Food at the 1964 New York World's Fair facts for kids
The New York World's Fair of 1964–1965 was a huge event where people could try all sorts of delicious foods. You could find classic American cuisine and many exciting dishes from around the world.
Some countries in Western Europe chose not to attend the fair. This was because of a disagreement between the fair's organizer, Robert Moses, and the group that oversees World's Fairs. This created a great chance for other countries to show off their tasty and affordable foods to American visitors.
The fair introduced many new foods to the United States. For example, Belgian waffles and sangria became popular after the fair. Other interesting foods served included falafel, kimchi, hummus, tandoori chicken, and Turkish coffee. Even though the fair didn't make much money, it had a big impact on what Americans eat today!
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Why So Many World Foods?
The World's Fair organizer, Robert Moses, had a disagreement with the official World's Fair group. Because of this, countries like Italy, Germany, and France decided not to come. This opened the door for countries from Latin America, Asia, and Africa. They got to introduce their unique and affordable foods to fairgoers. Many people saw the fair as a "coming-out party" for these countries.
Back in the 1960s, New York City didn't have as many different food choices as it does now. Most places served pizza, corned beef sandwiches, or fancy French food. Foods like Belgian waffles and falafel were almost unknown. Today, you can find them everywhere in New York City. The fair was a big moment for the Belgian waffle in America. They were served with strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. The American-Israel pavilion introduced falafel. They described it as a "spicy vegetable patty eaten between slices of a soft, round bread."
Most historians agree that the World's Fair was more important for its cultural impact than for its money-making success. Its influence on food culture is still felt today.
American Food at the Fair
There was a plan for a huge "World of Food" building. It was supposed to celebrate American food and show off modern kitchens. But there were money problems, and the building was taken down just two weeks before the fair opened. Some companies like Hershey's and Coca-Cola found other spots. But American food was spread out across the fair. Some companies that wanted to join the "World of Food" didn't come at all.
Still, about 50 restaurants offered American dishes at different prices. The Missouri Snack Patio served barbecue ham and hot dogs. You could find smorgasbord at the Minnesota Pavilion. The New England States Pavilion offered old-fashioned dishes from New England. The Greyhound Post Houses had classic American foods. These included clam chowder, fried chicken, cornbread, and pecan pie.
Food from Around the World
Many countries had pavilions with their own special foods. Bakers from Europe came to make Danish pastry at the Denmark pavilion. Other Danish treats included smorgasbord and fish from the Baltic and North Sea.
The Japan pavilion served sukiyaki. This dish had thinly sliced beef, vegetables, and bean curd. It was cooked right at your table in a hot pot. They also offered different kinds of seafood and vegetable tempura. And you could try sushi with warm sake.
The Indian pavilion looked like an ancient temple. It served naan bread and tandoori chicken. At the Korean teahouse, waitresses in costumes performed folk dances. Visitors enjoyed kimchee and bulgogi.
The Hong Kong Pavilion offered many dishes, like "shark fin-stuffed dumplings." The area looked like a Hong Kong dockside. It had old Chinese sailing boats and shows with acrobats and Chinese opera singers.
The Swiss pavilion restaurant served Swiss wines and cheese dishes. These included hot cheese tarts, cheese croquettes, and cheese fondue. They also had meat and sausage dishes. For dessert, there was chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and a kirsch cake.
You could find shish kebab at the Morocco pavilion. The Lebanese pavilion offered mezze platters and shwarama. The Indonesian pavilion served nasi kuning. (This pavilion was later closed due to political issues).
The Spanish Pavilion had several restaurants with traditional Spanish food. The Granada restaurant served Spanish ham, gazpacho, and stuffed sweet peppers. Paella was the most popular dish there. The Toledo restaurant had dishes like mushrooms with béchamel sauce and sea bass cooked in paper. A newspaper called them "the most talked-about restaurants at the fair." It was very hard to get a table! Sangria was introduced to the United States at the Spanish Pavilion.
The International Sandwich Garden
The Seven-Up International Sandwich Garden was a popular spot. It offered a buffet with 16 different sandwiches from around the world.
| Region | Country | Bread | Filling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | England | Raisin bread | Cream cheese and currant jelly |
| Northern Europe | Germany | Pumpernickel | Wurst and spicy dressing |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | Limpa bread | Smoked salmon and chopped egg |
| Northern Europe | Scotland | Barley bread | Sliced lamb with mint dressing |
| The Pacific | The Philippines | Herb bread | Barbecued pork |
| The Pacific | Indonesia | Cinnamon swirl bread | Chicken-ginger-coconut |
| The Pacific | Hawaii | Coconut bread | Lomi-lomi salmon |
| The Pacific | Australia | Caraway rye bread | Sliced beef |
| Mediterranean | France | French bread | Liver pâté |
| Mediterranean | Morocco | Onion white bread | Sliced lamb with tart dressing |
| Mediterranean | Italy | Sesame bread | Provolone and prosciutto |
| Mediterranean | Spain | Poppyseed white bread | "Chicken Valencia" |
| Americas | Canada | Cheddar bread | Baked ham with pickle dressing |
| Americas | Argentina | Corn bread | Churrasco beef |
| Americas | United States | Whole wheat bread | Turkey and cranberry dressing |
| Americas | Alaska | Buttermilk bread | Salmon with lemon dressing |
A platter of four sandwiches, relish, cheese, and candy cost $1.50. That's about $12 in today's money. You also got unlimited Seven Up. This made the sandwich garden one of the cheapest places to eat. The pavilion had a red and white clock tower with the Seven Up logo. It had outdoor dining areas with live music. The menu promised "food specialties of 16 countries in elaborate sandwiches." Each sandwich was served on a special oval-shaped bread.
Fair's Food Legacy
In 2019, an event called the "World's Fare" was held at CitiField. It was a tribute to the great 1964 fair. More than 100 food vendors took part. There was also an international beer garden with over 65 craft brewers. The foods offered included dumplings, empanadas, burgers, fried ice cream, Belgian waffles, and tacos.
