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Mikeska's BBQ in Columbus, TX

8/30/2019

Another Revisit!

I'm on a roll! In a 3-day period, Don and I hit 2 memorable, Czech owned restaurants in 2 small, Texas towns.

My last post was about Orsak's in Fayetteville. Both are curious places, with Czech family connections.

My family connection is that I have good memories of visiting both with family. My mom, sister and I discovered both Orsak's and Mikeska's, 11 years ago.

Columbus, TX

I had not been back to Mikeska's, until yesterday.

It was before noon when Don and I approached the roadside wonder.

No need to drive into historic downtown Columbus. The octagonal restaurant was conveniently located, right off the feeder, beside I-10...

... along with a windmill and a pump jack and a number of hard to miss signs.

Truck Parking

We parked near the building, but there was a mighty big lot we could have used.

Drive-Thru

There were also drive-thru options. Jerry's original location didn't cater to the driving customers quite so easily. After doing business in downtown Columbus since 1956, he moved out near I-10 in 1986.

The Grand Interior

Why would you want to pick up your BBQ from a window, when you could dine within 8 walls, beneath a skylight and a dangling, illuminated antler display?

And All Those Animals!

Then of course, there are the critters that greet you when you walk in the door. Don marched up to get in line, but I moved slowly by the mounted creatures.

This Friend

I'm not even sure what this beast is, but I remember him! He seemed very serious, but his "parted" horns kind of reminded me of my favorite, silly idol from childhood books. I loved Pippi Longstocking and her braids that curled upward!

The large Pippi-Beast, shared one of the 8 walls with lots of birds, a few guns and a portrait of Jerry Mikeska. The long buffet table (used on Sundays) was partially blocking the gold, framed portrait of Jerry.

It's a little hard to see Jerry's bowtie in my photo, but there were lots of other photos covering the walls. I didn't find an image of Mr. Jerry, when he wasn't wearing a snappy bowtie!

Photos of Jerry

There might have been as many photos of Jerry as there were stuffed animals, on those walls. I think there were more than 200 animals.

There were photos of Jerry with presidents and governors, red-hatted ladies and gals in sparkly costumes. There were also photos of Jerry and his brothers.

The Bros

There were a few yellowed news articles that gave me some history on the Mikeska family.

Jerry's parents immigrated from Czechoslovakia through Galveston, in the late 1800's

Here is Jerry (in his tie) along with 3 of his 5 brothers. All 6 ended up in the BBQ biz. In our 20 years in Texas, we've pretty much heard the names of all... Rudy, Mike, Clem, Maurice, Louis and Jerry. They all worked in different towns, with different specialties. Jerry... he doesn't like garlic. That's what I learned.

Question Time

After Don and I got our food, I looked up and saw no line. I wandered over to ask a few questions, but the guys in red, were all pretty young and not really up for chit chat.

I was tempted to ask if Mr. Jerry was in his office. I had read somewhere that he is in his 90's, but still comes into work. Instead I asked if Jerry was the hunter of all the wild game that was on display. "No, he's just a collector." The young man did crack a smile when I asked what it was like to have all those eyes watching him work every day. He had no answer, but he laughed.

Bears

I noticed a few bears wearing some clothes. That reminded me, that something was missing. I remembered that when Jennifer and Mom and I came to dine, we were greeted by a pair of polar bears, one wearing a tie.

I went up and asked the young guy at the counter, what happened to the polar bears with the baskets. He said they were still around, they just weren't on display. Hmm? I missed those sweet bears, who held baskets of mints. I remember Mom was pretty amused and Jennifer held our Miss Copeless doll, in the photo. She happened to be the mascot, that traveled with us on our road trip.

Creepy?

Maybe I should have been more bothered by all these eyes looking out towards the dining tables. Some looked a bit fierce and others, just silly... like the squirrel with the raccoon tail, or the rabbit with antlers.

