Kitchen Carts History

Beginning in the 1830’s, Prince Alexander Borisovitch Kourakine, the Russian ambassador to Paris, introduced kitchen carts as a new way to serve guests during formal dinners. Up until that time, dinners were presented “a la Francaise,” know to us today as buffet style. The use of kitchen carts allowed guests to remain seated and have dinner brought directly to the table. This style of service became known as “a la Russe”. Kourakine’s concept of service led to an appreciation for the art of food preparation and presentation. Service “au guridon” followed this idea and called for the meal to be brought out first for the guests to admire before the dish was served individually. The “guirdon” became known as a wheeled cart that was used to present the finer selections on the menu such as cheese and desserts, which is still imitated in many modern day restaurants. While the concept of kitchen carts is nothing new, the uses and features of today’s carts have evolved greatly.