In New York, the tradition of postcurtain dinners is an established part of theater-going. This book is an anecdotal historical companion to legendary theater people and their favorite places to eat. It brings together theatrical and culinary stories linked with some of New York's oldest and most famous restaurants, such as the Cafe des Artistes, the Algonquin, Sardi's, and the Waldorf. The Cafe des Artistes's sumptuous duplexes had only tiny pullman kitchens. Its famed tenants—who included Noel Coward, Isadora Duncan, and Rudolf Valentino—bought their own raw ingredients, sent them down to the kitchen, and the kitchen then sent dinners upstairs on dumbwaiters precisely at the time requested. For more than 50 years, the Algonquin has been favored by British actors on tour, including Gertrude Lawrence, John Gielgud, and Peter Ustinov, while American Orson Welles spent his honeymoon there. At Sardi's, Laurence Olivier dined with Noel Coward after a show to tell him his marriage to Vivien Leigh was over. A vibrant mix of anecdote and entertainment, this book will appeal to thespians, those interested in theater and food history, and any visitor to New York. Read Less