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Reviving an icon - Splayds |
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Splayds are an Australian invention first made for a coffee shop called Martha Washingtons which was situated in Martin Place in the centre of Sydney. During the Second World War it was a very popular place to eat with the US troops who were either stationed in the city or were there for R&R after fighting in the Pacific
Do wedding lists today ever contain a request for Splayds? Indeed do young couples even know what they are?
Have they gone the way of the fondue set or the crockpot and slid out of favour because of the change in the foods we eat and the lifestyles that we now lead?
According to some department stores they are occasionally placed on wedding lists even though the buffet is no longer as popular as it once was for entertaining.
Splayds are an Australian invention first made for a coffee shop called Martha Washingtons which was situated in Martin Place in the centre of Sydney. During the Second World War it was a very popular place to eat with the US troops who were either stationed in the city or were there for R&R after fighting in the Pacific.
They became famous and after the war were exported to the US to fill the demand which was fuelled by the servicemen going back home and spreading the word about this great new piece of flatware.
It would be a shame to see this Australian icon of the forties and fifties disappear completely. Splayds have a lot going for them not the least being the fact that they make life easy when you are at a function trying to balance a plate and a glass of wine, make conversation and not spill food everywhere.
Perhaps we need to start a Splayd revival - after all retro is 'in' at the moment and Splayds are certainly part of an important era in Australia's history.
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