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Detour on Route 66 I left Springfield, MO on a Monday in April. I had 2 days to drive home to Houston, so I meandered on Route 66 a bit. By 11:30, I had a coffee headache. I had been so busy grinning over passing barns and vintage gas stations and old motor courts, that I'd forgotten to grab breakfast or coffee. "A Must See" This is the first sign that caught my eye. I was on a 2-lane road in the middle of nowhere. What was this sign pulling me towards? I pulled over and studied the sign's hot air balloon and airplanes. Above the words, I saw the cute little design with knife, fork and spoon. I eagerly continued on, until I saw the next sign. A Mirage? This sight from my car window was almost too good to be true. I needed a restroom & coffee break and it looked like I could get that, right along with a little adventure! I zoomed in for this photo. The rounded structures were actually much further away. I laughed out loud. It just seemed so whimsical, to come across this Oz-like image across the fields. Best of all, I was being invited by the signs to stop in! Tables and Cars I parked beside some work trucks and walked across a spacious patio with enough tables for a large crowd. There were a couple of small planes on green field and two sweet vintage cars under the shelter. I smiled and headed inside. In the Hangar I stepped through the doors and found the colorful dining area nearly empty. Roberta, in the pink sweatshirt, welcomed me in and I asked about coffee. Then I realized how hungry I was and asked if they were still serving breakfast. Taking It In She rushed off to check with the cook and I sat at one of the cute little diner tables and stared in every direction. Bright, planes and hot air balloons swooped above me. A runway, right beside my table, lead to the Men's Room. The women's room door was also painted with field and sky to fit in with the wall mural. There was no need for a TV, with all the amusement, but at least I got to see a little retro "Andy Griffith" along with my comfort food breakfast... which arrived not long after my coffee. Table With a View I had no idea how hungry I was, until my plate was in front of me. I don't know about the rest of the food, but my simple scrambled egg breakfast was perfect. I was ready to devour my food, but heard a roar behind me. I turned around towards the wall of glass, to see where the noise was coming from. Outside, one plane had landed and another was just heading off to the grass runway. I grabbed my camera and left my plate. Inside and Out The planes outside were just as adorable as the ones decorating the restaurant ceiling. I spent a little time squinting into the noon sun, watching the plane activity. Back inside, Roberta offered to reheat my breakfast, but I assured her, it was fine. I let her fill me in, a little more. I learned that the other nearby hangar was where sky diving and crop dusting classes were held. I also learned about the Kingsley Brothers. Kiman, Kaleb and Kaland are 4th generation farmers in the Miller, MO area. The 3 farmers and cropdusters, opened the cafe a number of years ago. Roberta tole me their mom was helping in the kitchen at the moment. I saw Mrs. Kingsley come out for a little break, at one point. Balloon and Flight Stories After I finished my eggs, I wandered to the additional room, where private parties are often held. I studied the photos of tractors and crop dusters, skydivers and hot air balloons. I wondered about the people in the photos and their stories. Roberta introduced me to a pilot who had just parked his plane. "He might want to eat lunch with you," she added. I wondered if she maybe she'd never served a woman eating by herself before. I would have gladly shared my table, but the very nice pilot wasn't stopping to eat. It would have been fun to have heard his stories, but I actually have plenty of my own to share. I could have told about my 5-dollar flight lesson in 1975...or my hot air balloon ride, with a crash landing... or my one time parachuting experience, with twisted lines..." He probably would have thought I'd made up those stories anyway. Photo Covered Walls I only spoke a few words with the pilot, but a gentleman sitting nearby noticed me looking at the photos. He struck up a conversation. He owned a horse ranch (I believe) and had taken up photography in recent years. The photos were his and they were quite entertaining. From Above I loved this photo, taken from a plane, I can only assume. Seeing the photos made me wish I didn't live so far away. What fun to come back on a weekend and eat lunch, watching people jump from planes, or dancing to a live band in the evening. Balloon Basket When it was time to pay my $5.00 bill, I walked over to the hot air balloon basket where the cash register was held. That's about the size of the basket that I was in, when it smacked ground and dragged through an oat field in 1974. Oh what fun, being reminded of some of my own past, sky-adventures! A Quick Pic Before heading out, I asked Roberta if I could get a quick photo of her. Next thing I knew, she was introducing me to Kayland Kingsley and his friend. They graciously put up with the interruption. Then Roberta asked me to sign the guest book with my address, so I'd be on the mailing list. Few Days Later A few days later a card arrived in the mail. What a surprise! When I read the note, I learned "Bert" is Roberta's preferred name. And I learned that Bert has some pretty good drawing skills! Back for Pie After reading the note, I decided I will have to get back that way just to show Don this wonderful little Missouri oasis. Also, I'll need to have some of Bert's pie! One More Update! In November 2019, I returned to Hangar Kafe, with my husband and my dad! What a treat to have a meal with family and another visit with Bert!
