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Road Trip Dining in New Mexico! Don and I were traveling through New Mexico in September. We weren't hungry for lunch yet, but Don suddenly grew worried. "We'll be out of New Mexico in less than 2 hours and we never tried a Frito Pie!" (Supposedly, this food delight was invented in NM) I quickly searched the internet and found the perfect place! Since 1967 I was pretty delighted when we pulled in the lot! It looked like the iconic drive-in hadn't changed much, since it opened in 1967. Although there was no curb service, we could have eaten in the car, under any of the shady roofs. But we'd had enough car time. Walk Up Window We parked and headed to the walk up window. A smiling face peered out, so I asked if I could take a photo. The cheery person answered, as she moved away from the window... "Sure! Take as many as you like... just not of me!" The good humored woman teased another employee, to pose for my photo. I could tell we were going to have some fun. Busy Kitchen After snapping the window pic, Don and I headed for the door. We wanted to eat inside where all the action was. There were at least 5 people working in the tiny kitchen behind the counter. Photos on Display Alma, who was the first to greet me in the window, welcomed us. "Be right with you!" That gave me a minute to study the display of framed photos. When Alma turned to take the order, she pointed with enthusiasm. "Those are my parents." Cars at the Drive-In Jeannette, who had played along and posed in the window, was also glad to see me admiring the photos. "That's a picture of my car! Last week we had a big group of low riders that stopped here." There were a few car photos, so I'm not sure if this is her car Kitchen Talk Don and I announced that we had come, to sample a Frito Pie! The kitchen seemed eager to help us out. Luckily there was a short lull, with no new diners arriving. While our order was prepared, we had lots of time for kitchen banter. Gerald, (who is Alma's sister) teased from the grill, when I asked to take some photos. "No!" He answered with a lame scowl. Then he smiled as big as his Dad, in the photo. Want to Buy a Restaurant? The activity behind the counter was loud and playful. Gerald pretended to be annoyed when I asked for another photo, since the first one was blurry. He asked more than once if we wanted to buy the restaurant. He hammed it up, as if he'd had enough of the stresses of ownership. But Gerald and the rest of the crew seemed to be having a pretty good time. I wasn't convinced they would sell. Frito Pie Time Suddenly our Frito Pie was handed to us in a paper bag. We chose 2 of the 10 red stools and got ready for our feast. We said hello to our fellow diners, hoping to strike up conversation and continue the fun. But they answered my question with one word, "California." Clearly they were not about the whole experience. We left them alone. The Pie Don and I grinned at each other as we opened the bag and pulled out a Styrofoam cup and a paper bundle, secured with a toothpick. I wondered why our feast wasn't being served in a Fritos bag. I pulled off the lid and pushed the spoon down, past some melted slices of cheese. How curious. When I lifted the spoon, it held a soupy mixture of red chili, cheese and a few Fritos, that were just beginning to soften. Hmm? We could have added shredded lettuce and tomatoes, but we were quickly starting to enjoy the "soup" just as it was. This hardly seemed like a pie of any kind. The crazy goodie in a cup, was pretty yummy. We passed it back and forth. "I like how the Fritos are absorbing the chili!" "This tastes so much better than it looks!" On Our Way Before heading out, we made sure to let the whole crew know that we'd enjoyed our Frito Pie and our visit. There was a little more chatter... about the Houston Astros... about some of the favorite guests who have visited the drive-in... about the summer weather... By the time we got in the car, a new wave of diners had arrived. Whether they were regulars or travelers, I hoped that they would appreciate the place like we did.
It's always nice to see a happy, family owned business! When Gerald and Alma's parents opened up over 50 years ago, I wonder if they guessed their kids would be running the place in 2018. I would love to have heard some stories about the siblings earliest memories at the drive-in. Maybe next time!
