Noodles Romanoff, Side Dish of Hollywood Legend.

Michael Romanoff created himself as much as he created one of old Hollywoods's most popular hotspots. Years before Facebook Twitter and television, Newspaper photographers gathered at hotspots to take pictures of the glamorous life that the movie stars lived. Romanoff's was certainly one of those places.  Sophia Loren, Jane Mansfield, Cary Grant, Bogie, Clark Gable all were photographed here eating drinking dancing and living the glam life that American's have always craved to see.

Romanoff was a cad and con man who created a name for himself and developed an dining environment which became a sought after reservation in Hollywood from 1936 to 1962. Along with the menu of classics like shrimp cocktail and steaks and chops he came up with 2 iconic dishes which were the "Bloomin Onion" of that time. One was Strawberries Romanoff, a simple Brandy infused mix of berries and whipping cream. The other Noodles Romanoff was a side dish served along most anything or ordered on it's own. It was rich and creamy sauce laden egg noodle dish which had simple flavorings, a bit of cheese, and sour cream at it's base. It was a riff on a dish that his mother and grandmother had made in eastern Europe.  And like Romanoff my Austro- Hungarian grandmother also made.

In the 1960's and 1970's Betty Crocker sold a boxed version of this side dish of Hollywood lore that many might remember. It was discontinued but is remembered with fondness my many who grew up on it.

This version is my take on the recipe. It could not be simpler but does involve buying cheese powder which is hard to find anywhere but the internet. Not to worry though I will give you a substitute. This is based on a dish I grew up with, sour cream noodles. But it comes pretty close to the original recipe!


Noodles Romanoff

8 oz of the widest eggs noodles you can find ( Country Style Dumpling Noodles are good)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for garnish
3 tablespoon white cheddar cheese powder (or sub 3 tablespoons canned Romano cheese, not parm)
1 tablespoon dried parsley plus extra for garnish
3 tablespoons finely snipped chives (fresh or dried)
1 teaspoon seasoning salt (Lawry's or TJ's onion salt)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
3 tablespoons butter
Extra milk, cream or half and half on hand

Directions:

Boil Noodles per package directions

Meanwhile blend all other ingredients together except butter

Drain noodles return to pot and add butter to coat the noodles stirring gently

Add the sour cream mixture  gently mix and if needed because too dry add more cream milk or butter and serve immediately or hold warm and add more milk if dries out.