musso's - part 2

This is a Menu (Well, the cover of the menu....) that I found on the net from 1948! What is amazing is that the Menu still looks the same and there have been very few changes since this menu. Do click on this to see it bigger.....As you can see, the "specials" for each day are right there on the front....In 1948, they were open on Sunday and Monday....Well, that hasn't been the case for quite a long time---not sure when that changed exactly, but I believe they already were only doing 5 days a week when I first went there in 1961....So they only need these 5 'specials', from Tuesday through Saturday....And amazingly, the only day that has a different "special" from this Menu, is Tuesday. It is now "Corn Beef and Cabbage", and I'm willing to bet it's been that for, at the very least, over thirty years..... Here above is Wednesdays 'special' "Sauerbraten, Potato Pancakes & Apple Sauce"....the very same dish that was the 'special' back in 1948....The food, as you can see, is very much from another time, too, just like the whole place....But, that is why we love it....... And here is my very favorite Musso's 'special'....On Thursdays, it's "Chicken Pot Pie". Yum Yum Yum....! It comes in a baking dish and the waiter spoons the first portion out for you right there at the table......What I love is that it has these big chunks of Chicken along with all these other goodies.....Old Fashioned? You Bet! And, that's also why we love it....lol! A number of kind souls have actually brought me the Chicken Pot Pie so I can eat it right here at home and pretend I'm having a little bit of Musso's right up here on the hill---well, sort of.....But it really is a very special treat for me, and it brings back fond memories......Friday and Saturday are still the same 'specials' as 1948...Friday is "Bouillabaisse Marseillaise" and on Saturday another wonderful throwback food-wise, "Braised Short Ribs of Beef With Vegetables".....I have had this dish, and it is quite Yum Yum, especially if you are in need of "Mommy Food"......In fact, a lot of their Menu is perfect for Mommy Food...... Here is Manny....he is one of the long-time waiters there at Musso's...Like, maybe over forty years......There is something very comforting about that, you know? And I think it says something about this Restaurant that they have so very many waiters with long-time-service on the job there. Here below is Manny, once again, with some other Waiters from other Los Angeles Restaurants....This picture was taken for an article on famous L.A, Restaurants and the longevity of their Waiters, and as you can see Manny is featured in front! Here below is one of Musso's long-time Appetizers....I know it has been on the Menu for at least all the years I have been going there and it wouldn't surprise me if it was there in 1919, as well...... It's listed as "Stuffed Celery", and stuffed, it is....With some kind of Cheese Mixture--the basis of which is Cream Cheese; a little Paprika to dress it up with some color, and a Black Olive with each stalk, plus a slice or two of Cold Cooked Beets. Now how long since you've seen this delicious combination on a menu, if ever? This is an appetizer to share because it is quite a large portion...In truth, all their portions are pretty big! The Menu is huge, by the way....The Variety of choices of Salads-23, and Egg Dishes-16, and Fish-19, and Steaks and Chops-13, stuns one, and that doesn't count Roasts or Cold Meats, or the "To Order" items....And it goes on and on and on.....They also have what they call, "Ready Entrees" and these include mundane things like two kinds of Spaghetti Dishes...Below is one of the Spaghetti's. They also have "Beef Stroganoff With Rice", and "Macaroni With Mushroom Sauce"----more of the mundane but quite delicious and hearty, though I'm not sure how good any of this is for your Heart.......But does that stop people? No!And then there are some more, shall we say, 'exotic' dishes, like for instance, "Roast Rack of Lamb Casserole"---I have never eaten that, nor do I know anyone who has.....lol, but I bet it is pretty good! And back to the mundane...."Roast Half Chicken With Savory Dressing, Rissole Potato's (?), Peas and Cranberry Sauce" and "Roast Loin of Pork With Red Cabbage and Sweet Potato"--ALL these are under 'ready entrees.....and so much more---the Ready Entrees number 12....Then, of course there are the "To Order" items. There are 12 of those, as well....Including "Welsh Rarebit" and a "Low Calorie Plate".....Hmmmmm. I think I may have had that once.....Not memorable. Though maybe they have improved it..... There are "Cold Sandwiches"-9, and "Hot Sandwiches"-9 also....And above is the 'Hot Tongue Sandwich'....I never have eaten that either....although I like tongue I am only interested in true Deli Tongue. This sandwich does not look that appetizing to me in the least.....But it is a testament to the enormity of their Menu that is exists at all.....! And by the way, it is $19. One of their more popular dishes is the "Filet Of Sandabs, Saute Meuniere"---this is just one of the 19 Fish Choices....My dear friend Hanna loved these...In fact, I don't remember her ever ordering anything else when we would go to Musso's together......And by the way, they have 10 different Potato Dishes....including Candied Sweet, Julienne, Lyonaisse, Cottage Fried, and Au Gratin, as well as the usual Mashed, Baked, French Fried, Hash Browns, and believe it or not, Boiled New Potato's---plus the two other Potato dishes mentioned previously.....Pretty impressive, isn't it? Another popular item with me personally, was the "Stuffed Tomato With Chicken or Tuna" (A few Asparagus, a Black Olive or two, and some more Cold Cooked Beet Slices)....You can also get this with either Crab or Shrimp.....the Crab or Shrimp is $20. But a Crab Salad by itself-no Tomato-is $25. More Crab without that big Tomato, I guess....lol....Yes, the prices are 'dear', as they say, and they always have been....Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fantastic Sour Dough Bread that graces the table almost immediately upon your arrival---Lunch or Dinner or at the Counter.....! It is baked fresh, every day, just for Musso's....And it is the most delicious Sour Dough Bread I have ever tasted.....They put this plate of bread on your table just filled to the brim with these very generous but manageable slices, and when you run out because you have eaten it all, they bring you some more.....! I'll let you ruminate on all this food and give you time to digest so you can get ready for Part 3 of Musso's......

More To Come.......