by The Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Serves: 6 people. Preparation time: 20 minutes.
- ½ C. Mayonnaise
- 1 T. White Sugar
- 1 t. Lemon Juice
- ⅛ t. Kosher Salt
- 3 Apples [Granny Smith or Gala]
- 1 C. Celery (Thinly sliced)
- ½ C. Chopped Walnuts
- 1 C. Seedless Red Grapes or Raisins (Optional)
- 6 pieces of Iceberg or Romaine Lettuce
• Whisk together the Mayonnaise, Sugar, Lemon Juice and Salt in a large bowl.
• Peel, core and chop the 3 Apples. Halve the Red Grapes.
• Stir in the Chopped Apples, Celery, Walnuts and Grapes into the Mayo Sauce. Insure the ingredients are well covered. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Wash and dry each piece of Lettuce and put one on each serving plate. Scoop the mixture onto each piece of Lettuce. Serve with a fork.
The Waldorf Astoria Hotel - Located at 301 Park Ave., New York City, between 49th and 50th Streets, this 47 story, 675 ft. Art Deco landmark opened in October, 1931. It took only 10 months to build, with 24,000 tons of steel and 11,000,000 bricks. But it took 8 more years to turn a profit, however. The "W-A" remained the world's tallest building for 26 years, with 31 elevators in its core, a 4,000 pound bronze Grand Clock in its main lobby, a 4,000 person capacity Grand Ballroom and a private railway platform (Track 61) in its basement. The complex boasted 2,253 hotel rooms, suites, residences and condos when it was finished. The massive concept was developed by William Waldorf Astor, who had the original Waldorf Hotel [1893-1929] and his cousin John Jacob Astor IV's family, who had the former Astoria Hotel [1897-1929], both on 5th Avenue, where the Empire State Building now stands. John Jacob perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Once owned by Conrad Hilton himself (in 1949), the opulent New York City "W-A" landmark is now ironically owned by a Chinese state owned insurance company, named Dajia Insurance Group who bought it from Hilton for $2 Billion. It is still managed by the Hilton Hotel chain however. The main restaurants are called Peacock Alley, The Bull & Bear Steak House, Lex Yard and La Chine (replacing the original Oscar's Brasserie in 2015). The hotel claims that the Waldorf Salad [1893], Eggs Benedict [1894] and Red Velvet Cake [1921] were conceived in the original hotels on 5th Avenue. Also claimed is the Rob Roy Cocktail [1894] and the Waldorf Cocktail [1913]. It has been an icon of glamor and luxury throughout its entire life and has hosted countless Patrons, Performers, Politicians, Physicians, Producers, Pioneers, Peace-Keepers, Power-Brokers, Philanthropists, Playboys, Party-Goers, Physicists, Patriots, Psychics, Pulitzer Prize Winners, Photo-Journalists, Publicists, Postmasters, Petroleum-Tycoons, Professors, Pilots, Playwrights, Poets, Painters, Pianists, Philosophers, Princes, Princesses, Potentates, Prime-Ministers, Presidents, Priests and even Popes. By 1959, Guy Lombardo's Orchestra was hosting the annual New Years Eve TV celebration from the Grand Ballroom here. The "W-A" has survived Prohibition, the Great Depression, WW-II, 9/11 and the Pandemic. However, since 2017, the hotel has been closed for extensive renovations and is expected to re-open, 4 years behind schedule, in September, 2025, with great fanfare. Current hotel rates now range $1,500-$50,000/night; condo ownership starts at $1.9 Million. The line forms to the right!
