Charles Ranhofer - Recipes

Recipes

Ranhofer invented or made famous a number of dishes that Delmonico's was known for, such as Lobster Newberg, and had a talent for naming dishes after famous or prominent people—particularly those who dined at Delmonico's--as well as his friends, and events of the day. Examples include:

• "Lobster Duke Alexis," named for then Grand-Duke Alexis in 1871.
• "Sarah potatoes," named for Sarah Bernhardt.
• "Lobster Paul Bert," named for Paul Bert.
• "Chicken filets Sadi Carnot," named for Marie François Sadi Carnot.
• "Peach pudding à la Cleveland," named for President Grover Cleveland.
• "Veal pie à la Dickens" and " Beet fritters à la Dickens," named for Charles Dickens in honor of his 1867 visit to New York.
• "Salad à la Dumas," named in honor of Alexandre Dumas, père.
• "Lobster Newberg", named in honor of sea captain Ben Wenberg then renamed when Wenberg had a falling-out with the restaurant.
• "Marshal Ney", a dessert named in honor of Marshal Ney.

Many others may be found under "List of foods named after people."

Ranhofer did not invent baked Alaska, but he popularized it in 1876 when he named it in honor of the newly-acquired Alaskan territory. He also experimented with new foods, acquainting New Yorkers with the "alligator pear" (avocado) in 1895, among other things.