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Amarillo, Texas Last year, Don and I headed from Texas to Colorado and made a very special lunch stop in Amarillo. After spotting numerous billboards along I-40, the Big Texan Cowboy came into view! This big guy has been welcoming hungry travelers since 1960, when R. J. "Bob" Lee built the original restaurant on Route 66. Traveling Cowboy It must have been exciting to watch the big sign go up in 1960. But it might have been even more exciting, when the sign was moved by helicopter to a new location in 1970. Relocation was Bob's answer, when there were concerns about the construction of I-40, rerouting travelers away from The Mother Road. Bob was smart enough to buy land along the future I-40, so they were able to open up an even bigger and better Big Texan Steak Ranch. Time for Lunch! This is how the bright, yellow building looked when we pulled up on a Tuesday, in early June. I didn't have to fight any tourists to pose with "Big Moo"! In 1970 If we'd arrived on opening day 47 years ago, we would have parked in the unpaved lot. The flags in this old photo make me think there was probably lots of dust whipping around that lot. Feeling Giddy Luckily, Don and I were both on the same page about this lunch stop. We were more than ready to take in the fun of this iconic place. This kind of dining adventure doesn't go over, if one is being dragged along. Don is not usually one to put his face in the hole, for a photo. But we were open for a silly good time and he was happy to pose with his face above the cartoonish steak. Game for a 72-Ounce Steak? As soon as we stepped into the carnival style interior, we learned about the 4.5 pound steak challenge. Don and I were up for a good time, but neither of us had any desire to break records. Evidently the 1st place record went to a diner who ate the steak in 4 minutes. Yuck. Festive, but Quiet If it had been July or a weekend, I'm sure the place would have been swarming. I was pretty content, not dealing with crowds. If there had been more people, I might have missed some of the details... like those dandy saddles, lined up along the shooting gallery. Off to the Dining Room Don and I headed past the fudge counter and the stuffed grizzly, to get to the dining hall. Gals in cowboy hats and bolo ties, greeted us with Texas twangs. We were lead into the rustic, 2-story dining hall. Cowboy Hats and Critters The western-style dining room had lots to look at. I loved the rock-covered wall by the entrance. I wanted to climb that wall and check on the bears and moose, up there. The staff was easily spotted in their cowboy attire. The tables were only about half full, so we got speedy service. Fur Covered Tables Don and I were seated at the end of a long community table, covered in cowhide. Well, it looked that way. It was really a plastic table cloth. Don ordered the "Whoop Your Donkey" Double IPA, "triple dry, hopped with a malty backbone." Since the beer was actually brewed at Big Texan, I should have suggested they change the name. I happen to adore donkeys. Smiling I can't remember what's behind that Mona Lisa smile. Maybe Don took a picture when I was listening to David Waddle, the strolling cowboy singer. Musician and More We had a nice chat with David when he came to our table. Don requested a song by Bob Wills, since we had just traveled through Turkey, Texas... "Home of Bob Wills". David was happy to. He'd just been to the Bob Wills Festival in Turkey. He'd played many roles at the festival... Pit Master, Musician and Dancer. We didn't get to see him dance or cook. He did a nice job singing, though. Love Them Dishes! Don and I don't do huge feasting when on the road. You don't want your driver (or navigator) sleepy. Don just had a side of chili and a pulled pork sandwich. The plate was the exciting part to me. I would have bought one of those hefty china dishes, if I could have afforded it. They were $32. in the gift shop. Potato Pan I had the 5-dollar potato, served in a sturdy little pan. That was a pretty lame choice for dining in a steakhouse, but that's pretty much all I wanted. It was tasty. Upstairs Before hitting the road, we wandered up to the second level to get a view of the tables. It was a good place for people watching. I was a little jealous of the kiddos I spotted. It looked like they were given little cowboy hats with their kiddie meals. Or did they all just have parents who said "okay" in the gift shop? Big Moo When I said good-bye to Big Moo, I was reminded of my mom and how much she would have loved this dining adventure. Mom's nickname with her own 4 kids, was Moo. She also was a big fan of curious cafes and roadside diners. Moo would have loved this place. If only Moo had been with us, she would have been the one posing with Big Moo! Next Time I love an oddball dining adventure, but I also love my curious motel/hotel adventures. I had no idea Big Texan had it's own motel options! This motel had a super corny western facade that I pretty much loved. And of course the Big Cowboy was towering above! Maybe on another road trip, we'll stop for the night AND devour a little steak! Update in 2023 In June of 2023, Don and I returned to Amarillo. This time we enjoyed the Big Texan Experience with our daughter, son-in-law and 2-year-old granddaughter! The slideshow below makes it pretty clear... Big Texan is a lot more fun with more family! Especially having a spunky little gal in the gang, who loved the crazy atmosphere, the food, the music and the walk to see the horses after dinner! What a fun time!
