{"product_id":"vintage-howard-johnsons-restaurant-scalloped-platter","title":"Vintage Howard Johnson's Restaurant Scalloped China","description":"\u003cp\u003eBefore the domination of fast food, Howard Johnson's was not only a national landmark with more than 1500 locations scattered across the U.S., but a home away from home where diners enjoyed friendly service and hearty portions of familiar favorites. Founded by Howard Deering Johnson in 1925 as a drugstore location in Quincy, Massachusetts, Johnson was instrumental in the development of travel hospitality during the Golden Age of the American Road Trip. Pioneering the clever use of now-common conventions like a separate children's menu, crayons and placemats for coloring and even the \"doggie bag\" for leftovers, the chain famously boasted that it served more meals outside the home than any organization except the U.S. Army.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitially renowned for the high butterfat content of its luscious ice cream, Howard Johnson's incorporated regional specialties like New England Fried Clams, Boston Baked Beans with canned Brown Bread and buttered roll frankfurters onto its creative menu of comfort food. Ever in search for the next innovation, Johnson recruited a largely unknown French chef from one of his favorite restaurants, New York City's Le Pavillion. Fresh from his role as personal chef to French president Charles de Gaulle and in the U.S. for a mere eight months, Howard Johnson enticed none other than a young Jacques Pépin to make the leap from haute cuisine to Howard Johnson's in 1959.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was the beginning of a memorable partnership that Pépin remembers fondly. \"It was Mr. Johnson's contention that I should learn about the Howard Johnson Company from the ground up. I worked a few months as a line cook at one of the largest and busiest Howard Johnson's restaurants at the time, on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park. I flipped burgers, cooked hot dogs and learned about the specialties of the house.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chef also recalled \"Howard Johnson's was my American apprenticeship, and it was a long one, nearly 10 years, mostly spent in the company's Queens Village commissary. Mr. Johnson gave me and Pierre carte blanche, and we experimented with different types of stews, like beef burgundy, and dishes like scallops in mushroom sauce. I became comfortable using 1,000-gallon pots and operating enormous machines.\" According to the chef, Johnson remained hands-on, often visiting the test kitchen to taste, ask questions and make suggestions. Howard Johnson also added acclaimed pastry chef, Albert Kumin, to the roster. Kumin created a pastry department that produced 10 tons of Danish pastries per day, reaching hundreds of restaurants in the chain. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced for Howard Johnson's and undoubtedly having served menu creations developed by Jacques Pépin, these pieces of the company's Scalloped Restaurant China were created by the heritage Homer Laughlin China company of West Virginia. Crafted with delicately scalloped rims and produced from durable, heavy restaurant grade china, each of these charming plates bears the company's quaint 'Pieman' logo adapted from a 1930 design by artist John Eagles Alcott. With nursery rhyme characters from 'Simple Simon,' this sweet motif became the face of the brand, appearing on roof weathervanes, menus, glass and tableware, ashtrays, swizzle sticks, matchbooks and more for decades. One of the chain's most memorable logos, it showcases the Pieman, Simple Simon himself, and an adorable dog hot on the trail of one of Kumin's tasty pastries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach piece is strictly limited and subject to prior sale. At time of listing, a total of 2 bowls, 2 small oval plates and 1 large oval plate are available. In very good vintage condition. Bowls measure 5\" in diameter x 1.25\"H. Small Oval Plates measure 8\"W x 6.25\"D. Large Oval Plate measures 9.75\"W x 7.25\"D. Microwave, Dishwasher and Oven Safe.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Other","offers":[{"title":"Bowl","offer_id":43644417179761,"sku":"672026","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8\" Oval","offer_id":43644417212529,"sku":"606080","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"9.75\" Oval","offer_id":43645818994801,"sku":"018144","price":42.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0165\/2136\/files\/HJPlatesOval-1.jpg?v=1784038704","url":"https:\/\/poshchicago.com\/products\/vintage-howard-johnsons-restaurant-scalloped-platter","provider":"P.O.S.H.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}