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Thanksgiving Menu
for the Rich & Famous
 

 
 

For over thirty years the great annual Thanksgiving game dinner was given by Chicago hotel man, John B. Drake, at the Tremont House and (after the Great Chicago Fire) at the Grand Pacific Hotel. He inaugurated this celebrated Chicago tradition in the fall of 1855.

Nearly every wild bird and animal that was fit to eat was on Mr. Drake's bill of fare. The number of guests was usually 500, and they were attended by one hundred waiters. For weeks and even months before the event measures were put in operation to get together every possible species of game; their successful outcome is highlighted in one of their game dinner menus from the 1880s.

 
 
 
 
 

MENU

Blue Point Oysters in Shell
____________

SOUP

Consommé de Vollaile au Praire         Game
____________

FISH

Broiled Whitefish            Baked Red Snapper
____________

BOILED

Ham of Black Bear           Wild Turkey
Leg of Mountain Sheep           Buffalo Tongue
Venison Tongue
____________

ROAST

Saddle of Mountain Sheep         Leg of Black Tail Deer
Loin of Buffalo       Leg of Elk
Saddle of Antelope      Coon        Opossum
Loin of Venison     Jack Rabbit      Mountain Bison
Wild Turkey       Pin Tail Grouse       Ruffled Grouse
Virginia Partridge        Golden Plover
American Woodcock        Killdeer Plover
Sand Hill Crane      Wilson Snipe     Canada Goose
Mallard Duck     Pin Tail Duck     Gadwall Duck
American Widgeon       Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal      Shoveler Duck     Wood Duck
Scaup Duck      Red Head Duck      Ruddy Duck
Woodchuck      Canvas-back Duck
Buffle-Head Duck     Cormorant Duck     Dusky Duck
Brant Quail      Red Bill Merganser Duck
Carolina Dove     Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser Duck      Spruce Grouse
American Coot     Long Tail Duck     Partridge
Red-necked Grebe      Prairie Chicken     Pheasant
Butter-Ball Duck
____________

BROILED

Red-winged Starling    Reed Bird    Gray Snipe
Blue-winged Teal    Fox Squirrel
Gray Squirrel     Black Squirrel     Gray Rabbit
Jack Snipe      Golden Plover     Partridge Quail
Least Sandpiper     Butler-Ball Duck
Prairie chicken     Pheasant    Dunlin Sandpiper
____________

Baked Sweet Potatoes     Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Corn     Green Peas    Celery   Plain Potatoes
Stewed Tomatoes
____________

ORNAMENTAL DISHES

Pyramid of Game, en Bellevue
Red-winged Starling, au Natural
Aspic of Birds, a la Royale
Pattie of Liver, sur Socle
Boned Quail in Plumage
Galantine of Turkey with Jelly
Pin-Tail Grouse, in Feathers
Boned Snipe, with Truffles
Shrimp Salad
____________

ENTREES

Buffalo Steak       Mushroom Sauce
Stuffed Venison, Hunter Style
Salmi of Grouse, Port Wine Sauce
Squirrel, Braise, Sauce Diable
Deer's Tongues, Boule, Caper Sauce
Frogs fried Camp Style
Pheasant, larded, aux Champignons
English Hare, with Dumplings
____________

DESSERTS

Charlotte Russe     Chocolate Éclairs
Chocolate a la Crème
Chantilly Cream, a la Printanière
Bonbons, assorted      Fancy Cake     Nougat Pyramids
Apples    Oranges     Pears     California Grapes
Concord Grapes    Catawba Grapes   Nuts   Figs
Raisins     Vanilla Ice Cream    Pineapple Sorbet
Sage Cheese     English Cheese    
Coffee

 
[From: The Steward’s Handbook, 1887]
 

 
 
 
 
 
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