#46 Postcard Trivia 3.5.19
1930’s postcard from collection of J Garner.
It’s Mardi Gras time! Parades are in full swing and revelers are taking part in all manner of celebrations. And right in the middle of the action is the oldest family-run restaurant in America! Antoine’s has been a part of the New Orleans scene since 1840. Antoine Alciatore started his eating establishment in a small space on St. Louis Street in the French Quarter when he was only 18 years old. He and his new bride from New York ran the bed and breakfast with an emphasis on fine French dining. Known only as “Antoine’s”, the restaurant’s delicious menu soon attracted New Orleans’ elite diners. By 1868, the business had outgrown its tiny space and moved down the street to the location it has occupied ever since - 713 St. Louis Street. For over 178 years, Antoine’s has been owned and operated by immediate family members (son, grandson, granddaughter, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.) The family has overcome many challenges to continue Antoine’s success - Civil War, WWI, WWII, Great Depression, Prohibition, and Hurricane Katrina. Antoine’s continues to be one of New Orleans’ top restaurants. Perhaps you have heard of one of their specialties - Oysters Rockefeller. Created by Antoine’s son, Jules, the true recipe for this oyster delicacy remains a family secret even though it has been imitated hundreds of times.
Trivia Question:
What material was used to make the decorative balcony railings that adorn so many buildings in New Orleans?
A. Steel B. Bronze C. Iron
See answer below.
Answer to Trivia Question:
C. Iron. The orate designs were made of wrought iron in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many “iron lace” balcony railings include embedded initials and symbols.
Source Links:
Antoine’s Restaurant website, History of Antoine’s.
The Storytelling Ironwork of New Orleans. Atlas Obscura.
The Wrought Iron Balconies of New Orleans. ThermoFisher Scientific.