Posts Tagged ‘food history’
Culinary History Hub
Culinary History of Cambridge By Rain Robertson, and revised by Deb Mandel, 2022 Cambridge holds a rich and distinctive culinary history. It gave America ice, the Porterhouse steak, Peking ravioli, its first star chef in Julia Child, and a hankering for Indian food. This is a survey of 20th century markets, delis, cafeterias, and local…
Read MoreLegal Seafoods
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2002 Years 1950 – Cambridge Locations 237 Hampshire St., Inman Square 1950 -1980 5 Cambridge St., Kendall Square 1982- present Charles Square, Harvard Square 2003-2020 Website: https://www.legalseafoods.com/about-us History The original “Legal’s” thrived in Inman Square for a generation. This was where locals, including the loyal Julia Child, ate clam…
Read MoreJulia Child’s Kitchen
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1961 – 2004 Location (Julia’s home) 103 Irving St., Cambridge History Julia moved from Europe to Cambridge in 1961, where husband Paul accepted a job. They settled into a cozy house on tree-lined Irving St., nestled into her soon-to-be-famous blue and green kitchen. Paul stirred up “upside down martinis”…
Read MoreSimeone’s
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1949-1976 Locations 41 Pearl St. (1946-1949) 21 Brookline St. (1949-1976) History Simeone’s, whose motto was, “choice foods skillfully prepared served promptly and courteously,” opened on February 24, 1949 on Brookline street in Central Square, after moving from its original 60-seat 41 Pearl St. location. Its menu included pizza, popular…
Read MoreWursthaus
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1917 – 1996 Locations 4 JFK St., Harvard Square (Formerly Boylston St.) 11 Prospect Street, Central Square History Located in the heart of Harvard Square, the Wursthaus was a popular gathering spot. In 1927, it advertised “palate ticklers,” such as “fancy stuffed fruit, imported German gingerbread, fancy imported…
Read MoreThe Tasty Sandwich Shop
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1916 – 1997 Location 2a JFK St., Harvard Square History The 24-hour/day Tasty Sandwich Shop, a beloved character in the heart of Harvard Square, was located in the demolished Read Block building, former site of Colonial poet Anne Bradstreet’s home. The Tasty was a no-frills, 300 square foot, 12-seat…
Read MoreCardullo’s Gourmet Shop
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1950-present Location 6 Brattle St., Harvard Square Website: https://cardullos.com/ History On April 1st, 1950, Frank Natali Cardullo set out to fill a niche supplying quality foods for the neighborhood’s international community. Cardullo was born in Messina, Italy in 1915 and came to Boston in 1929, originally to become a…
Read MoreThe Window Shop
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1939 – 1972 Locations 37 Church St. (May 2, 1939-Nov. 1939) 102 Mt. Auburn St. (Nov. 1939-1947) 56 Brattle St. (1947-1972) History A small group of philanthropic-minded Cambridge women opened The Window Shop on the second floor of 37 Church St. in Harvard Square in 1939. One of these women…
Read MoreS & S Restaurant
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022 Years 1919 – present Location Current Location 1334 Cambridge St., 1935- Previous Locations 1919- 1932- 1298 Cambridge St., 1932- 1935- 1307 Cambridge St. Website: http://www.sandsrestaurant.com/ 1334 Cambridge St. Inman Square History In the decade preceding Cambridge Electric Light Company’s illumination of Cambridge Street, and when trolley tracks ran from here…
Read MoreFrank’s Steak House
Compiled by Deb Mandel, 2022. Above photo by Marion Severynse, 2023. Years 1938 – present Location 2310 Mass Ave., North Cambridge Website: http://www.frankssteakhouse.com/ History Frank’s is Boston’s oldest established steak house. In 1938, it operated across the street, then put down roots in 1940 in its current spot. What’s amusing is that no one’s really…
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