Apollo HS

Travel, Tourism, and Restaurant Management

Chef Clarke's Website

The purpose of this website is to assist in answering questions you may have before, during, and even after you finish the course.

What's the deal with the pineapple???

The unique shape and symmetry of pineapples presented an enjoyable challenge to carvers and potters, and pineapples as architectural elements started to be integrated into woodworking, and home décor. Especially in the colonies, pineapples became a popular symbol - on bedposts, tablecloths, napkins and throughout the home.

In colonial America, hostesses would place a fresh pineapple as a centerpiece at the table when entertaining visitors in their homes. Visiting was the primary method of cultural exchange, as well as entertainment, so hospitality was central to colonial life. The pineapple symbolized the warmest welcome a hostess could extend to her guests, and was often also served as dessert for the meal.

Creative food display sometimes became a competition among hostesses, demonstrating her personality and her family's social status. Hostesses tried to outdo one another to creating memorable dining events. Colonial grocers sometimes rented pineapples to hostesses desperate to create a dining experience above their financial means. Later, once that hostess had returned the pineapple, the fruit would be sold to more affluent clients who could afford to actually buy and eat it. Regardless of ones financial ability to actually buy and eat the pineapple, however, visitors to the homes that displayed the pineapple felt particularly honored that the hostess had spared no expense on their behalf.

To the present day, the pineapple has remained a familiar symbolic image of welcome, good cheer, and warmth and affection between all who gather inside.

Below is information on our next educational trip.