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Title: Waldorf-Astoria Cake and Other Myths [America]
Categories: Info Cake
Yield: 1 Info file
| LEGENDS AND LORE |
Legend dating from the 1930's or 1940's was that a woman requested the recipe from the Waldorf-Astoria -- presumably after having been served it. She received the recipe -- and a bill for $100. Outraged, she freely shared the recipe with all her friends.
But according to Jan Harold Brunvand, a folklorist who traces such things, the original Red Velvet Cake wasn't from the Waldorf-Astoria. However, because of the demand from patrons who associated the cake with the hotel, the Waldorf later created such a dessert.
Similar legends -- all untrue -- circulate about chocolate chip cookie recipes presumably requested from Mrs. Fields, Neiman Marcus and Marshall Field. Only in these instances, the bills were supposedly for $250.
As with the Waldorf-Astoria, because of customers' expectations, Neiman Marcus also created a cookie recipe that it circulates on its Web site, http://www.neimanmarcus.com.
Source: Barbara's Mailbag by Barbara Durbin as published in the Oregonian FoodDay Typos by Dorothy Flatman 1998
From: Dorothy Flatman Date: 05-12-98 (13:25) The Once And Future Legend (1) Cooking
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