Chowing on Meat

Maybe I would have enjoyed my pork ribs more, if I hadn't been surrounded by furry animals. I'm one of those people who really likes the sides more than the meat anyway. Maybe I should have ordered just sides. But, when in Rome...

This photo is not very appetizing, but my spinach and buttery-soft potatoes were yummy. The pea salad was packed with creamy calories and soft-sweet peas. My ribs were actually better as leftovers, when they were reheated at home... away from the gaze of animals.

Finishing Up

Don ordered the chopped beef sandwich, which was actually very good. No need for sauce.

We lingered a bit, absorbing the decor and wondering about the other diners, who all seemed to be regulars. I kept wishing Jerry would just walk out.

No Signs of Jerry

We never saw Jerry, but when I got home I dug out photos from 2008. What do you know! I spotted Jerry in his white shirt and black bowtie.

Mom

And I spotted Mom in another photo. There she sat, wearing her favorite knit hat, with llamas. In the image, she looks like she's studying an animal or two.

The chairs have changed, but the tables look the same. I had to smile when I realized that Mom was sitting at the very same table where Don and I sat.

Sweet memories of Mom enjoying our curious dining adventure. I'm glad to have shared another Mikeska's experience, with Don.

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Orsak's in Fayetteville, TX

8/30/2019

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Lunch in Fayetteville... Again!

It's been over 10 years since I visited this sweet little town. That's pretty crazy, because Don and I frequently drive by the exit, to Fayetteville.

So Don and I made a stop, a few days ago. The pink building looked the same. But, this time I spotted a new banner, beneath the faded happy chef sign. It seemed a little odd to imagine people drinking wine in Orsak's.

2008

Actually there are two buildings that house the cafe. Here I am in 2008 crossing the wide road, that surrounds Fayetteville's town square. I'm giving my camera-snapping sister, the evil eye.

2019

Today, the corner building has one new addition... a wheelchair ramp, leading to the door. There's also a bush growing on the side and some new seating, where a park bench once sat.

But mostly, Orsak's looks the same. You have to love a building with flesh-pink paint. It makes me think of little pigs!

Lunch With Mom in 2008

This is not the world's most flattering photo of Mom or me, finishing our lunches. It was hot that August day, but Mom was happy. Jennifer and I had taken her off for a day of adventure.

Mom loved road trips and small towns. She loved cafes and diners and we found a great one. She had a milkshake with her burger and fries and she was in heaven.

I have bittersweet memories of that day. Jennifer and I had planned this special outing for Mom, knowing that the next day would be a tough one. We would start the process of moving Mom to an Alzheimer's facility... and she didn't know. If only we'd known that all would turn out so well, Jenni and I could have enjoyed our meal, just a little better.

Now and Then

This past Wednesday, Don and I arrived before noon. My view of the two buildings was blocked by a lineup of cars and pickups. Later, I was able to get a better glimpse of the corner building. The cute little building with the chef's image was blocked the whole time. I found a photo from 11 years ago.

What's Different?

I was eager to walk inside and see how well my memory matched. I was totally confused. I remembered the counter and stools, on the right.

The space seemed open and bright and full of diners. Where were those dated, drop ceiling tiles?

The wood walls were painted and covered in license plates and neon. I kept scratching my head. We found a seat in the room with the counter, but I wasn't sure if this was the room I remembered.

A Fine Menu

There were 4 women greeting and attending to tables. Our server was very friendly when she dropped off menus, but she looked too busy to answer my questions.

I hoped the menu would have a little cafe history write up. No such luck.

I glanced at the cover with the happy chef and the Daily Special prices and I decided there was a good chance this was the same menu I opened 11 years ago.

Actually, I didn't need to open. The lunch special was $6.00... or $6.50 for large. I went all out for the large portion.

Exploring

I headed off on a hand washing mission, to give myself a chance to explore. I passed through a funny little walkthrough connection to find the "Cowgirls Room", in the corner building.

