Sweden and France were the first countries to form the buffet concept. The
smorgasbord originated in Sweden as a way to feed hungry out-of-town
visitors. The offering started out small with just bread and butter, which in
the Swedish language translates to “smorgasbord”. The menu grew to
include salted fish, eggs and boiled vegetables, moving on to cold cuts,
warm entrees and salads, ending the spread with dessert and coffee. The
French offered a more refined display featuring lavish “buffet” tables.
The Swedish folks brought their smorgasbord to America at the 1939
World’s Fair in New York. The sizable selection of food was located
atop a rotating platform inside the Three Crowns restaurant (below).
The smorgasbord at Three Crowns went on to inspire other buffet-style
restaurants in the 1950’s.
(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)
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