G'Day, Oliver and Other
"Listers"!
I have no idea whether this will be
of any help to you.
My grandfather, who passed on the
year before I was born, owned and operated, with my grandmother, the Terminal
Hotel, located on New York City's west side, just south of "Hell's
Kitchen." The hotel included a restaurant located on the first
floor.
One of the features of this
restaurant -- of which my grandfather was rather proud -- was the turtle soup
they prepared. As I understand, he would serve the turtle soup at
gatherings of New York City politicians. (Probably the local "ward
heelers.")
They used to cater "picnics" --
really, huge outings -- of these folk in New Jersey, as well.
I might be able to locate a
photograph of him standing in front of a large turtle's carapace and also an
image of the hotel.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 11:05
AM
Subject: [NYHIST-L] turtle soup
>I am interested in the history of turtle soup in London and New York
City. My impression is that although the dish reached its height of popularity
in New York in the late 19th century, it had long been on menus and it
would remain so until the early 1960s.
>
> I am now looking for
sources relating to turtles and turtle soup in New York City. In particular I am
hoping to find information on the importation and sale in markets and shops of
live turtles from the Caribbean, descriptions of official functions, restaurants
and taverns where turtle soup was served, and material on the commercial
production of the soup. It would also be wonderful to identify locations of
pictures -- prints, paintings or photographs.
>
> I was hoping that
members of the list might have come across references to turtle soup in
archives, memoirs, works of fiction or historical studies. If so, I would be
most grateful if you could direct me to any such material. If you don't have any
specific sources to suggest, general advice on archives to approach would be
greatly appreciated.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Oliver
Marshall
> London, England
>
>