Oscar Tschirky

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Oscar Tschirky (1866 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland - November 7, 1950, in New Paltz, New York) was maître d'hôtel of Delmonico's Restaurant and subsequently the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, New York, United States. He was widely known as "Oscar of the Waldorf" and produced a large cookbook (or at least had his name on it) despite not being a chef. He is known, moreover, as the creator of Eggs Benedict, of Veal Oscar, and of the Waldorf salad, and for aiding in the popularization of Thousand Island Dressing.

Tschirky had a farm in New Paltz where he hosted picnics for friends and family as well as other chefs. In later years the property was purchased by the Philantropique Society and was operated as a retirement home for chefs. It would later become open to the general public and was known as The Culinarians' Home.

Cornell University holds the Oscar Tschirky papers and his noted collection of menus (Cornell University School of Hotel Administration). Karl Schriftgiesser wrote a biography, Oscar of the Waldorf, that appears to be virtually an autobiography. Much recollection is devoted to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and its founder, George C. Boldt, and his wife, Louise Kehrer Boldt.