Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food: An Opinionated History and More Than 100 Legendary Recipes

Arthur Schwartz covers the personalities, products, restaurants, bakeries, food stores, and events that make the Big Apple the dining capital of America. “The Schwartz Who Ate New York” knives and forks his way through all five boroughs to bring the history of New York City food and more than 100 of its best recipes to the table.
Schwartz tells the story of each immigrants group’s culinary challenges and contributions, beginning with those hearty eaters, the first Dutch settlers. Other highlights include how the introduction of fine dining at Delmonico’s in 1827 coincided with the city’s transformation into an international center of commerce; how multiple outposts of Horn & Hardart, Childs, Chock Full o’ Nuts, and Schrafft’s fed the masses; where ’21’ hid its alcohol during Prohibition; why Jewish immigrants quickly established their own food stores on the Lower East Side; how chicken and waffles came to be a famous pair; and how Porterhouse steak got its name. Also included are entertaining profiles of the city’s most influential food personalities from Arnold Reuben, who was the first restaurant owner to name sandwiches after famous people, to the legendary James Beard, and one of today’s premier restaurateurs, Danny Meyer.
Readers will also find a wealth of recipes for dishes that originated in New York City, such as Black and Whites, Delmonico Potatoes, and Egg Creams, as well as those dishes with New York style that have gained nationwide appeal, such as Manhattan Clam Chowder, Cheesecake, and Knishes.