The food of fantasy: Greek cafés and milk bars

Leonard Janiszewski; Effy Alexakis

The food of fantasy: Greek cafés and milk bars

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution

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Abstract

During the twentieth century Greek-run cafés, milk bars, soda and sundae parlours and oyster saloons became iconic food-catering enterprises where many Australians, in both rural and urban settlings, met often, ate regularly, and at times, partied hard. To their customers, Greek cafés and milk bars would have seemed to be an essential part, and very much pleasurably so, of their daily lives – a place where life seemed better, richer and fuller. In terms of food products, commercial packaging ideas, marketing concepts, technology, architecture, and their association with cinema and popular music, these Greek-run enterprises were essentially selling a dream – an American dream. Sodas, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, milk chocolates and later hamburgers, were offered as all-important food elements within the aspirational fantasy of being able to enjoy American popular culture. This paper focuses upon the conscious melding of food and fantasy.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	22nd Symposium of Australian Gastronomy
Subtitle of host publication	The Art and Science of Food and Drink
Editors	Paul Van Reyk
Publication status	Published - 25 Oct 2019
Event	Symposium of Australian gastronomy (22nd: 2018) - Western Sydney University, Parramatta, Australia Duration: 16 Nov 2018 → 19 Nov 2018

Conference

Conference	Symposium of Australian gastronomy (22nd: 2018)
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Parramatta
Period	16/11/18 → 19/11/18

Bibliographical note

Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

Greek cafes
Greek milk bars
cultural heritage
food history
Australian history popular culture
architectural design
soda fountains
milkshakes
cinema
Rock music--Australia--Anecdotes
Americanisation

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Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 1.3 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

https://www.gastronomers.net/symposium-archive/the-food-of-fantasy-greek-cafes-and-milk-bars/Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

@inproceedings{7c976b71f52e4de69574259f027ab693,

title = "The food of fantasy: Greek caf{\'e}s and milk bars",

abstract = "During the twentieth century Greek-run caf{\'e}s, milk bars, soda and sundae parlours and oyster saloons became iconic food-catering enterprises where many Australians, in both rural and urban settlings, met often, ate regularly, and at times, partied hard. To their customers, Greek caf{\'e}s and milk bars would have seemed to be an essential part, and very much pleasurably so, of their daily lives – a place where life seemed better, richer and fuller. In terms of food products, commercial packaging ideas, marketing concepts, technology, architecture, and their association with cinema and popular music, these Greek-run enterprises were essentially selling a dream – an American dream. Sodas, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, milk chocolates and later hamburgers, were offered as all-important food elements within the aspirational fantasy of being able to enjoy American popular culture. This paper focuses upon the conscious melding of food and fantasy. ",

keywords = "Greek cafes, Greek milk bars, cultural heritage, food history, Australian history popular culture, architectural design, soda fountains, milkshakes, cinema, Rock music--Australia--Anecdotes, Americanisation",

author = "Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis",

note = "Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.; Symposium of Australian gastronomy (22nd: 2018) ; Conference date: 16-11-2018 Through 19-11-2018",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

day = "25",

language = "English",

editor = "{Van Reyk}, {Paul }",

booktitle = "22nd Symposium of Australian Gastronomy",

}

Janiszewski, L & Alexakis, E 2019, The food of fantasy: Greek cafés and milk bars. in P Van Reyk (ed.), 22nd Symposium of Australian Gastronomy: The Art and Science of Food and Drink. Symposium of Australian gastronomy (22nd: 2018), Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, 16/11/18. <https://www.gastronomers.net/symposium-archive/the-food-of-fantasy-greek-cafes-and-milk-bars/>

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AU - Alexakis, Effy

N1 - Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

PY - 2019/10/25

Y1 - 2019/10/25

N2 - During the twentieth century Greek-run cafés, milk bars, soda and sundae parlours and oyster saloons became iconic food-catering enterprises where many Australians, in both rural and urban settlings, met often, ate regularly, and at times, partied hard. To their customers, Greek cafés and milk bars would have seemed to be an essential part, and very much pleasurably so, of their daily lives – a place where life seemed better, richer and fuller. In terms of food products, commercial packaging ideas, marketing concepts, technology, architecture, and their association with cinema and popular music, these Greek-run enterprises were essentially selling a dream – an American dream. Sodas, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, milk chocolates and later hamburgers, were offered as all-important food elements within the aspirational fantasy of being able to enjoy American popular culture. This paper focuses upon the conscious melding of food and fantasy.

AB - During the twentieth century Greek-run cafés, milk bars, soda and sundae parlours and oyster saloons became iconic food-catering enterprises where many Australians, in both rural and urban settlings, met often, ate regularly, and at times, partied hard. To their customers, Greek cafés and milk bars would have seemed to be an essential part, and very much pleasurably so, of their daily lives – a place where life seemed better, richer and fuller. In terms of food products, commercial packaging ideas, marketing concepts, technology, architecture, and their association with cinema and popular music, these Greek-run enterprises were essentially selling a dream – an American dream. Sodas, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, milk chocolates and later hamburgers, were offered as all-important food elements within the aspirational fantasy of being able to enjoy American popular culture. This paper focuses upon the conscious melding of food and fantasy.

KW - Greek cafes

KW - Greek milk bars

KW - cultural heritage

KW - food history

KW - Australian history popular culture

KW - architectural design

KW - soda fountains

KW - milkshakes

KW - cinema

KW - Rock music--Australia--Anecdotes

KW - Americanisation

M3 - Conference proceeding contribution

BT - 22nd Symposium of Australian Gastronomy

A2 - Van Reyk, Paul

Y2 - 16 November 2018 through 19 November 2018

ER -

The food of fantasy: Greek cafés and milk bars

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Cite this