Notes from the Archive

I'm a packrat, a saver, a person who finds it difficult to throw anything away.  I'm always convinced that the minute something goes into the trash is the exact minute when I'll desperately need it.

This inability to toss things used to make me crazy, but lately I've been happy to have all this food history at my fingertips.  I've got files going back to the early seventies.  Today I pulled out a file labeled "Symposium on American Cuisine," and found these interesting artifacts.

The first Symposium was held in New Orleans in 1983.  Jim Villas gave the keynote speech, which was very curmudgeonly.  The following year I think the Symposium was held in Louisville, and John Mariani was the keynote speaker.  In 1985 it was held in San Francisco, and I apparently delivered the keynote.  I have no memory of this, but I'm reading the speech now.  Highlights from that tomorrow....

These menus are obviously from Louisville and San Francisco.  I'm going to try and find the New Orleans folder.... I have delicious memories of the food served there; Paul Prudhomme was still at Commander's Palace, and he made the most amazing meal.