This morning I found a copy of the Good Housekeeping Family Cookbook ( revised edition 1976) in the Milford Anglican Opshop. It's a riveting read which as it says " forms in itself a complete kitchen library."
On page 761 was some advice on how to serve coffee:
" With coffee we are back in the domain of the hostess. At formal gatherings it should be served away from the table, in the comfort of the sitting room. And though the "ladies" are no longer obliged to "withdraw ,it's a natural break for them to go upstairs and repair their make-up if they want to. The hostess should ascertain exactly how each guest wants his or her coffee , and hand the filled cups. Then the host can take over the duties of offering liquers, cigarettes or cigars, and the conversation can continue. This formula is equally suitable for less formal occasions, though it depends on personal tastes and circumstances."
Well, that was England in the seventies while we kiwis were running around in jeans and drinking Nescafe from pottery mugs !
On page 761 was some advice on how to serve coffee:
" With coffee we are back in the domain of the hostess. At formal gatherings it should be served away from the table, in the comfort of the sitting room. And though the "ladies" are no longer obliged to "withdraw ,it's a natural break for them to go upstairs and repair their make-up if they want to. The hostess should ascertain exactly how each guest wants his or her coffee , and hand the filled cups. Then the host can take over the duties of offering liquers, cigarettes or cigars, and the conversation can continue. This formula is equally suitable for less formal occasions, though it depends on personal tastes and circumstances."
Well, that was England in the seventies while we kiwis were running around in jeans and drinking Nescafe from pottery mugs !
No comments:
Post a Comment