  Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2006 |
Let's talk about food! Specifically local and regional cookbooks you know and love. If you want, you can also mention the foods that you feed out-of-towners to give them the total D-experience and that give the exiled Detroiters among us comfort food and memories of home. My mom pulled out some old cookbooks that fascinated me. I posted the cover of one on the Detroit Times thread. Here's another:  Grandpa worked at the Chrysler Jefferson plant and bought this one at work. It dates from 1955 and has some great desserts and quick breads, plus 28 different cheesecakes. Who knew Detroit was so nuts about cheesecake? Feel free to include your favorite cookbooks, and upload a scan of the cover, if you can. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 610 Registered: 02-2007 |
Yes, I love my cheesecake. I must have some everytime we got out to eat. | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 596 Registered: 10-2003 |
This is the "Charm Kitchen Cook Book" by Edythe Fern Melrose, better known to old time Detroiters as WXYZ's Lady of Charm. In the 1930s, Melrose managed Detroit radio station WJLB. She then moved to WXYZ radio, when she created her "Lady of Charm" persona, dispensing recipes, fashion tips and household hints. Melrose's philosophy was "A woman's charm depends upon three things- how she acts, how she looks and how she cooks." On WXYZ-TV her show aired from her home, the "House O' Charm," which was built and beautifully furnished courtesy of her sponsors. In 1952 she earned $100,000. Most of the recipes in the book are so unhealthy that it hardens your arteries just by reading them. One recipe calls for a veal heart, which you stuff with buttered bread crumbs before you sear it in hot fat. Yum! In the mid 60s Melrose tripped on a cable at WXYZ, injuring her leg. She sued the station and in 1976 received a judgement of nearly one million dollars. She died three weeks later. | ||
65memories Member Username: 65memories Post Number: 374 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ed...is it true the "Lady of Charm" didn't have the most charming personality? | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 597 Registered: 10-2003 |
65memories, Yes, it's true. At WXYZ you had to refer to her as "Lady of Charm." She wouldn't answer to Edythe or Mrs. Melrose. | ||
Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 62 Registered: 12-2006 |
Ed, that's an awesome story! When does that cookbook date from? Also, why do they call it a BOSTON Cooler? One of my smarmy Massachusetts acquaintances thinks it's a Beantown reference. No way, right? | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 598 Registered: 10-2003 |
Eastsidedame, I've go two copies of the cookbook, dated 1948. Both are autographed, one to the director of her show, and both are signed "Lady of Charm." | ||
Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 79 Registered: 12-2006 |
On the "Detroit is Ripe for Stores" thread https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/5/98431.html?1176000202, mention was made of the May Company's takeover of the local Indianapolis department store: "The cruelest blow came in 1989 when May Company decided to close the famed, venerated Tea Room." This reminded me of our own J.L. (pronounced "jail" by kids) Hudson's and their Maurice Salads. Here's the link to the recipe for Hudson's Maurice Salad via Bob Allison of "Ask Your Neighbor" fame. Though it doesn't say in the recipe, remember to julienne the cheese, meat, pickles and lettuce for authenticity. http://www.askyourneighbor.com /recipes/054.htm | ||
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce Post Number: 740 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here is a cookbook I got from my mom. Autographed on the inside by Lucy Corbet with a nice note to the books purchaser - somebody named Sophia. 1951 Wayne University Press. Great Illustrations throughout the book done by a William Thomas Woodward. "Our thanks are due to Mariquita Dygert, of the Detroit Edison Company Home Service, for her kindness in reading and criticising the book, to the Detroit Historical Society for the suggestion that we write it, and to Alexander Brede, editor of Wayne University Press, for his generous help"  Some great history in the book about the settling of Detroit and what they were eating and the origins of it in France. Not just a collection of French inspired recipes, but lots of really great info. Here is a good example: Canard Sauvage A La Presse- "For two days, hang two pair of large ducks (mallard, red head, canvas back). Then pluck, clean, rub thoroughly inside and out with coarse kosher salt. Poke a stalk of celery into their interiors, place them in a well-greased shallow baking pan and pop into a pre-heated, red hot (500 degrees) oven and roast for seventeen minutes, that's all!"