• Russian Tea Cakes

    “All the tea I drank in Russia was delicious. It is brought overland from China, and always sold fresh; and not, as in this country, after it has lain for two or three years in warehouses.” – Sir James Edward Alexander  1830 in “Travels to the seat of war in the East, through Russia and…

  • Spiced / Pickled Oysters

    “Mr. W. B. Burke of this city has the reputation of preparing the very best spiced oysters which leave our market, and if all are like the can which he left with us on Tuesday, his reputation is well deserved. They are truly a delightful article… He will forward them according to order to any…

  • A Nice Little Dish of Beef

    A quick internet search reveals that most of the popular recipes these days have brief, memorable names. The exceptions are generally branded like “Cheesecake Factory Beef Wellington” or things that list their contents ala “Cheese, Potato, Sausage, Black Pepper, and Pimento Casserole.” I do a lot of examination of the ways in which recipes get…