VIDEO: Howard Johnson's Menu Created by Julia Child's French Chef Partner

[pjcomix]

It's the end of an era. The last Howard Johnson's restaurant has just closed. Among the amazing things I found out while researching the subject of Howard Johnson's is that famous French chef Jaques Pépin was hired by the company to improve their menu.  Pépin was slated to become a chef at the JFK White House but chose to work on the Howard Johnson's menu instead. Later Pépin co-hosted cooking shows on PBS with Julia Child. This video also reveals how  Pépin rendered a CBS reporter speechless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhhKaCS_0Sc

[Cyber Liberty]

I actually like HoJo, and I have missed it for years. They had that roof in Tempe, back in the day.  I stopped in frequently when I worked for ASU in the early 80's.

[libertybele]

I actually like HoJo, and I have missed it for years. They had that roof in Tempe, back in the day.  I stopped in frequently when I worked for ASU in the early 80's.

My experience with HoJo was less than pleasant.  My friend and I stopped in for lunch and a cockroach actually crawled out of her salad.  This was back in the late '70's.  I never went back.

[Cyber Liberty]

My experience with HoJo was less than pleasant.  My friend and I stopped in for lunch and a cockroach actually crawled out of her salad.  This was back in the late '70's.  I never went back.

That would do it for me...

[pjcomix]

My experience with HoJo was less than pleasant.  My friend and I stopped in for lunch and a cockroach actually crawled out of her salad.  This was back in the late '70's.  I never went back.

Maybe you would have had a more favorable opinion of that cockroach if you added Mediterranean Sea Salt to it.

[Cyber Liberty]

Maybe you would have had a more favorable opinion of that cockroach if you added Mediterranean Sea Salt to it.

Before or after the application of a hammer?

[DB]

I once found a large cockroach leg in my Marie Callender's ham sandwich while eating it... Marie Callender's was never quite the same for me after that...

And speaking of Howard Johnson's, in either 1969 or 1970 when my family moved from Texas to California, we ate at a Howard Johnson's near to where our new home was. I had a waffle. It was the strangest waffle I've ever had. It was rubberized foam with no taste...

Anyone remember Stuckey’s? They were along the I40 in Arizona and New Mexico. Their "shakes" didn't melt. They stayed the same consistency no matter what temperature they were at... Not good...

[libertybele]

I once found a large cockroach leg in my Marie Callender's ham sandwich while eating it... Marie Callender's was never quite the same for me after that...

And speaking of Howard Johnson's, in either 1969 or 1970 when my family moved from Texas to California, we ate at a Howard Johnson's near to where our new home was. I had a waffle. It was the strangest waffle I've ever had. It was rubberized foam with no taste...

Anyone remember Stuckey’s? They were along the I40 in Arizona and New Mexico. Their "shakes" didn't melt. They stayed the same consistency no matter what temperature they were at... Not good...

It is disgusting and I'm surprised HoJo lasted for as long as they did.  I've never had a Marie Callendar's anything, so after reading your wonderful 'find' it is doubtful I'll partake in anything made under that label.