Palace Pleasure

Judith Morgan’s May 23 piece, “A Hotel Restoration to Bellow About,” doesn’t mention one of the memorable foods served at the Palace Hotel in my day, which was probably considerably earlier than hers. Circa 1927, on Saturdays, we who were coeds at (the University of California, Berkeley) used to don hats and gloves and take off for “The City” (San Francisco never otherwise referred to). Very often the Palace (no Sheraton, then) was our destination for lunch. It was always the Palace Court Special, a salad to bellow about: an artichoke heart on shredded lettuce topped with a slice of tomato, generously mounded with your choice of prawns, crab, chicken or (alas, long gone) tiny bay shrimp. This divine assortment was served with Thousand Island dressing sprinkled with chopped egg. I don’t remember the cost, but I doubt if it was more than $2. On my $100-a-month allowance, more would have offended my tribal honor.

MINNIE SELVIN CRUTCHER

Los Angeles