Some tearoom history from Mississippi

I am so fortunate that my blog readers are such generous souls who know precisely the sort of things I like and often share things with me. Today, I wanted to share some pamphlets with you that I received from Patsy in Missouri. I have written about the Old Southern Tea Room in Vicksburg, Mississippi, before, so I was quite delighted to get a vintage pamphlet from this tearoom as well as two more pamphlets from Natchez, Mississippi. In the golden-colored pamphlet above, I was drawn to the image of the Mammy figure on the front. Some years ago, I attended an intriguing lecture in Atlanta by a university professor who was researching the Mammy figure in American history and culture. I was also intrigued to learn that some people actively collect "Mammy" art and artifacts. While the image makes me uncomfortable, I believe that even when researching something as seemingly innocent as the history of American tearooms, it's important to acknowledge this part of US history.

The text of this pamphlet begins, "After a hard drive from California or Maine, the motorist craves good food, and can find it at our Old Southern Tea Room in Vicksburg, Mississippi. This unique oasis of refreshment was established in response to an insistent demand, but does not employ fancy chefs to prepare ornamental dishes. Aunt Elvira, our cook, presides over our kitchen, just as her ancestors did at plantation hearths during the lavish days of the Old South." (I can't help thinking that "Aunt Elvira" might have taken a different view of the work of her ancestors "during the lavish days of the Old South"!)

It's also interesting to note that Duncan Hines and the American Automobile Association recommended this tearoom.

Another eatery recommended by AAA was the Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall, a property of the Pilgrimage Garden Club of Natchez, Mississippi. I love to read old menus, and this one is fun because it focuses on Southern foods of chicken and ham, desserts, and coffee and tea. While there are some aspects of yesteryear that I wouldn't want to return to (see above), oh, for the days when we could have enjoyed a lunch of gumbo, salad, bread, dessert, and tea for just $1.75.