Hash House History

the Hibernator                                                                         Cavendish Press

Reading about the 8,000-calorie breakfast offered by some sadist in England (http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-8000-calorie-breakfast-20141007-story.html) (if you can finish it in under an hour, you get a cash prize, your name on their wall of fame, and the dish, currently called the Hibernator, renamed in your honor) made me wonder about restaurants. Fortunately for me ~ and you ~ those grand gourmands over at wisegeek.com did more than wonder:

The first restaurant in the world opened in 1765 in Paris, France. Historical documentation refers to a man by the name of A. Boulanger, a soup vendor, as the owner of an establishment in the Rue du Louvre district of Paris. Boulanger is credited with being the first businessman to use the word "restaurant" on his establishment. "Restaurant" originally was a French word that referred to bouillon-based soups that were said to restore health and strength. The sign outside of the restaurant is
documented to have been translated to “Boulanger provides divine sustenance," making it the first establishment that offered the service of paying for a prepared meal.

More about culinary history:

• Ancient Romans didn’t generally have cooking equipment at home and often frequented thermopolia, which sold conveniently already prepared dishes.


• The first American restaurant is thought to have opened in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1793 by French chef Jean-Baptiste Julien, with a specialty of turtle soup.


• Leaving tips at restaurants is thought to date back to the 1600s, where English taverns displayed jars with the label stating “T.I.P.: To Insure Promptness.”