I passed by the yellow wall, with a set of antlers and lots of photos. I peeked into the kitchen, through the window. Then I found the sweet little restroom, that I only vaguely remembered. Luckily there was a sink, so I didn't have to wash up, using the pitcher and bowl.

The Other Room

There were diners in both rooms and I wondered how a town of around 250 residents, could ever have enough customers to fill tables for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I wondered about the Orsaks. Who are they? Who were all the people in the photographs? It wasn't obvious.

Time to Eat

I got back to the table, just in time for the dessert to arrive. I didn't even know my $6.50 feast included a chocolate cake delight! It was hard not digging into our desserts first, but then Don's fried chicken special arrived.

Then my stuffed green peppers and green beans and fresh noodles with gravy was delivered. The dividers on my retro plastic plate did not do the trick well. My overflowing servings spilled into each other. Not a problem. Don and I both agreed my stuffed peppers, (even in their collapsed form) were the tastier of the 2 options. The noodles weren't overly flavorful, but they were a fun reminder of Orsak's Czech roots.

Heading Off

There was a slight lull in activity, when we headed to the counter to pay the bill. I was able to ask about 2 questions. Yes, I was right. The counter and stools had been on the other wall. There was fire, some years back. Lots of changes.

The woman also mentioned that the corner building had been a tire shop at one time. That got me wondering. But suddenly another customer needed help. I figured I'd let her get back to work and I'd find all my answers on the internet.

In the car I grabbed my phone. I was ready to Google and find out who the Orsaks were and how long the cafe had been feeding the folks in Fayetteville. Nothing. They have no website and their Facebook page was not helpful... no Wikipedia or random info, not even about a fire. Oh well. Maybe someone will read this and fill me in.

What Will I Remember?

Don and I had a quick and decent feast for about $15.00! Now we have our own memory of the dining in the pink building.

But what made this recent dining adventure extra fun, was remembering the first one. 2008 was long before I was searching for and writing about, curious diners and cafes.

I have to hand it to Mom. She was pushing for the hidden gems, long before that term was overused... long before Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, started spotlighting these great finds. Thanks, Mom!

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Gasthaus Berliner Baer in Beeville, TX

8/27/2019

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German Food on the Road, in 2017

I dug this memory from my drafts! Time to give it a spotlight!

Don and I stopped for lunch, when passing through Beeville in January... that would be 2017. We had heard great things about authentic German food at Berliner Bear, but the somewhat dreary little building looked like it was out of business. The old drive up window made me think this could have been a Long John Silvers.

Open

As we parked, we noticed a few men in cowboy hats exiting. Good sign.

Inside looked much cozier, with table cloths and roses on each table. A woman with a German accent ushered us to a table and scurried back to the kitchen.

Menu

Moments later, the woman hurried back to our table with some cute menus... or should I say speisekarte! I think she was Gabby, the owner. I'd read about her in some reviews. She was pleasant and efficient, but not at all gabby with conversation.

We were pleased to see the offerings inside the menu. This was no fast food restaurant for sure. The dinner menu offered 8 kinds of schintzel!

Maps and Flags

The big windows gave me a good spotlight on a few things around the restaurant. The yellow and red booth was empty, so I took advantage and studied the wall.

You have to love the pair of Berliner Bear flags. And I love a little map study with my meal. That is not sarcasm at all. This was a fun little booth and I imagined sitting there, on cozy evening, with a cold beer... mapping out a trip to Germany.

Closer Look

Here are two of my favorite prints! Is that a grandpa in the washtub? I wished that I had my friend Sigi with me. She could have read the words under the line up of happy children!

Our Feast!

Don and I couldn't have been happier with our meals. Don got the Berliner Schnitzel with fried egg. The meat was yummy-tender. We heard that Gabby pounds the schnitzel meat, herself. There was something extra special about the warm, red cabbage. Bacon!

I read that the Reuben was so good that they often sell out. That was a good reason to order. It was perfect and the slaw also delicious. Sweet and vinegary!

Cozy Cafe

By the time we finished the sweet little cafe was cleared out of diners. We paid at the counter and I tried to snoop a bit more.

