Transcriber's Note: The spelling in this short text is a mixture of American and British English. The little French is both accented correctly and missing accents. The spellings below are exactly as found in the original. [Illustration: Cover] [Illustration: Marble Hall The Famous Peacock Alley] [Illustration: Title Page] Congress Hotel Home of a Thousand Homes Rare and Piquant Dishes of Historic Interest Copyrighted by N·M·Kaufman 1914 [Illustration] _True friends a few, a nice abode, And dinners fine and Recherchés-- Far better such for peace of mind Than Life's refrain "Ah Lack a Day."_ --_Grimrod de la Reyniere_ The epicure says we live to eat; the ascetic maintains we eat to live. Perchance there is a grain of truth in the French maxim that we eat to live only when we do not understand how to live to eat. However that may be, those of us who are wise in our generation are content with the golden mean between these widely variant schools. The dishes herein set forth are a few of the most piquant and rare in all the enchanting lore of cookery. About many of them cluster striking anecdotes of famous characters of history whose destinies have been strangely influenced by their epicurean tastes and habits. These and other culinary masterpieces are produced at the Congress by artistes de cuisine, and served in their distinctive native form. Those who have visited famous eating places abroad will be glad to renew their acquaintance with these celebrated dishes. All who appreciate exquisite cookery will find them a delightful treat. These delicacies do not appear on the regular bill of fare, but on a special menu card which may be had, upon request, from the maitre d'hotel. [Illustration] _"Man is a carnivorous production And must have meals--at least once a day He cannot live, like woodcocks, upon suction."_ --_Lord Byron_ _Beluga Caviar with Blinis_ Russia has contributed many original dishes to the cuisine of the world, but perhaps the greatest alimentary gift of all for which we are indebted to the land of the tsars is Beluga Caviar with Blinis. The blinis, which take the place of the French toast canape, are a Russian adaptation or version of American wheatcakes except that they are not sweetened. When the blinis are done to a rich golden brown they are brought to the table piping hot and the caviar, taken from a jar sunk in ice, is spread on top. At the Congress the blinis are made and served in true Russian style, with specially imported pearl egg Beluga Caviar--the favorite of all epicures.