Hollywood, Recipes, The Brown Derby

Lucy Eats Spaghetti at the Brown Derby

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Lucy eats her spaghetti and meatballs at The Brown Derby in I Love Lucy, LA at Last!

At the Brown Derby Restaurant the meat sauce was a specialty of the house according the the 1949 Brown Derby cookbook, Lucy Ricardo ordered her spaghetti and meatballs with extra meat sauce, The set decoration scene looks very like the real Brown Derby. ( see archival photo here ).

Willow Pattern dinnerware at the Brown Derby
Willow Pattern dinnerware at the Brown Derby  L to R. Sally and Bob  Cobb of the Brown Derby, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance.

In real life Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz along with many Hollywood stars regularly dined at the Brown Derby. Google image search brings up  numerous 1950’s photos that match the decor of the scene. The dinner ware in use in the restaurant was classic Willow Pattern  – in the original color photos of the day pink/red willow pattern dishes can be seen.

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Derby Meat Sauce original recipe from The Brown Derby cookbook.

derbyashtrayOriginal Vintage Brown Derby Ashtray Seen on Etsy – Click to View Details