German Knick Knacks

I checked out the little kissing statues and the stuffed bears with German dress.

I also peeked inside the kitchen window, where the chef worked in his red hat. Was he related to Gabby? I hated to assume and I hated to ask.

Music and Atmosphere

Without the chatting diners, I could better hear the music playing. Was that German pop music? It wasn't your typical Oompah band.

I've been to German restaurants that cater to tourists, with polka bands and lederhosen. This seemed to be a German restaurant that was all about the food.

Some More Fun Stuff

Nothing seemed overdone at Berliner Bear. The menu was simple and the service was efficient. The decor was pleasant, but not dripping in German goodies. I loved the cuckoo clock and colorful beer stein.

Heading Off

By the time we paid, the place was empty and quiet. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to ask Gabby a few questions.

I wanted to know more about Gabby and how she first came to Beeville... known as "A Honey of a Town".

I started a conversation, complimenting the meal.

Gabby was happy to hear we enjoyed our food, but it became clear that she had lots to do. I took a quick glance around and reminded myself that I had only seen her and the man in the red chef's hat.

Don and I had a great lunch, in a relaxed and interesting atmosphere. Sometimes that is just all we need!

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The Root Beer Barrel, in Douglas, MI

8/18/2019

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Hot Dogs and Root Beer!

How can anyone resist a food adventure, that involves a barrel-shaped building?

If Don and I had spotted this beauty while driving, we would have screeched on the brakes and raced towards it.

But we learned about The Barrel, before we laid eyes on it.

The Adventure... That Led Us to The Barrel

Last July, Don and I were in Saugatuck, Michigan. We were off on a morning adventure with my sister and sister-in-law. First we crossed the Kalamazoo River in a hand-cranked, chain ferry.

Then we climbed 300 steps up to the top of Mount Baldhead. That name refers to the 600-foot sand dune, that is now covered in vegetation. The round bald-headed tower that we found on top, was actually a radar tower, constructed in 1956. The overgrown image was an eerie reminder of the days, when schools did Duck and Cover drills, to prepare for Nuclear invasion... yikes.

View

A more refreshing view was looking down towards the town of Saugatuck.

Through the trees, we could see where the Kalamazoo River widens, into Kalamazoo Lake, before it flows into Lake Michigan. I chatted with a local, who was doing his daily step-climbing hike. He described the scene in the winter! Snow!

Cool Off Time

After enjoying the view, we headed down and decided to cool off inside a lakeside museum, located inside the old Pump House. (Shown in the vintage photo) It was in this marvelous little museum that we became more and more intrigued with the history of this wonderful waterside community!

The Photo!

The museum shared much of the community's history, through old family snapshots. I spotted this one, with two kids and the shiny barrel.

When I read the words below the photo, I got excited! The roadside favorite that was built in 1952, had recently reopened!

It stilled served hot dogs and root beer! Yay!

I asked the young woman at the counter about the place and she thought it might be too far to walk. She suggested we call for the 2-dollar shuttle service. Yay!

A Barrel on the Lawn!

It took a while for our shuttle, but it was worth it. The van dropped us right off at the corner of Center and Ferry, in Douglas.

What a scene! There were shady trees and kids playing badminton and corn hole. A young woman performed on guitar and summer food smells wafted out of the barrel windows.

No Line

The picnic tables were almost full, but there was no line for ordering. After taking a peek at the menu, we stepped right up to the window.

Pick Up Window

Waiting for our orders took a little longer, but that's because food was made to order. This was not a concession stand at the ball park.

It was actually entertaining watching the buzz of activity inside the round space. Three men worked swiftly under the whirling fans. I recognized one as Michael White, from a photo I'd seen. The incredibly polite and hardworking man, is main force behind the business.

I read the info sheet near the window and wondered about the last two sentences. Who were the rude, impatient people who made them have to address abuse and respect? Everyone working in the barrel seemed top notch to me!

