But in case that everything does go smoothly, and nothing happens to
nick your peace of mind, could anything be more delectable than a
dinner which would unfold itself to your delighted palate in this
order? To begin with: Clam cocktails, made, of course, with the
little-neck variety; they should be put in half-dozen lots into small
glasses, and seasoned with lemon juice, tabasco, salt, and the tiniest
suspicion of onion juice--just enough, you understand, to cause one
to wonder if that delightful flavor is really onion.
And then to follow up the good impression left by the clam cocktails,
have a soup of consommé of perfect flavor and delicacy--the sort, you
know, that doesn't jar with what has gone before or is to come.
The "to come" in this case might be, say, of trout, broiled to a
nicety and served with tartar sauce. But if for financial reasons you
object to the trout, why, then you may get good salmon from the West,
or pompano, and bluefish of fairly good flavor. But whatever fish you
decide upon, have it broiled, so that you may serve it with some
delicious hothouse cucumbers. Quite a little fall in the price of
cucumbers you will see within the next two or three weeks.