Very common in older urban areas on the East coast, the main kitchen being only "for show" with the latest appliances and generally showing off the good dishes - on the ground floor, all real cooking and eating occurs in the downstairs kitchen generally in the basement where there is generally a pantry with nuclear holocaust capacity.
I can't believe grandma served cake and coffee in the show kitchen! She must be trying to impress Mrs. Romanelli from 9th Avenue.
by BaklavaYazdi September 26, 2014