Lenore Richards

Born in 1892, Lenore Richards was an American home economics teacher, writer, and later a co-owner of the Richards Treat Cafeteria in Minneapolis. She is best remembered for writing about food service in a way that was practical, clear, and grounded in everyday work rather than culinary showmanship.

With Nola Treat, she co-authored influential cookbooks including Quantity Cookery and Tea-room Recipes. Their books drew on recipes and methods used in the Richards Treat business and were aimed at people cooking for groups as well as home makers and tea-room managers.

Richards's career reflects an important moment in American food history, when home economics, institutional cooking, and restaurant management were becoming professional fields for women. She died in 1971, but her books continued to circulate for decades and are still remembered by readers interested in classic large-scale cooking.