WASTE OF FOOD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4021, 30 March 1917, Page 7

WASTE OF FOOD.

EXTRAVAGANCE IN MANCHESTER.

It is not only in London that a curl* is to bo put upon open extravagance in eating and drinking (writes the Manchester correspondent of the London 1 Times.") If Mr Runciman is as drastic in action as in his interview with hotel proprietors ho is reported to have been stern in speech, there will be a wholesale curtailment before the end of the year of restaurant menus in tho important cities of the r country. The neoessity of enforced economy is emphasised by the fact that in places like Manchester people express surprises that extravagance should be associated with their way of living. Prosperity, we are told, has not come open-armed 1.-. Lancashire during the war, and there has been no overflow of money to run waste in the channels of luxury. This may'bo true, but anyone familiar with the city would find a difficulty in tracing any marked lowering of tho standard of indulgence, so far as it can 1)6 niPOTfiv] by hotel and restaurant scenes. Prices have risen, bnt tho peaeo-tinw level of consumption nppe;irs to be maintained.

A Sample Menu. At the best hotels—and Manchester lias ono of the finest and most luxurious hotels out of London—there lias been a fall in the consumption of the costly wines, but otherwise tilings appear to bo much as usual. The following is a dining-room menu submitted to-night:— Hors d'GSuvres. Consomme Julienne. Crenio Marie Louise. Tronoon de Barbue Dieppoi.se. .Medallion de Sweetbread Clanart. Contrefilet Pique dv Barry. Pommes Fondantos, ou Cancton. Nantes a la Broche. Salade. Biscuit Glaoe a la Ananas. . Gaufrette-s. The charge for this meal was 6s, but' in other parts of the hotel it was possible to incur a heavier bill by taking dishes ala carte. .Before dinner a brisk business in cocktails was done at the American bar, and after leaving the dining-room one could enjoy coffee and liqueurs in a garden restaurant whore orchestral music was provided. At a restaurant largely used by business men who go "on 'Chance,", the long menu to-day included fully 100 dishes. Patrons could take their choice of a dozen soups, including real turtle. Soles could be ordered a Ja orfcugaise, a la Colbert, a la Meunicre, fried, j boiled, or grilled, or one could have turbot, halibut, cod, or plaice. A selection could bo made from a long list of entrees; the joints woro beef, mutton, and pork; and the sweets numbered a round score. A poVtion of roast pheasant cost 3s Gd, but grouse could be had for 2s 6d, and wild duck for 2s 3d.

When attention was called to this unusually long bill of fare, the only comment offered was tha.t the variety of food was possible because of the large number of people using the restaurant, and that few made a meal of more than three courses. The proproprietors, however, ought to welcome the compulsory cutting down of such a menu. At another restaurant where popular prices wero charged the bill of fare for the day included a selection from six soups and 22 grills.

Luxury Teas. Afternoon tea is a popular luxury in Manchester. At one hotel this afternoon every table was engaged, and people were waiting to take, any empty chair. The majority of the company wore women, but there were many officers, naval and military. The young men of military ago had apparently got through the work winch makes their retention in civil lilo essential in good time to take then ease at an hour when tea and entertainment could be enjoyed together. : There was another largo afternoon tea crowd at a popular "restaurant in St. AiHt's Square, whore an orchestra is engaged, and in two cafes in -Market Street hundreds of men 'and women were sipping tea, eating sweet cakes, and listening to light musk;. Finally, there is extravagance in the consumption of expensive sweetmeats. Chocolates as costly as any'shown in. the windows in Regent Street in London may bo bought here in Manchester. I saw trays of them priced at 5s 6d, and 6s 6d per box in one shop, and at another boxes were offered for sale at a, price which would have involved an outlay of at least 255.