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Picture this: It’s a scorching July day in 1932, and Los Angeles is practically vibrating with Olympic fever. The world’s eyes are on the City of Angels, and what’s everyone doing
between cheering for athletes? Eating, of course! But not just any food – we’re talking about the kind of glamorous grub that made Hollywood stars swoon and Olympic visitors write home about.
While the rest of America was tightening their belts during the Great Depression, Los Angeles was putting on its most dazzling food show.
Let’s whip up two dishes that capture the spirit of 1932 Los Angeles – when everything was a little more dramatic and a little more indulgent.
The “Studio Lot”
Chicken Sandwich
Forget the burger – in 1932, Hollywood’s elite were going crazy for gourmet chicken sandwiches.
- 4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded thin
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 4 fresh sourdough rolls (split and toasted)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 8 strips crispy bacon
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- 4 butter lettuce leaves
- 1 large tomato, sliced thick
Soak chicken breasts in buttermilk for at least 2 hours (or overnight if you’re planning ahead like a proper studio chef).
Mix flour with all spices in a large bowl. Heat oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet.
Dredge each chicken breast in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Fry for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
Mix mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Spread on both sides of toasted rolls.
Layer: bottom bun, lettuce, tomato, fried chicken, bacon, avocado, top bun. Secure with a fancy toothpick because presentation is everything in Hollywood.
Brown Derby Cobb Salad Reimagined
The salad that launched a thousand lunches
The Brown Derby restaurant was THE place to see and be seen in 1932. While the Cobb salad wouldn’t be “invented” there until 1937, we’re taking some creative license here – because honestly, all the ingredients were floating around Hollywood in 1932, just waiting for someone to throw them together in a bowl.
- 6 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 2 large tomatoes, diced
- 1 large avocado, diced
- ½ cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 3 green onions, chopped fine
For the Original Brown Derby Dressing:
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp sugar
- ¾ cup olive oil
Arrange lettuce in a large, shallow serving bowl – think of it as your edible stage.
Arrange each ingredient in neat rows across the lettuce: chicken, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, avocado, blue cheese, and green onions. This is performance art, people!
For the dressing: Whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly until emulsified.
Present the salad in all its organized glory, then toss with dressing at the table for maximum drama.
So channel your inner 1930s starlet, put on some Bing Crosby, and remember – in 1932 LA, every meal was a performance, every bite was an experience,
and every dish told the
story of a city that refused to let hard times dim its spotlight.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a three-martini lunch. It’s research, I swear!
Barry Cohen welcomes your thoughts, suggestions and feedback. For recipes or questions, email him at barrycohen210@gmail.com.