Pu pu platter
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| Course | Hors d'oeuvre |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Meat and seafood |
| Pu pu platter | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 寶寶盤 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 宝宝盘 | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
A Pu Pu platter, Pu-Pu platter or pupu platter is a tray of American Chinese cuisine or Hawaiian cuisine[1] consisting of an assortment of small meat and seafood appetizers. A typical pupu platter, as found in American Chinese cuisine, might include an egg roll, spare ribs, chicken wings, chicken fingers, beef teriyaki, skewered beef, fried wontons, crab rangoon, fried shrimp, among other items, accompanied by a small hibachi grill.
Accord to at least one source, the pupu platter was probably first introduced to restaurants on the United States mainland in 1934 by Don the Beachcomber[1] and became a standard at most Polynesian themed restaurants such as Don's and at Trader Vic's.[2][3] The earliest print reference to a pupu platter being served at a Chinese restaurant only appears to have occur as recently as 1969.[4]
At the height of the tiki bar/restaurant craze, the New York Herald Tribune published several articles concerning the opening and the ambiance of one of the first Hawaiian themed restaurant to have opened in New York City called Luau 400 on East 57th Street. At the time of the restaurant opening in 1957, Pu Pu Platters were considered a part of the luau feast.[5] A typical platter at this establishment could have include baked clams, rumaki, Shrimp Vela (battered fried shrimp with coconut), chicken wings, egg rolls, spare ribs, or Javanese sate (satay) on skewers.[6] The appetizers were served on "a Lazy Susan made of monkey pod wood and equipped with a little stove fired with charcoal briquettes."[5] Recipes for some of the pu pu items were later published in the Herald Tribune in 1960.[7]
Hawaiian origin and etymology
In the Hawaiian language, pū-pū denotes a relish, appetizer, canapé, or hors d'oeuvre; it originally meant "snail', but also referred to small bits of fish, chicken, or banana relish served with kava[8] and beans.
In Hawaiian cuisine
Since the introduction of commercial dining and drinking establishments in Hawaii, pūpū were, and remain, standard fare in island establishments.[9] An establishment that serves "heavy pupus" will often have a buffet table with warming trays full of chicken, tempura vegetables, shrimp, poke (cubed and seasoned raw fish), small skewers of teriyaki meat or chicken, sushi, and other similar finger foods. An establishment that serves "light pupus" usually will offer only the cold foods such as poke, sushi, and vegetables. Some establishments will serve pūpū to the table.
At Hawaiian bars, restaurants, catered events such as political rallies, and private parties, establishments and hosts are known in "local" circles by the quality of their pupus. Event invitations often will state that "light pupus" or "heavy pupus" will be served so that attendees will know whether they should plan to have a full meal before the event or not.
Today, the simple platter of dried fish, grilled chicken, and slices of banana has evolved into chefs' offerings of international delicacies arranged for visual as well as gustatory pleasure. Modern "pupu platters" can hold offerings of anything from traditional Hawaiian fare to exotic combinations.
See also
References
- ^ a b Hartz, Deborah S. (July 9, 2003). "Carrying a torch for pupu platters". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Reichl, Ruth (September 30, 1994). "Restaurants: Seemingly designed for Eloise (and so convenient), the successor to Trader Vic's". New York Times. p. C22. Link via ProQuest.
- ^ Krummert, Bob (November 2002). "Tiki not so tacky". Restaurant Hospitality. Vol. 86, no. 11. p. 15. ISSN 0147-9989.Link via ProQuest.
- ^ "Ad for Chinese restaurant for their 'flaming pu pu platter'". New York Times. July 18, 1969. p. 14. Link via ProQuest.
- ^ a b Paddleford, Clementine (December 28, 1957). "Authentic Hawaii, East of First Ave". New York Herald Tribune. p. 9.Link via ProQuest.
- ^ "Display Ad for Luau 400 Restaurant". New York Times. November 7, 1957. p. 43.Link via ProQuest.
- ^ McGovern, Isabel A (April 3, 1960). "Luau dinner". New York Herald Tribune. p. F10.Link via ProQuest.
- ^ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of pūpū". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ Unlike in American Chinese cuisine, the Hawaiian dish is referred to simply as "pūpū" or "pūpūs," without the word "platter."