Local Author Becky Libourel Diamond “The Thousand Dollar Dinner”

Diamond will discuss and sign her new book, The Thousand Dollar Dinner, the tale of an unusual 19th century duel between the two cities considered at the time to be the culinary capitals of the United States – Philadelphia and New York.
 The story begins in 1851, when two rival groups of food lovers challenged each other to a culinary duel. The New York and Philadelphia “clubs of good livers” each hosted the other in their home city to judge which could deliver the most outstanding feast. The first banquet was held at Delmonico’s famous New York City restaurant, but Ms. Diamond’s book focuses on the extravagant feast held in Philadelphia and prepared by Chef James Parkinson.

The 12-hour, 17-course feast was dubbed by Philadelphia newspapers as the “Thousand Dollar Dinner” because it reputedly cost the Philadelphians $1,000 (approximately $32,000 in today’s dollars) to prepare.

Chef Parkinson chose items sure to dazzle and delight his guests, including fresh oysters, a variety of turtle preparations, decorative cold dishes set in gelatin, and intricate sculptures made out of patisserie called pièces montées. Parkinson had a creative, innovative way with food, such as the invention of pistachio ice cream, Champagne frappe à la glacé (a semi-frozen froth made with the sparkling wine), and a luxurious, rejuvenating sorbet created specifically for the Thousand Dollar Dinner using an extremely rare and expensive Hungarian Tokaji wine.
Ms. Diamond’s book describes each course in exquisite detail, while providing the historical context for the menu items.
Which city was declared the culinary master? Ms. Diamond reveals the winner in her book, and she’ll discuss the outcome and how the dazzling feast revolutionized dining in America during her appearances and book signings.