I was immediately stunned by the contrast of the historic city panorama it shows on the front and showing a rather contemporary menu on the rear – as you mention, quite like at some places I had been eating in san francisco. Of course I will take care for this piece!
It would be interesting to find out whether the San Francisco Archives know more about it. Was this the only menu they ever printed like this, or does a collection exist? What happened to the Spreckel family after the disaster? It almost reads like a book!
As I read, the building was restored after the fire and is still in operation under the brand Central Tower. The Spreckels Suger Comany was partly held by Spreckels‘ family until 1963.
I’ll try to find more … there is so much about sf on the web anyway – of course news will be published immediately here. If you happen to come across something I would be glad if you let me know …