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Gatherin' Place Cafe Today, it's about 100 degrees in Houston. I'm thinking back to a cozy lunch last February, in Pie Town, New Mexico! Road Trip to California I heard about Pie Town a few years ago and I made a mental note. So last winter when Don and did a TX to CA road trip, I was pretty excited to study the map and realize we could go a little off-route, between Truth or Consequences, NM and Gallup. Open! The weather was a little worrisome, but the winding drive on US 60 was scenic. Luckily, one of the three pie-related cafes was open. A Welcome Truck The old truck outside of Gatherin' Place was a pretty good reminder that we'd made it to Pie Town. Evidently the town of under 200, got its name because of a bakery that served up pie to travelers, back in the 1920's. Pie is still pretty much what the town is known for. The Bakery Door There were two doors on the front porch. The door on the right took us into the bakery where 3 women greeted us, while their flour covered hands worked at various tasks. Eating Room We stepped into the other room which held 3 community tables. An older couple from Iowa was finishing up their pie. We chatted a little road trip talk, until they headed off. Then we had the place to ourselves. Snowed In? We kept an eye out the window, watching the snow. We worried a little over the drive ahead, but also figured this would be a pretty good place to get snowed in. Not only did the place have pies to last for days, but each table had a few games. We could have played Cribbage and Checkers, into the night. Cowboy Bob Bob the Cook, popped up in the window when our food was ready. He seemed pretty eager to come out and chat since there were no other food orders. Chat Break Bob didn't grow up in Pie Town. He told us he sold his ranch and retired to Pie Town, where his wife worked as a school teacher. Somewhere in the conversation, Bob mentioned that he usually wore a gun. Hmm? The town seemed safe enough to me. But, I guess the gun was more about completing his outfit, than safety. "They wanted me to wear it when I started working here. But it was just too heavy." He laughed. Chili and Cornbread Don ordered chili, which seemed like the perfect food for a snowy day. Bob did a good job. The chili had big chunks of meat and the cornbread was fresh. I ordered a baked potato, which is my comfort food of choice. We saved room for pie. Pie Waitress I was excited to know our waitress was actually from Pie Town. She didn't have much to tell us about the town, because there wasn't much to tell. She was mostly excited about the weather. "It's been so dry. We need the moisture!" Small Pies We had about 25 pie flavors to choose from, but only one size. I kind of loved the mini size, which is good for people like me who love a good crust! We split a caramel-apple pie and got a chocolate-cherry to take on the road. Both were fresh out of the oven, rolled out on the cooling cart! Yum! Bye Pie Town! Five months later, I'm still thinking about that snowy visit to Pie Town. I can't believe we got to spend a cozy time chatting over chili and pie, with a few welcoming people. We also had just enough snow to make it fun! We faced no travel issues after we got back on the road.
Yay for Pie! Food, History and a Fun People Encounter! In the heart of Albuquerque's historic Old Town, sits a sweet little house with a bunch of dining rooms. Don and I visited last September and had a fine time! The Cookbook Link Once again, we came across a dining option by browsing through one of our vintage Ford Treasury cookbooks. This one from 1950, features cafes and dining rooms (with recipes) from 48 states.On our 4-week road trip last fall, we made sure to pack all 4 books. It's always an adventure, tracking down a featured eatery that still exists! Dating Back to the 1700's The restaurant in our book was housed in what was once a hacienda belonging to Don Manuel Armijo and his family. The rambling, Pueblo-Spanish style building sits across from the Plaza that was once the bustling center of life in the 1700's. 1935 This is how the casa looked in 1935, long after the Armijo Family left. The second story was evidently added to the structure around 1872, when one of the daughters got married and needed a dramatic stairway. Under the Portal When we arrived last fall, the long portal was offering shade for the Native American vendors selling their crafts. We took a peek, but moved towards the door near the corner... hungry for lunch. Memorable Features The building was divided into 6 dining rooms, with hints of what the old home must have been like. I took a good look at the classic stairway that was imported from Spain, after the second floor was added. This allowed the young bride an impressive way to show off her 30-foot wedding train. I asked if we could be seated in the dining room with the tree, since I'd seen it in the almost cartoonish cookbook illustration. The tree room had once been the courtyard. It was enclosed with a skylight back in the thirties when La Placita opened. Windows and Doors Our young waiter, Matt was happy to seat us at a table on the raised terrance beside the tree. The nearby window once gave a peek inside the house. Now the glass was covered in painted flower designs. The doorway into the next dining room revealed the 4-inch thick walls. I wonder how many coats of paint have gone on that wood trim. Menu and Book I loved the vintage photos on the menu. It could have been the same menu cover given to the writer/ illustrator who visited the restaurant over 65 years ago, for the Ford cookbook. The book's recipe for Sopapillas called for lard and the illustration showed a smaller tree. But at least I found sopapillas on the