Why Pineapple is an Excellent Name for a Restaurant
A pair of pineapples flank the stairway of a house on Charles Street, welcoming visitors.
After seeing wrought-iron pineapples all over the West Village and wondering what they meant, I decided to investigate.
Painted garish red, and the only one left of what once was a pair, this pineapple lingers on Hudson Street.
For centuries after the pineapple was introduced into Europe by Columbus at the end of the 15th century from the island of Guadulupe, the fruit remained the sweetest thing anyone had ever tasted. And it quickly became a symbol of both hospitality and the high life.
The pineapple was so named for its resemblance to a pinecone. The wall paintings in Pompeii, said to be pineapples, are probably really pinecones.
In Colonial America, hostesses used pineapples as centerpieces at dinner parties, then cut the fruit up for dessert. There were even firms that would rent you a pineapple if you couldn't afford one -- provided you returned it in unblemished shape. Pineapples became synonymous with hospitality, which is why it would make an excellent restaurant name.
This lumpy specimen stands before a very elaborate wrought-iron gate, which leads to a backhouse.
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
