Colonial social custom and how to impress the guests

Always of interest is the life and times of our ancestors -- little insights into everyday living that help us see them as real people with intentions, motivations, and sensitivities no different than our own. In her article, "The Pineapple as a Symbol of Colonial Prosperity," Melissa Slate reveals how the "exotic" pineapple figured in the social life of Colonial America and it's potential to impress. What today, I wonder, would be the pineapple's equivalent, probably nothing quite as simple.