Eat the Santa Fe Super Chief French Toast

[scotrace]

This is a piece i did on train dining car fare, then and now. Includes the recipe for the apparently famous French Toast aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief, which is actually delicious.

http://www.tuscbargainhunter.com/article/20151113/COLUMN/711139985/0/tbh?sectioncat=tbh

 

[Haversack]

I've made that French Toast before and it is good. My favorite though is the Pennsylvania Railroad French Toast. You make strawberry jam and butter sandwiches with whole slices of the bread, cut the crusts off, and cut them into triangles. The batter is eggs, milk, powdered sugar, either cinnamon or vanilla, and is beaten for at least 10 minutes. After the triangle sandwiches are fried, they get dusted with powdered sugar and served with maple syrup.

I found the recipes for the Pennsy and AT&SF French Toasts along with those of the Soo Line, Union Pacific, and Northern Pacific is a book titled Dining By Rail by James D. Porterfield. The first half of the book is a history of railroad food in the US and Canada. The second half is recipes broken down by the different rail lines. It also features some separate chapters such the one on French Toast and some of the regional specialties found on some lines.

 

[The Reno Kid]

Great stuff! I have a Union Pacific dining car cook book that I picked up about 15 years ago. It's kind of cool to be able to replicate fare from the City of Los Angeles or some of the other name trains of the era.

 

[scottyrocks]

Sounds delicious, but due to dietary restrictions (diabetes and artery issues) I will most probably not make or eat it, that is, unless someone else makes it and I can sample a small piece, and then hope I don't want more. haha

 

[The Reno Kid]

By pure coincidence, I just came across the above-mentioned book. It doesn't have a publication date, but I would guess mid '40s. It's title is Union Pacific Dining Car Cook Book and Service Instructions. It contains not only recipes , but also settings for various meals and situations (counter, dining table, etc.).

 

[filfoster]

Sounds delicious, but due to dietary restrictions (diabetes and artery issues) I will most probably not make or eat it, that is, unless someone else makes it and I can sample a small piece, and then hope I don't want more. haha

I'm a heart patient so no fats but believe strongly, as you do, that bacon, fries and French toast off someone else's plate don't count.

 

[greatestescaper]

These recipes look fantastic. I know what I'm fixin' for breakfast tomorrow! That said, I really can't figure out how the quality of travel continues to degrade. I've traveled Amtrak and enjoyed it, however, it's nothing like it was just a few years ago.