..... ...... "The 'habitan' of old Detroit may not have had a duck press, but he had a way with roast duck that comes close to the extravagant 'a la presse' recipe. A way that he handed down to his descendents who ran the little waterfront hotels all the way from the Lake St. Claire Flats to the Marshes of Lake Erie. Nor is it wasteful of game - the whole duck is eaten. (Message edited by matt the Deuce on April 09, 2007) | ||
Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 93 Registered: 12-2006 |
Wow, Matt! That's the coolest...thanks for sharing! | ||
Swiburn Member Username: Swiburn Post Number: 99 Registered: 07-2006 |
Bob Allison WNZK 690 A.M. at 9-11 a.m. and on the internet has an "Ask Your Neighbor" show on household hints, Detroit area recipes, etc. that's been running in the Detroit area since l962. He started on WWJ. One of the few things left from the olden days of Detroit radio. Twin Pines Dairy was one of his advertisers. | ||
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner Post Number: 190 Registered: 06-2005 |
I'll be back in Detroit for the first time in 10 years Memorial day weekend. Here are some of the things I miss!!! 1. Tubby's subs (cant wait to get a mushroom steak and cheese)! 2. Mexican village 3. El Charro (for their tacos)! 4. China Villa (10 and VanDyke)! would say great china on harper and hayes but Im sure that place is LONG GONE! The mexican and chinese foods here in TN are GENERIC! you order sweet and sour chicken, you get deep fried meat with some red sauce. THATS IT! No peppers, onions, pineapples NOTHING! Mexican is unflavored hamburger rolled in tortilla and covered with BLAND red sauce with a little (and I do mean little) cheese. Looking REAL forward to some good food when i get home! | ||
Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 111 Registered: 12-2006 |
Exmotowner: So sorry for the lack of Chinese and Mexican in TN. As I live in TX, our Mexican food is fantastic, natch! We only recently got good Chinese food here, due to the many Chinese that have settled here over the last 10 yrs. But the long drought was unbearable! Enjoy your trip to Detroit...and wear the stretchy jeans. Just wanted you guys to know that I saw the old food thread started by the late "ItsJeff". On it, they print a recipe for Sander's Hot Fudge Topping. It's wrong. My grandmother worked for Sanders in the bakery and when I saw this recipe printed in the Detroit News some time ago, I knew this was the right one. Nanna told me the secret was ice cream in the topping, so when I read this, I knew it was right. If the exiles among us don't get Sanders HF, this is the recipe. However, you might try Kroger. It's available in Texas there, and you might find it in your state, too. Sanders Hot Fudge Topping l/3 cup milk l pound caramels l/2 pound Sanders milk chocolate l/2 pint Sanders vanilla ice cream or l cup soft ice cream l teaspoon vanilla extract Place milk and caramels in double boiler, heat and stir until hot, smooth cream is obtained. Chop the chocolate and add it to the above hot cream. Stir until melted. Mix in soft ice cream and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. Variation: Instead of using milk, substitute l/3 cup very strong coffee. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4142 Registered: 08-2004 |
A couple of items... one is Almond Boneless Chicken seems to be a Michigan delicacy, rarely found in Chinese restaurants outside of Michigan. Another item is that Bob Allison is actually Robert Allessee, who's currrent wife Maggie Allessee was a widow with an enormous sum of money left by her late previous husband. Today the Allessee's are among the most generous philanthropists found anywhere in metro Detroit. | ||
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner Post Number: 223 Registered: 06-2005 |
Hey Gistok, Almond boneless chicken will definitely be on my plate at china villa! It definitely is not found here in TN. Man Im hungry now! LOL | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 403 Registered: 11-2006 |
Exmotowner - Re: Tubby's - over the years, I still remember the first time I ate at Tubby's - what an experience. I had never eaten anything like that before! |
