1920s - Antique French Menu Card - Embossed Floral Design - Handwritten Dinner & Lunch Celebration - December 1920

This exquisite antique French menu card, dated December 28, 1920, is a rare example of early 20th-century dining culture. The front cover is beautifully embossed with an elegant Art Nouveau design featuring delicate flowers in soft relief, highlighted by a gentle gradient of rose pink shading. At the top, the word “Menu” is worked into the floral motif, a decorative touch that reflects the era’s refined sense of aesthetics.

Inside, the handwritten menu offers a glimpse into the sophistication of a grand dinner of the Belle Époque. The courses begin with a comforting Potage Velouté, followed by Blanquette de Veau à la Parlette and Civet de Lièvre, classic dishes rooted in French culinary tradition. The roast course (Rôti) includes Gigot de Pré-Salé, a specialty lamb known for its delicate flavor. The accompaniments—Salade, Haricots à la Maître d’Hôtel, and Riz à l’Impératrice—demonstrate both balance and refinement.

The meal concludes with a selection of desserts: Pruneaux au Vin, fruits, brioches, assorted cakes, and the spectacular Pièce Montée, a traditional French centerpiece dessert. Coffee and wine were, of course, essential to end the feast.

Elegant, personal, and over a century old, this rare menu is not just a dining record but also a tangible artifact of French social history—perfect for collectors of ephemera, culinary history enthusiasts, or those captivated by the art and refinement of the Belle Époque.