The Forgotten Chef at Delmonico's: Alessandro Filippini (1849­-1917) An Appreciation on the Centenary of his Death

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Michael A. Meer

Abstract

This Research Note sketches the biography of Swiss immigrant Alessandro (or Alexander) Filippini (1849­-1917), a chef at New York City’s Delmonico’s restaurants for over 25 years, and provides a short analysis of his culinary heritage. Mostly forgotten today, and overshadowed by the reputation of French chef Charles Ranhofer for creating many of the dishes that made Delmonico’s famous, Filippini authored the very first Delmonico cookbook (1889) and made significant contributions to the evolution of fine dining in the United States—in restaurants as well as in private homes and on transatlantic passenger ships. This note seeks to elevate his importance in the role that Delmonico’s restaurants—founded in the nineteenth century by two Swiss brothers of that name—played in the history of the American restaurant and the development of American cuisine.

Article Details

Section
Research Essays, Notes, & Queries
Author Biography

Michael A. Meer

A lawyer and amateur culinary historian. Michael A. Meer holds a Dr. iur/JSD degree (summa cum laude) from the University of Bern and an LLM degree from New York University School of Law. He has published professionally in the fields of intellectual property and international contract laws.