...and delivery!
When I was growing up there were two ways that we ate. Generally my mother cooked or we went out to eat. There was no thought that we would call a restaurant and they would deliver or that we would pick up food that had already been prepared. If we wanted to eat something we went to the grocery and then cooked it. I don't remember any exceptions until my senior year in high school. I was visiting my friend Joni and her mother ordered Italian food for our dinner and had it delivered. That was over forty-five years ago and it is still vivid in my mind. I didn't know that was possible in Hartford in 1968.
By the time I moved to New York in 1975 everyone I knew kept menus from Chinese restaurants and ordered from them. Somewhere between 1975 and today it became possible for just about every kind of food to be delivered. The paper menus kept by the telephone have been replaced by computers and smart phones. In my working days I also found that on the four block walk home from the subway I could buy almost anything I wanted for dinner and avoid cooking after a long day. Takeout and delivery became the mainstay of New York eaters.
You may ask what this has to do with "O." "O" is for Ollies, the closest takeout food shop to my apartment, only a block and a few yards away. It stands between a natural foods store with lots of prepared foods and a vegetarian restaurant, where any dish can be ordered to go. There is also Murray's Sturgeon -- the takeout store with the best smoked salmon -- a great favorite of mine -- anywhere. All to takeout and all on the same block.
Ollies is to the left, but alas, I didn't get a photo.
Murray's window a few weeks before Passover. Note the bottom right and "New York Magazine's" Takeout Guide.
I'm going to do the unspeakable and count this as "M" and "O." I apologize if I have totally confused everyone by switching the order around. I thought about macaron for "M," but I think that's been covered pretty thoroughly in "L" with Maison Laduree. though I did discover a new macaron cafe today just a few blocks away. I think macarons are the fad of 2014.
It was cool but sunny today and I had a wonderful walk through the neighborhood with my friend, Betsy. I found "W," which made me happy, the new macaron store and actually walked two miles. There are lots of spring flowers at the markets and I am so enjoying seeing all of the tulips.
Back tomorrow with "P," which is in a tie with the bagel -- in the Buttercup calculations -- for the most popular New York food. Any guesses?
As always so glad for my visitors and your comments. Take good care and thanks for visiting.
14 comments
That's one thing I miss about living in a city--so many restaurants and takeout food possibilities. It makes it so much easier to try different cuisines and foods.
I love tulips, too. They are so elegant.
I've fingers-crossed, P stands for Pizza?
Your recollections suddenly provoked one of my own: Mid-70's I was a house-guest in Dallas; and for some reason (?) so very impressed by a collection of take-out menus carelessly arranged on an oversize bulletin board in the kitchen. 'Decided then-and-there, I needed to replicate that 'look' at home in Abilene ... tho' take-out wasn't exactly in vogue in West Texas as yet!
I often go to a quiet cafe for a good cuppa, but for a special meal I love the convenience of having takeaway food delivered. I often have our groceries delivered as well.
Wonder if they will deliver to Georgia:) We only have pizza delivery around here! Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!
I grew up like you did, what was take out? Now, we do it all the time, like you, we are in walking distance that everything this small NY town has. Blessings to you..thanks for sharing this..sure made me smile.
As you would imagine, Northern NY came very late to the delivery idea. Mostly pizza even today although I understand one taco place and one Chinese place may deliver within a mile or two. There was one exception. McCarthy's Restaurant was a family run diner on the edge of town. You could bring your big soup pot, order four or five chicken and biscuit dinners and they would put it in the pot. I think my dad had to take separate containers for the mashed potatoes and cole slaw and they wrapped the extra dinner rolls in Reynold's wrap. That take out was the best chicken and biscuit dinner I ever had. The restaurant is a funeral home now but I never drive by without thinking of the diner.
We never ordered takeout food when I was growing up either. It is fun to do it now that I'm an adult.
I just love the idea of food place so close to where you live. Heck I would try them all. So good to outside walking round isn't it Buttercup?? I think we are absolutely done with winter here..the snow on Tuesday and now 60's-70's predicted for all of next week. Hooray. Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo,Susie
That store in your photos is very beckoning to me; I think I would stop in, look around, and buy something. I like easy meals.
Happy easter weekend darling...love from me Ria...xxx !
Perhaps I shouldn't have read your post before I've had dinner. I'm hungry for all sorts of things now.
Happy Passover to you.
Karen
I love to cook and I also love to bring home Chinese food or a cheesesteak on occasion. I don't imagine we have all the wonderful options you have. So nice visiting your fun places via your blog!
Such amazing choices surround you, Buttercup! Everything sounds delicious!
There are choices everywhere on this block! Amazing.
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