Indian & Pakistani Feasting My friend Kristi and I tried Himalaya a couple years ago. We weren't overly impressed, mostly because we felt a little rushed at lunch. So last week, we met up with our husbands, to give the place another try. Since our last visit, Himalaya has had a few big spotlights, on national TV and radio. The tiny restaurant was featured on CNN's show, Anthony Bordain's: Parts Unknown. NPR aired a program, describing Himalaya's cuisine as Pakistani & Indian, with deep Texas roots. Don and I arrived on a Thursday evening at 6:30. We parked in the strip mall lot and counted about 5 other options for Indian food. That was no surprise since we were in the Houston area, known as the Mahatma Gandhi district. I was feeling sort of at home in the area, since I'd recently spent 5 hours shopping at a number of Sari Shops across the street... for an Indian wedding. I should have dressed up for dinner! Cozy Once Kristi and Jim arrived we headed inside. I wanted to wander and study the decorated walls, but the cozy space filled up too quickly. I wanted to ask about the Latin American art on the back wall. I wanted to know if it was left over from the Columbian Restaurant that was once housed in the space. But I was too intimidated to wander and ask questions. Don and I had read a few reviews from diners who said the restaurant was unfriendly. I don't usually let whiney reviews sway me, but I also didn't want to risk ruining the evening with Kristi and Jim. Wine and Menus As soon as we were seated, a waiter arrived with menus, a corkscrew and plastic glasses. He'd seen our wine bottle and he was on top of it. It's nice going to a BYOB restaurant that doesn't charge a fee or make you stress over asking about policies. The meun was packed with options. I noticed the Hunter's Beef Plate, that Kristi and I ordered last time. There was a Persian Kabob that sounded good. But the words, "Mild, Kid Friendly" made it sound like only wimps ordered that. There were lots of Bourdain approved dishes marked, with red thumbs. It seems we'd only looked for a moment before the waiter had returned to take our order. Oh dear. Are we being rushed? Samosas We bought ourselves some decision time, by ordering veggie samosas. They arrived piping hot, with some sauces. Very yummy! Our Feast After a few bites of samosa, the chef and owner Kaiser Lashkari arrived to take our order. I'd recognized him (from TV) when we first walked in. He seemed terribly serious with his pen and pad, when he asked for my order. But I still hadn't decided. "You go first, Jim." I pleaded. I did not get reprimanded for being slow. Then the food arrived and heavenly aromas hit our table. This photo poorly reveals our 4 entrees and 3 orders of nan bread. I had not planned on writing this up or I might have requested "hands off!" to get a better photo. More Hands I took one more photo, but, hands were still grabbing. So I stopped snapping and grabbed for food myself. My dish was the big one... a mountain of Chicken Biryani and Basmati rice! We also had Chicken Hara Masala, Dal Gosht with goat and Lamb Vindaloo. All were wonderful. The garlic nan and butter nan was amazing. Poor Kristi can't do cilantro, so she missed out on some of the bread. Indo-Everything I couldn't quite read all the reviews and awards above our table, but I think most of awards come from Chef Lashkari's creative approach to blending Indo-Pakistani flavors with other styles of food. Next time, I'll have to try a little Texas Smoked Brisket Masala. Or maybe for an Indo-Cajun option, I'll try the Crawfish Masala Etoufee. There's even an Indian quesadilla and an Indi-Shephard's Pie! Meeting the Owner We complimented the food and I asked if he was the owner. His face stayed serious and he answered."No." There was a pause and then he added. "My wife is the owner, I just work here."Then he laughed a totally relaxed laugh. After we'd relaxed into our food, Mr. Lashkari stopped by the table. I asked the question Don often dreads. "Would you mind being in a photo?" "Sure!" Lashakri boomed. "Let's do a selfie!" We gathered around the "star" and Jim used his long arm to snap a pic of our group. It's a little blurry, but it captures the happy moment!
