A menu a month

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Twelve Rare and Interesting Menus (1878–1923)

February 27, 1897 – Naples, Italy, Palace of Capodimonte: lunch

April 14, 1883 – Munich, Germany, Nymphenbourg Castle: lunch

May 28, 1905 – Milan, Italy, Sforzesco Castle: lunch

July 27, 1905 – Milan, Italy, Restaurant Teatro Alhambra: dinner

August 22, 1900 – Rome or Naples, Italy: lunch

September 15, 1936 – Rome, Italy, Hotel Excelsior: lunch

October 19, 1919 – Fiume, Italy Italia, Palace of the Hungarian Ban: dinner

November 22, 1932 – Rome, Italy, Hotel Excelsior: lunch

December 18, 1892 – Naples, Italy, Hotel Naples: lunch of Naples

We have selected twelve of the most exceptional menus from the Academia Barilla Menu Collection to create a sort of culinary calendar. There is a menu from each month of the year.

The documents we have chosen represent important moments in history, like the declaration of the Albertine Statute, the Boxer Rebellion in China, or other important political events. There are also menus from the 19th and 20th centuries that highlight lesser-known events in Italian history.

For example, there are menus from dinner parties in honor of the unbeatable swordsman Jacopo Gelli, the performances held in the Alhambra Theater, the Italian community in Nice, and more.

These menus are fragments of time, visual reminders of what came before us.

