Toll House Inn
Encyclopedia
Toll House Inn of Whitman, Massachusetts
, was established in 1930 by Kenneth and Ruth Graves Wakefield
. Toll House chocolate chip cookie
s are named after the inn.
about halfway between Boston
and New Bedford, Massachusetts
, it was a place where passengers historically paid a toll, changed horses, and ate home-cooked meals. Today, all that remains of the Toll House is its sign, still standing near the site of the inn.
The Wakefields upheld the lodge's tradition. Ruth cooked all the food served and soon gained local fame for her dessert
s. In 1937, while adapting her butter drop dough cookie recipe
, she became the inventor of the first chocolate chip cookie using a bar of semi-sweet chocolate made by Nestlé
. The new dessert soon became very popular. Ruth contacted Nestlé and they struck a deal: The company would print her recipe on the cover of all their semi-sweet chocolate bars, and she would get a lifetime supply of chocolate. Nestlé began marketing chocolate chips to be used especially for cookies. Ruth wrote a cookbook
, Toll House Tried and True Recipes, that went through 39 printings starting in 1940.
Ruth died in 1977, and the Toll House Inn burned down from a fire that started in the kitchen on New Year's Eve
1984. The inn was not rebuilt. The site is marked with a historical marker, and that land is now home to a Wendy's
restaurant and Walgreens
pharmacy. Although there are many manufacturers of chocolate chips today, Nestlé still publishes the recipe on the back of each package of Toll House Morsels.
Whitman, Massachusetts
Whitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,489 as of the 2010 census. It is notable as being the place where the chocolate chip cookie was invented....
, was established in 1930 by Kenneth and Ruth Graves Wakefield
Ruth Graves Wakefield
Ruth Graves Wakefield was the inventor of the Toll House Cookie, the first chocolate chip cookie.-Early Life and Business:...
. Toll House chocolate chip cookie
Chocolate chip cookie
A chocolate chip cookie is a drop cookie that originated in the United States and features chocolate chips as its distinguishing ingredient. The traditional recipe combines a dough composed of butter and both brown and white sugar with semi-sweet chocolate chips...
s are named after the inn.
History
The original toll house had been built in 1709 and had a rich history of providing a night's solace to weary travelers. Located on what is now Route 18Route 18 (Massachusetts)
Route 18 is a south–north state highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 18 starts as a four-lane freeway, a continuation of John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway in downtown New Bedford, at U.S. Route 6. After the intersection with I-195, Route 18 runs via surface streets...
about halfway between Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, it was a place where passengers historically paid a toll, changed horses, and ate home-cooked meals. Today, all that remains of the Toll House is its sign, still standing near the site of the inn.
The Wakefields upheld the lodge's tradition. Ruth cooked all the food served and soon gained local fame for her dessert
Dessert
In cultures around the world, dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food. The word comes from the French language as dessert and this from Old French desservir, "to clear the table" and "to serve." Common Western desserts include cakes, biscuits,...
s. In 1937, while adapting her butter drop dough cookie recipe
Recipe
A recipe is a set of instructions that describe how to prepare or make something, especially a culinary dish.-Components:Modern culinary recipes normally consist of several components*The name of the dish...
, she became the inventor of the first chocolate chip cookie using a bar of semi-sweet chocolate made by Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
. The new dessert soon became very popular. Ruth contacted Nestlé and they struck a deal: The company would print her recipe on the cover of all their semi-sweet chocolate bars, and she would get a lifetime supply of chocolate. Nestlé began marketing chocolate chips to be used especially for cookies. Ruth wrote a cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
, Toll House Tried and True Recipes, that went through 39 printings starting in 1940.
Ruth died in 1977, and the Toll House Inn burned down from a fire that started in the kitchen on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
1984. The inn was not rebuilt. The site is marked with a historical marker, and that land is now home to a Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
restaurant and Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
pharmacy. Although there are many manufacturers of chocolate chips today, Nestlé still publishes the recipe on the back of each package of Toll House Morsels.