menu. Often restaurants no longer serve the recipes that are featured. Hidden Fireplace The illustration showed a fireplace covering half the wall. I had to hunt a bit for that fireplace, but I found it. Corner Fireplace There were corner fireplaces in many of the rooms. These had once been used for "top of the stove" cooking, while the baking had been done outside in cone-shaped, mud ovens. This fireplace behind the bar was used for stacking wine carafes. Dining With a Tree For a while no one else was in our dining room. I had expected tons of tourists in this festive part of town. But eventually some others diner arrived and became interested in the cookbook they saw on our table. Cottonwood Tree The bricks surrounding the tree trunk were beginning to buckle. We laughed with our dining neighbors about how small the tree looked in the book. The trunk today, looked to be about 4 feet in diameter. The branches lifted up through a metal portion of the skylight. The branches above the roof, swayed in the breeze and cast odd shadows in the room. A leaf or two had managed to drop onto the brick floor. Food I had to save room for sopapillas, so I had a salad and shared Don's enchilada plate. The plate was piping hot and spilling over with flavorful sauces, rice, beans and cheese. It was so fun to learn from Matt, that many recipes are still used from the day when La Placita first opened in 1931. The same family still runs the restaurant. Dessert! I obviously was dressed for my dining adventure on this day. Luckily I didn't burn myself on the scalding little pillows off goodness. And I also managed to keep the drippy honey off my embroidered blouse... bought 20 years ago at a thrift shop and used for very special occasions. What a yummy and sticky treat! Our Waiter, Matt I was delighted when Matt saw our cookbook and laughed. He actually recognized it! He said he had been working at La Placita for 10 years, starting in high school. He was sad that his days with the La Placita family might be coming to an end soon. He had just graduated from college He couldn't rave enough about the family who owns the restaurant. His favorite working memories revolved around Christmas and the festive decorations and the families who came every year on Christmas Eve and posed beside the tree. It made me want to come back in December. Best Server on Trip Matt showed us around a little before we left. We told him that we were reaching the end of our 4-week road trip and he was being highly considered as our favorite server of all the places where we'd dined. He disappeared and came back with a great little book that included La Placita history and recipes. He chuckled as he handed it to us. "Not that I'm trying to sway you with your decision!" He grinned as we read where he had signed the inside of the book...
"From: Matt (Top Candidate for Best Server Award) September 24, 2105 Yep, Matt won! September 2015 I made Don take a little detour on our western road trip. We didn't exactly have a dining adventure in Los Alamos, but we picked up some lunch there. Why Los Alamos? I was curious. I had just read the book, The Wives of Los Alamos. I was curious about this community that grew on the top of a desert plateau, where wives mostly raised families and husbands secretly created the atomic bomb. As we pulled into town, I made Don stop so I could take a photo and text it to my book club. Then I got on TripAdvisor, and looked for a place to catch a quick lunch. Chili Works In a town that now has a population of over 17,000, you'd think we could have come up with something better. But it was drizzling and there was some frustrating traffic and we were hungry. So we trusted the good reviews for this hole in the wall joint and headed over for carryouts. Creepy? Well, sort of. But there were a lot of regulars rushing in and out. Some looked like office workers carrying lunch for a crowd. That's usually a good sign. Through Screen Doors I like a place with screen doors. The green one lead into the tiny ordering place. The other door opened to a small, crowded patio. Placing My Order... Quickly The man at the tiny window did not look patient. He was not in the mood for any hesitation, so I asked no questions and ordered the breakfast burrito and a beef burrito. I had read good reviews, after all. I was very brave and snapped a quick picture, which does not capture the bustling activity in the crowded kitchen. Oh well. Burrito Picnic Don and I headed out of town and found a lovely spot in a State Park, with a self- pay fee-box, to pay for our park usage. They should have called it the green pepper burrito. We kept digging down to see if there was egg anywhere? Burrito #2 in a Cave That evening we arrived at our Kokopelli Cave Hotel and toted our burrito in a paper bag and a couple backpacks down the rocky pathway to our cave house entrance. We stopped earlier and bought some salad fixings and wine and thought we'd heat up that second burrito for a taste treat. After each taking a bite we had the same reaction. "It tastes metallic!" We were convinced the burrito was atomic and put it in the trash. Lab Tricks? I'm sorry, Los Alamos. I tried to embrace your town and support a local establishment. But I can't say we had a good food experience. Of course, we don't really believe our burritos were atomic, but I was reminded of a LAB FOOD story from over 35 years ago... Don was working in a chemical lab in St. Louis when we were first married. He and a few co-workers had some fun with a White Castle burger one day. Don came home and laughed about how they put the burger in a container and purged it with a little nitrogen to make it airtight. Their experiment was to see if any "self-respecting mold" would grow on the ultimate junk food.