	January 22, 1902 – Milan, Italy: lunch Lunch in honor of Jacopo Gelli, given by his old military officers. Written in Italian – International Cuisine 4 pages, printed in two colors. A menu from the elaborate banquet held for Jacopo Gelli (1858-1935) by his friend from the military. Gelli was an accomplished swordsman and author of the Codice Cavalleresco Italiano originally published in 1879. The dishes on the menu are quite interesting as well. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Historic Figures: Writers]. COLLOC. A.42.04 – INV. 2196.
	February 27, 1897 – Naples, Italy, Palace of Capodimonte: lunch The Court Receives Umberto I of Savoy. Written in French – International Cuisine 1 page, color lithograph, with gold embossing and trimmed edges. This valuable paper menu, decorated with gold embossing, bears the royal crowns and knot of the Savoy family. The knot itself is intertwined around the letters “FER,” an acronym of the family motto. This is a very rare and elegant piece in our collection, due to the embossing and unique shape of the menu. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Kingdom of Italy - House of Savoy]. COLLOC. A.112.15 – INV. 1955.
	March 1, 1848 – Turin, Italy: lunch Celebration of the Albertine Statute, Decurion Members of the City of Turin. Written in Italian – International Cuisine 1 page, single color, printed lithograph, painted, Litografia Doyen, Turin. This extremely rare menu from March 1st 1848 – one of the oldest in the Academia Barilla Collection – was presented at a Russian-style lunch given by the Decurion Members of the City of Turin for fifty guests. The luncheon was held in celebration of the Albertine Statute that was to be officially announced three days later. The printed lithograph menu includes an elaborate boarder with scroll ornamentation honoring Carlo Alberto. There are images of the signing of the Customs Law created between Piedmont, Tuscany and the Papal State on November 3, 1847. This law led to a common political strategy, a war of independence and the visit of Carlo Alberto of Genoa on December 5, 1847. (The port of Genoa is depicted on the lower part of the menu.) The list of dishes is quite impressive. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Kingdom of Italy - Institutions]. COLLOC. A.115.01 – INV. 3336.
	April 14, 1883 – Munich, Germany, Nymphenbourg Castle: lunch Wedding luncheon of Tommaso of Savoy and Isabella of Bavaria, Royal Palace of Bavaria. Written in French – International Cuisine 2 sided, color lithograph printed on parchment, painted, Lit. Prontl. Rolled, and attached to a silk cord sealed together with a small badge. This is a very special menu from the wedding celebration of the Prince of Savoy-Genoa and Duke of Genoa, Tommaso Alberto Vittorio with princess Isabella of Bavaria. The menu is housed in a cylindrical case covered in a diamond print blue silk with a bronze crown on each end – all symbols of the Royal Family of Bavaria. A tri-colored Italian ribbon is wrapped around the cylinder in a spiral manner. The menu, which is 5 inches long, is to be unrolled using a silk cord. This beautifully designed and historic menu presents a list of high-quality dishes. The musical program is printed on the backside. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection State of Italy – Kingdom of Italy - House of Savoy]. COLLOC. A.112.09 – INV. 1932.
	May 28, 1905 – Milan, Italy, Sforzesco Castle: lunch National Tourism Party, Touring Club Italiano. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 4 pages, color lithograph, Unione Zincografi, Milan. This menu comes from a large banquet held in the courtyard of the Sforzesco Castle in Milan. Three thousand guests attended the National Tourism Event, organized by the Italian Touring Club in honor of the 10th anniversary of the foundation. The party included music performed by a 200-piece orchestra. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection State of Italy – Events - Ceremonies: Anniversary]. COLLOC. A.323.03 – INV. 1851.
	June 3, 1888 – Nice, France: lunch National Party for the Italian Community of Nice. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 1 page, color lithograph, painted, Litografia Malvano Mignon, Nice. After Nice was given to the Savory family of France in 1860 in exchange for support of the unification of Italy, the Italians living in Nice felt the need to band together and reminisce about their former homeland. This menu comes from the Fraternal Banquet of Italians living in Nice who gathered together to enjoy the Italian National Day of Celebration by eating only regional Italian foods. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of France – Cougnet Collection]. COLLOC. B.8.96 – INV. 296.
	July 27, 1905 – Milan, Italy, Restaurant Teatro Alhambra: dinner Occasion unknown, Restaurant Teatro Alhambra. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 8 pages, color lithograph, embossed with trimmed edges, interior pages made of parchment paper, letterpress with blue characters, Stab. Maglia, Milano. This is an art-nouveau style menu printed on paper that has been embossed and trimmed to create its unique shape. The restaurant menu of the Alhambra Theater is printed on the interior pages, which are made of parchment paper. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Restaurants, Lombardy: Milan]. COLLOC. A621311.22 – INV. 1853.
	August 22, 1900 – Rome or Naples, Italy: lunch Official Lunch, Vittorio Emanuele III of Savoy. Written in French – International Cuisine 1 page, letterpress, gold characters. This menu comes from an official lunch hosted by Vittorio Emanuele III and Queen Elena, who were still mourning the murder of Umberto I of Monza that previous July. The lunch was held in honor of Count Vandersee who was in departure for China to command the international troops fighting the Boxer Rebellion. This, of course, is a very rare piece in our collection. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Kingdom of Italy- House of Savoy]. COLLOC. A.112.24 – INV. 1965.
	September 15, 1936 – Rome, Italy, Hotel Excelsior: lunch Official lunch in honor of Guido Schmidt, the Minister of News and Propaganda. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 1 page, letterpress, Coat of Arms of House of Savoy embossed in gold. This menu was created in honor of Guido Schmidt (1901–1957), an Austrian politician and diplomat, who held the position of Secretary of the State of Foreign Affairs in Austria from February 1936 to March 1938. The dishes listed on the menu are of very high quality and paired with distinctive Italian wines. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Kingdom of Italy - Government: Ministers]. COLLOC. A.1142.54 – INV. 2277.
	October 19, 1919 – Fiume, Italy Italia, Palace of the Hungarian Ban: dinner A gala dinner honoring Gabriele d'Annunzio, the Colonel Dezzani. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 1 page, pen and watercolors on card stock, with an autographed signature of d'Annunzio. Just days before this special dinner, Gabriele d'Annunzio conquered the city of Fiume with his troops after the March of the Ronchi. This unique, hand-decorated menu was autographed by famous Italian poet. It also represents the first time Asti Spumante appears on a menu. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Historical Figures: Writers]. COLLOC. A.42.3 – INV. 1617.
	November 22, 1932 – Rome, Italy, Hotel Excelsior: lunch Official lunch for the President of the National Research Commission. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 4 pages, letterpress, Stamperia Zanetti, Rome. The menu comes from a lunch held for the President of the Italian National Research Commission. At the time, the position was held by Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937), a renowned physicist and inventor of the system of wireless telegraphy based on radio waves. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Kingdom of Italy- Government: Ministers]. COLLOC. A.1142.13 – INV. 2211.
	December 18, 1892 – Naples, Italy, Hotel Naples: lunch of Naples Banquet held by Adriano Lemmi, at the Masonic Lodge of Naples. Written in Italian – Italian Cuisine 1 page, Lithograph print in black on gold card stock with trimmed edges. This is a very rare menu from a Masonic banquet hosted by the Grand Master of the Italian Masonic community. The design and shape of the menu, including the hole with which to hang it, are all symbols of the “maçons.” The menu includes elegant dishes and distinctive wines. The Grand Master, Andriano Lemmi, was originally from Livorno, but worked in Turin as a banker and financer of the Pisacane expedition, as well as other Italian Risorgimento initiatives. Lemmi was an influential player in the Radical Party and was held the position of Gran Maestro del Grande Oriente d'Italia from 1885 to 1895. “WEST END HOTEL NAPLES – HAUSER & MULLER” is stamped on the backside of the menu, along with a hand-drawn portrait of Lemmi. [Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library – Historic Menu Collection. State of Italy – Associations - Masonic]. COLLOC. A.73.01 – INV. 4112.