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\title{Philippe The Original and California}
\author{Ira W. Snyder}
\date{\today}


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Philippe The Original is one of the more well-known restaurants in the Los Angeles area. It is also
a part of the history of Los Angeles, since it opened in 1908. Interestingly, though
the food is very good, that is not what attracts people to Philippe The Original. Instead, other
qualities like the sense of connection with the past,
and how it shows a story of success to the residents of Los Angeles keep drawing a crowd.

Philippe The Original was started by a Frenchman named Philippe Matthieu in 1908. It is currently located
at 1001 N. Alameda Street, which is about 1 block from Los Angeles' Union Station. Philippe The Original is
best known for the invention of the French Dip Sandwich, which was accidentally invented by the owner
in 1918, when he dropped a sliced roll of french bread into juice still hot from the oven. This sandwich was
served to a policeman who was in a hurry. The next day the policeman brought some friends who were also
interested in purchasing dipped sandwiches, and the rest is history. The origin of the sandwich's name is
not clear, but it could have been called a ``French Dip Sandwich'' because of Matthieu's French heritage, the
French roll the sandwich is made on, or because the police officer's name was French.

The story of the invention of the French Dip Sandwich is part of the history that keeps people returning to
Philippe The Original. I think that this story gives people a sense that by living in the city where the
French Dip Sandwich was invented, that they somehow had a part in its invention. The fact that the
French Dip Sandwich was invented at Philippe The Original would help to make it draw more people. In
my opinion, a lot of people would be drawn towards the place where something was invented, rather than to a place
that is making copies of the original.

The restaurant has a very interesting layout. It is different from what we have come to expect in more
modern architecture. It's unique architecture is a product of its heritage. The building that is currently
occupied by Philippe The Original was previously a machine shop with a hotel on the upper floor. There is
seating on both floors; food service is only on the lower floor. This layout is very different
from what we are used to. People tend
to remember unusual scenery far more than they remember the details of something that is very common. This
unusualness would cause Philippe The Original to ``stick'' in people's minds more than a more generic
restaurant.

My experience at Philippe's was a good one. I visited it at about 5pm on a Sunday. Once inside, the first
thing you are likely to notice is the sawdust on the floors. This is not often seen these days,
except at some biker clubs and similar locations. A very unique quality that Philippe The Original has are
the long tables and stools that are placed throughout the restaurant. These long tables allow many
different groups of people to sit together and interact. This is in contrast to the usual booths and tables
that seat only one group of people. Again, like the unique architecture of Philippe The Original, this may
help people to remember the restaurant. This seating arrangement may also help people to make new acquaintances,
as they ask someone who is sitting next to them to pass the hot mustard. This could make good memories, which
would keep someone coming back.

The ordering of food is also somewhat different from many restaurants that we eat at today. Philippe
The Original is an old style delicatessen. All of the food is displayed in large glass cases at the front of 
the room. The menu is posted overhead.  An interesting part of ordering food is how you pay the person preparing
your meal. They tell you how much it will be, and have you put the money on a small tray, which is taken back to
a cashier. The cashier makes change while your meal is being prepared by the person you ordered it from. Once your
meal is ready, your meal is brought back to the counter, and your change is brought back on the same tray that you
put the money on originally. This is definitely something different, and something that is unique, at least to me;
I've never seen it anywhere else.

The menu consists of the French Dip Sandwich, available in roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham,
as well as many other things, such as cole slaw, macaroni and potato salads, pickled hard boiled eggs, and pigs
feet. In addition, you can also choose to order from a selection of soups, beef stew or chili. As far as drinks go,
Philippe's offers lemonade, iced tea, coffee, and a variety of soft drinks.

The mix of food is quite interesting. On one hand, you have traditional American-style food, such
as the sandwiches, macaroni and potato salad, and the stew. But, on the other hand, Philippe's serves
wine, which is almost unheard of except in fancier restaurants. The wine is served at Philippe's to keep
in line with the French heritage of the original owner of the restaurant. This unique cultural blend of foods
may be a reason that people continue to return to Philippe's, and also tell their friends about it as well.

I think that all of the unique features of Philippe The Original, such as the architecture, the seating arrangements,
and the unique mix of food cause it to be remembered very well by the people that visit it. This could be a
reason that Philippe The Original is so well known. A person living here in the Los Angeles area might
want to take a person visiting to someplace unique to Los Angeles, rather than visiting a place that
the visitor could see anywhere. This would make a visit to Philippe The Original a special experience,
and the memories of coming to Philippe's with friends that are not seen very often would help to
enhance the special memories that would keep a person coming to Philippe's.

I think that Angelinos continue to visit Philippe's because it is a link to the past. In their minds it is a place
that is separate from all of the problems and worries that they have in the outside world. In this way, Philippe
The Original is similar to Disneyland. People come to both places to forget their problems, and to have a good time. This
image is reinforced by the wall decorations. On the wall are old newspaper clippings about events that have
happened throughout the restaurant's history, and a display of the history of the electric railroad in Los
Angeles. These are both things that we do not see very often, but both connect us to our past.

Another thing that helps people link Philippe's to the past is the prices of some of
their items, such as the coffee, which is only 10 cents. Some time ago, when reminiscing
about her days in college, my mother told me a story about her going down to a coffee
shop once a week and paying 10 cents for a cup of coffee. This was all the money that she
could afford to spend at the time, and it was the highlight of her week. Seeing the price of
coffee at 10 cents reminded me of this memory, and helped to enhance the feeling of
the past in Philippe's.

The fact that people keep returning to Philippe The Original is proof that they value this link to the past
that is created by the restaurant. People value the past because it is often idealized. Often, it is said ``things
were so much better back then,'' or a similar phrase. By coming to a place that has strong ties to the past, people
may have an easier time remembering pleasant things that happened to them earlier in their lives. This implies that
Angelinos value a carefree life, and they will try to imagine that they have a carefree life by visiting the restaurant.

I think another reason that people enjoy coming to Philippe The Original is that it is a story of success.
The restaurant was founded by a French immigrant, and was eventually sold to a group of immigrants
from Kansas in 1927. The restaurant is obviously successful, since it is still around today, 98 years after
it first opened it's doors. This is a very good success story, since many restaurants do not last for more than a
decade.

I think the primary reason that Angelinos keep coming to Philippe The Original is because
they associate it with good memories, and good times with friends while dining at Philippe's. I'm sure
that having good food helps, (after all, who doesn't like a good meal?) but it is most likely good
memories of the place that keeps them returning.

\subsection*{Sources Used}

\noindent http://www.philippes.com/restaurant/history.shtml -- 2006-06-05

\noindent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe\%27s -- 2006-06-05

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