By Nancy Armitage
The event for the Pan-American Society was on Wednesday, January 12, 1916. The location was the grand Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Archer Huntington & his committee of the Pan-American Society of the United States were hosting a charity event. This was an all-gentlemen event, so “the ladies & the invited guests occupied the balcony boxes.”
The Pan-American Society had a very diplomatic committee, there was president: Henry White, Honorary Pr. Robert Lansing (Secretary of State of the USA), Honorary V-Pres: Andrew Carnegie, Archer Huntington, & others. The Pan-American Society was founded in 1910 in New York City. The 1st president of the Pan-American Society was Elihu Root. Root was a lawyer & 41st US Secretary of War (under President Theodore Roosevelt). The Pan-American Society purpose was to create the involvement & kinship to all the countries of North American, Central America & South American. The Panama Canal connected all of them was started in 1904 & it was finished in 1915.
The elaborate Banquet Menu was as follows:
Cocktail 1st course: Grapefruit Marashino
Soup course: Chicken Gumbo Printaniere,*
Relish dish: Radishes, Olives, Celery & [Salted] Almonds
Fish course: Filet of Sea Bass with Lobster Sauce
Vegetables: Potatoes a la Hollandaise,*
Fresh Mushrooms under glass, Eugenie
Poultry course: Breast of Chicken Stuffed with Deviled Sauce
Salad course: Hearts of Lettuce with Russian Dressing
Dessert: Bombe Glacee Venitienne,
Assorted [Fancy] Cakes & Coffee
The libations listed on the formal menu were Cocktails, Krug Private cuvee [Champagne], White Rock, Chateau Dillon Dry, Cigarettes, Cigars.
Chicken Gumbo Printaniere
A delicious Southern (as in New Orleans) Chicken Gumbo soup. “Printaniere” means having diced vegetables included. Gumbo is a flavorful thick soup, serve with fresh French bread.
Butter and olive oil
Saute:
1 lb. bacon & 1-2 Andouille Sausage
3 onions, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 green peppers, diced
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
Roux:
1 c. flour
4 c. chicken stock
4 c. water or New Orleans Abita beer
In a large stock pot, add veggies, sliced sausage & crispy bacon.
Add: 2 t. Tomato paste
2-3 c. cooked chicken (roasting chicken)
2-3 T. Cajun spice (2 T. smoked paprika, 1 T. garlic powder, 1t. black pepper, 1/2 t. cayenne pepper, 1t. thyme dried, 1 t. oregano, 1 t. celery seed)
1 lb. sliced okra
4 green onions
1/2 c. mixed herbs (lovage, parsley, celery leaves, bergamot & sweet basil)
Sauté veggies in peanut oil or olive oil. add flour & chicken stock to make a roux (for thickness in the gumbo). Transfer in a large stock pot. Sauté Andouille sausage & bacon, drain & add to gumbo. Add Roasting chicken- 1-2 c. chicken cubes. Add tomato paste, water or Abita beer (for flavor). Add sliced okra & Cajun spice & herbs. Cook for about an hour to let flavors mingle. Serve in small soup bowls with lids, garnish with more green onions & fresh minced herbs. Recipe: Nancy Armitage
Potatoes a la Hollandaise
Made like “Potatoes au gratin” this is a amazing lemony potato side dish. Mrs. Arabella Huntington had this dish several times on her menus.
5 potatoes, peeled & sliced
2 onions, thinnly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can Aunt Penney’s Hollandaise sauce or cream of chicken soup diluted with lemon juice & cream
1/2 & 1/2 or heavy cream or sour cream
Thyme leaves or parsley leaves
sharp cheddar cheese
Top with parmesan cheese
salt & pepper (mixed peppercorns)
paprika & cayenne pepper
In a 9″x 13″ purex dish, layer the potato & onion slices & garlic in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle some cheese, s & p, & herbs. Mix the Hollandaise sauce thinned with milk or half & half & spoon it over. Repeat 2 more layers. Top with cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese & salt & pepper on top. Bake 350 for 1 hour or more until golden brown & bubbly & a fork goes easily thru the potatoes. Cut into squares. Recipe: Nancy Armitage
The music provided for the lovely Pan-American Society event, was a mixture of Spanish & American Music (a merging of the all the Americas: North America, Central & South America). The selections of music were “Marche Espagnold…… Viva el Torero Selection… “Only Girl”, Intermezzo “, “Shadowland”, Spanish Ballet Music Selection….”Blue Paradise”, Cornet Solo… “I hear you calling me”, “La Paloma”, Intermezzo….. “Pan-American” Selection… “Carmen”, Medley…. “Popular Airs” Selection….”Spanish Airs” & “Grand American Fantasie” from Herbert”.
Book: Report of the Secretary General for the 2nd Pan-American Scientific Congress by Barrett & Swiggett, 1917
Inside the Huntington's Story 