Sometimes it takes a trip or two to know the ropes. I'm ready for a third trip to Himalaya. I hear there's a pretty flavorful Indo-Pakistani Chicken Fried Steak that might need some taste testing! St. Louis, MO The Broadway Oyster Bar opened in an old warehouse, in the 1970's. I remember going there with my mom, who had a knack for discovering unique places. Mom was a big fan of oysters and curious historic buildings. When Don and I joined Mom there in the early '80's, the place was still pretty much a dive bar. Don and I decided to pay a visit, on a trip to St. Louis, a couple years ago. April 2016 Don and I were staying at the hotel in the old Union Train Station, so it was only a 5 minute Uber ride to reach BOB. There was quite a crowd outside waiting to be seated. The old building from the 1840's, still had lots of retro charm with the glowing neon. The building itself was filled with history. Before selling drinks and oysters, it was a boarding house, a Chinese laundry, a bordello and more. The Bar But seeing the crowd outside was a clear reminder that times have changed. The people spilling into the street, were not local neighbors and workmen, stopping by to slurp down a beer and a few oysters. We were about to see what changes had attracted this crowd. The main bar area was pretty much how I remembered it. The small room was a bit cramped with folks on stools and a few tables behind. The walls and ceilings were still plastered with faded posters and photos...dangling Mardi Gras beads and Christmas lights. The people looked different. No one appeared to be a "regular", but I could be wrong. Many were glued to a St. Louis Blues hockey game on TV and that made me feel the strong, St. Louis vibe. St. Louisans are loyal sports fans. Decor We were able to snatch a bar table while we waited to get the text, telling us our table was ready. It gave me some time to study the walls and ceiling. I wondered what decor was original, from when we first visited 30+ years ago. I heard that the owner doesn't like to remove anything... just add. Maybe there are treasures hidden underneath! Food & Space Changes Years ago, BOB expanded their menu from oysters and booze, to award winning Cajun and Creole dishes. The restaurant & bar also expanded their kitchen and added new dining spaces, some inside and some out. For that reason, our wait wasn't very long. Patio Dining We were seated along the fence in one of the colorful patio areas. Luckily we had jackets on a cool April night.
Don and I could sort of peek out to the wild traffic on the corner of Broadway and Gratiot Street. On a Saturday night, there seemed to be a pretty crazy parade of motorcycles and souped up cars, all competing to make the most noise. Mosaic There was lots to amuse us within the patio area. A pretty amazing mosaic decorated the exterior wall that faced the patio. I wish I'd gotten a better photo, because you can't tell this is made with oyster shells. You also can't tell that it's nearly 2 stories high! I heard later there were interesting bathroom mosaics. Darn. I usually make a restroom trip just in case there's something curious... and I missed this one! Oysters! Of course we had to order some oysters. There were numerous options, as you might expect. We were not disappointed by our simple, breaded oysters with parmesan. Crawfish Pot Pie I ordered the Crawfish Pot Pie, which sounded a little decadent. It was supposed to come with a cheddar cheese biscuit, which had me pretty excited. It took a while for our food to arrive, so when a plate of equally decadent crawfish fettuccini arrived, I just considered it my lucky day. My photo makes it look small. It was huge, rich and heavenly-delicious. I didn't get close to finishing. Music Starting Up As we finished up our meal, a band was completing sound checks for a show starting at 10. The group, that had traveled from Brooklyn to perform was yet another reminder of the times. Don and I were about the oldest in the young, hip crowd that now filled the area. Back when I was 21, there was no stage, no patio and no menu period. Good Bye BOB It was a little quieter outside, when we grabbed our Uber to head back to the hotel. I laugh now as I write this, 2 years late... that night was our first Uber experience. Who would have guessed 30+ years ago, that there would be such a thing as Uber? Who would have guessed that we'd stare down at our "traveling phones" to see words appear, telling us our table was ready? If I'm around in 30 years, I hope BOB will be, too. Then, we'll see what else has changed! Over the Road Restaurant, Since 1957 This is a real stretch for a dining adventure, but I did enjoy some coffee and conversation. I was driving the Will Rogers Turnpike in