Macaroni Salad

[Singing Bear]

Yup.  What would have been it's origin and what would the original recipe been like?  Is it old enough to fall in our era of interest?  I got word it might have been "invented" by Delmonico's.  Any thoughts on this, Del?   

[Delmonico]

Now I got's another research project.

[Russ T Chambers]

Now I got's another research project.

Don't cha just luv it!!  Another chance to excell!!
Lookin' forward to this, as I like Macaroni Salad!

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[Delmonico]

Never researched it cause I hate it, salads should have green leafy stuff in in it.

[Singing Bear]

Looking forward to what you find, Del, especially if there's a recipe for the first mac salad ever made. 

Reason why I asked is that, here in the islands, we have a lot of drive-ins that serve Hawaiian style plate lunches.  The only thing common to all plates lunches, aside from steamed rice, is mac salad in all it's forms and varieties.  We have a discussion going on about mac salad on a Hawaii base forum and thought it might me neat to find out the history and what the original was like.  Some like their salad just plain with mayo and macaroni and the likes range up to adding tuna and vegies to green olives or dill pickles.  The latter 2 are not favorites here as the local mac salads have to go well with rice, teri beef or anykind of meat gravy be it stew or brown.  Dill pickles and green olives don't quite do it for us.    For me, it has to be flavorful enough to be eaten on it's own and also go good well with what I mentioned above.   

[Delmonico]

OK, update but not much.  NO macaroni salad in any of my old cookbooks, latest 1906, then I have a gap till the 1950's and plenty of it.

Delmonico's and the Waldorf-Astoria pushed salads of all types in the 1880' and 1890's, Waldorf Salad for example.

Macaroni Salad is basicly potato salad with macaroni instead of potatoes.  (Yes the e is in many old cookbooks)  Macaroni was imported till about the time of WWI for several reasons, so it would be logical to use it instead of potatoes in a Gourmet eatin' house like Delmonico's.  Also till 1913 and Helmans coming on the market, mayo had to be hand made, also makin' it gourmet.

I will continue to search, but the Delmonico's still might be the source.