The Phoebe Snow Club was a special train operated from Hoboken to Chicago to attend a railroad trade association meeting. It first operated in 1950. This 1959 menu is the last one run by the DL&W – it would be routed on an all EL route to Chicago over the Erie and last until 1969 as an EL train.
The food choices of 1959 seem somewhat strange to us 60 years later. For example, “Spiced Watermelon Rind”. At the time it was considered a treat. This does not taste like watermelon at all but more like a sweet relish.
If you would to try this at home, here is the recipe from the Lackawanna’s Dining Car Department:
Trim the green skin off 1/4 small watermelon.
Remove all but 1/4 inch red fruit from the rind; cut the rind into 1/2-inch pieces.
Pack into a 1-quart jar.
Combine 3/4 cup each apple cider vinegar and water, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Pour over the rind; let cool.
Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