Oklahoma, when I decided to pull over at the newly renovated gas station and fast food stop. I'm surprised anyone can resist a stop at this roadside... or rather roadtop stop! Cookbook Motivation! I had another reason for stopping and it had to do with a page from a 1962 cookbook. Don and I love traveling and stopping at restaurants that are featured in our vintage Ford Motor Cookbooks. However, I was driving alone and didn't have the book. I called Don in Texas and had him text me a photo of the page, featuring an image of the grand structure that once housed a gift shop, snack bar and The Broiler Room Restaurant. Brand New Look I parked and headed towards the doors, beneath the signs for Mc Donald's, Kum & Go and Subway. The fast food signs on the newly remodeled building, made it hard to imagine the days, when travelers stopped at the snack shop and locals dressed up to dine in the Broiler Room. Luckily this new look was no shock, since it wasn't my first visit to the arched building. Don and I moved with our kids to Oklahoma over 25 years ago, so we've made a stop or two. Yellow Arches This is how it looked in 1992. It was no longer the Glass House, but the World's Largest McDonald's! Up to Second Floor I woke up my travel legs by climbing the stairs to the spacious, fast food floor. I should have gotten a closer photo of the Will Rogers statue. I believe the famous Oklahoman was holding a lasso, not waving out the window. Evidently in 1957, one of Will Rogers' sons, attended the opening of The Glass House. How many get to attend a celebration, above a turnpike... that's named after their dad? Auto Art and More There was more to look at, than 25 years ago. There was an interesting piece of hanging art, as well as numerous displays about the history, of what is now called the Will Rogers Archway. Airport Feel Maybe it was because I was up in the sky, but I felt like I was in an airport. The few people I saw all appeared to be travelers, so that added to the airport feel. Signs and Directions Maybe it was the sign saying "Westbound to Tulsa" that made me feel like I was being guided to the proper terminal. Maybe those signs are for the people who get woozy from the view and lose their sense of direction. You don't want to go down the wrong stairs and end up on the wrong side of the turnpike. Table with a View Next time I travel the turnpike, I'm packing a tablecloth and some china and crystal. I'm going to order a Big Mac and a sparkling clear, soft drink. Then I'll spread out my feast with this view. This view was worthy of fine dining back in 1957. Why not now? Proceeding with my Cookbook Adventure Don and I usually travel with a couple of these crazy old cookbooks. If we're lucky enough to come across one of the featured restaurants, we take the book in and share with the server or cook. It's a lot more entertaining than it sounds. But today I had no book and no desire to eat at McDonald's or Subway. Usually, I try to order the featured restaurant recipe, but I just ordered a coffee from McDonald's. I was pretty sure the young kid would not be amused when I stood at the counter and ordered the "Will Rogers Special". Then I would have to show him the picture on my phone and there wasn't a chance that he would get my humor at all. I know my limits. Friendly Faye Instead I went towards the gift shop, where a nice looking woman was working behind the counter. I struck up a conversation about the building's past. A young customer heard my question and butted in. "Oh it's always been a Mc Donald's!" Faye knew better. She was born and raised in nearby Vinita and the Glass House was built when she was very young. When she was old enough, she and her sister walked 2 miles just to buy the lollipops in the gift shop and ride the escalator. She said the place was very popular and held events and proms. She also knew that it had been a Howard Johnson's for a short while. She laughed when I told her my husband had texted me a picture of The Glass House from the old cookbook. She smiled while she studied the beef tenderloin recipe and illustration. I didn't ask if she'd ever dined in the Broiler Room. I figure she would have told me if she had. Coffee With a View Before taking off, I had another conversation with a trucker and his grown daughter. He talked about Amish food in Indiana. She talked about taking selfies, while riding in the truck. I'm sad there are no trucks whizzing by in my photo. But I'll come again and snap more photos... after I set up my table with cloth and china. I'll bring the book, too!
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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
November 2023
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