So hopefully no ex-lab worker got a job at The Chili Works! Science geeks can have a very funny sense of humor. Route 66 in New Mexico Earlier this month Don and I spent one night in Tucumcari on the old Mother Road. There were so many neon signs and intriguing options, it was hard to decide where to dine. This place with the stucco sombrero seemed like a fine choice, until I walked inside. Only one man was dining, but the waitress was also running a flower shop. She seemed overwhelmed, so we moved on. Lounge at the Pow Wow Inn Our host at the Blue Swallow Motor Court recommended this restaurant & bar, at a nearby 1960's motor inn. Only on Route 66 do you find such a blend. "Native American themed" motel, with a "lizard themed" cocktail lounge! The Lizard Lounge The first thing that caught our attention, was the mural of Lizard Woman. Don shook her hand and asked the bartender about her. Yogi said the face on the mural was not hers, but it belonged to her cousin. She introduced us to her Uncle Pat, at the bar, then turned back to the mural. "She's one of Uncle Pat's other nieces." Gotta love a family bar! After that little conversation, we decided to sit right down at Yogi's bar and enjoy some more chatting with regulars. Don had a local draft and I had the "Blue Swallow" margarita, named for the iconic motel, where we were staying. I thought the icy drink looked more green lizard, than blue swallow. Lounge Decor We enjoyed some of the ambience around us. I took a good look at the paneled wall, covered in local history. Then I peeked into the restaurant and noticed some pretty curious painted walls, near the booths. The artwork featured diners, who looked like they were sitting in the empty booths. Shame on me for getting no photo. Chatting With New Friends After chatting with Yogi and Pat, another guest at the bar joined the converstaion. When I learned that Rudy was raised in town, I asked him about something I'd read about earlier. "Since you were born in Tucumcari, do you know anything about a water tower collapsing in 1951?" Rudy wasn't old enough to actually remember. He said he knew the history though, since he now lives next to the replacement tank. Rudy said the tank exploded in '51, flooded the town and caused one death. Rudy moved over to the wall and pointed to a photo with a happier memory. "I used to work at El Rancho Bar!" He had fun pointing out the long gone buildings he remembered fondly. Uncle Pat's Memories "Uncle Pat" jumped up and pointed to a 1956 photo of "Sands-Dorsey Drugs". He said the building burned down, but he had good memories of the wonderful malts! An older man arrived while we were studying photos. I was tempted to ask him to point out his favorite building, but I didn't want to trouble our new bar buddy. He had just gotten his collapsable cane (with fancy spotlight) tucked away. I headed back to my stool and admired the spotlight on his cane. He shared a story about how that cane got stuck in an elevator door once. "I was just trying to hold the elevator! Those doors close way too fast! Someone had to come pry the doors open." One More Friend Don and I were honestly touched by the sincere pride these folks revealed, when they talked about their small town. They wanted us to be sure to visit the museum before we left town. "And don't forget to drive by the old theatre." Then before leaving the lounge, we were introduced to one more important bar regular. Actually I'm not sure if the mechanical lizard had a name. The jazzy lizard with tie, shades and tattoo, came to life with the push of a hidden button! What a memorable visit! Del's Don and I had a lot of fun over 1 drink, but figured we should move on, to experience one more Route 66 joint. We had spotted Del's earlier. It was dark by the time we arrived, but the neon was all aglow. The place has been around since before I was born, but the inside updates made it less iconic. We were tired of chitchat and ready to eat. I got a salad bar and chili. Don got the raspberry chicken with mashed potatoes. All tasty enough, but we were no longer needing a dining adventure. Eat and run... back to the Blue Swallow for a good night's rest... with "100% Refrigerated Air!"
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
April 2024
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