Sharing the Table

We were able to grab the end of a picnic table, just as our orders finished up. It seemed more authentic, sharing our retro, Root-Beer-Barrel-Dining-Adventure, with a family we didn't even know.

Our Feast

The cold, root beer was straight from the keg. It was refreshing, even if it wasn't served in a frosted mug. I'm now wishing I'd had the root beer float!

Our gourmet treats were definitely a modern twist on the Barrel's original dogs. I had "The Donna", which was smothered in mac-n-cheese, with bacon! Don went a little more traditional with the Kraut dog, served with stone-ground mustard. Both, pretty fun and yummy!

The Size

This photo better shows the size of my crazy dog! It was yummy, but I am a hot dog fan and a macaroni fan. Maybe I would have them side by side, next time.

Thanks!

So our morning adventures led us to a delightful treat! Eating at The Barrel was like taking a trip back into someone else's childhood. I don't have memories of coming to this place as a kid, but I'm guessing there was at least one adult sitting at one of those tables, who had that memory!

It's hard to believe, this iconic place was nearly demolished, after it closed down in the seventies.

Thanks to Michael White and "Friends of the Barrel" who volunteered years of time and lots of money, to refurbish and reopen this fun place!

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Texan Cafe and Pie Shop - in Hutto, TX

8/13/2019

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Small Town Feasting!

Today, Don and I ate lunch in a town we'd never heard of.

I first learned about Hutto, just yesterday. I was reading a worn out book, that lists oddball things to see in Texas. It talked about Hutto and their town mascot, The Hippo.

Don and I took a detour today, to spot some of the hippo statues that are scattered about town... and we found an incredible cafe!

Growing Town

As we drove to Hutto, I read up on the small town, that was once all about ranching and cotton. In the year 2000, the quiet little community along Highway 79, had only about 1,200 residents. Today, the population is nearly 30,000.

More about the hippos, later.

Lunch at 11

It was just after 11, when Don and I pulled into town. We decided to stop for an early lunch, before going on a hippo search.

Texan Cafe had just opened. I was already drawn to the beautiful building, on the tidy little street. But the magnificent cow head above the old sign, just made me giddy.

I love a cafe attraction

Grumpy?

We were greeted by welcoming staff, the moment we walked in. My eyes were drawn to the words Grumpy Ice House, in the back of the room... but this seemed to be a happy place at 11:05!

Last Booth

We were seated at the last open booth, where we hunkered down with our menus.

Menus

I read some quick history on the front of the menu, but it was the colorful board above our heads that got me hungry. I asked our young server and she recommended the Chicken Fried Steak. I love a place with a Blue Plate Special!

Decor

I quickly snapped some pics of the decorated metal walls, since the place was filling up.

Cowpoke Cafe

The next room had old photos and western decor, covering an exposed brick wall.

The Cowpoke sign was evidently used when filming a TV series in 2013. From Dusk to Dawn was the name of the show, starring Don Johnson. Director, Robert Rodriguez gave the sign to the cafe when filming was over.

Pies

In the back of the Cowpoke Room, was a sweet smelling pie case! I didn't count the pies, but there were 30 on the menu! They looked amazing.

Food!

Don kept it simple and ordered the burger with fries, for $6.69. There were lots of fancier burger options, but the sweet classic, inside the checkered paper, was just perfect. Plenty of crispy, piping hot fries, too!

After taking this lame photo with glaring window light, I took one more bad photo. Above Don's head, I noticed a small hippo statue, next to the green, swirling window glass. Oh boy! Lunch and then a hippo hunt.

My Blue Plate Special!

My plate wasn't blue, but it was packed with colorful flavors! The crust on the chicken was crispy and seasoned. The meat was juicy. The gravy was creamy good. I wasn't very daring with my choice of mashed potatoes, but I had to have them. I got more creative with my choice of Amish Chow Chow for my second side. Sweet and sour, cool and refreshing, on a super hot, summer day!

Take Home Pie

We really needed to have pie, since the restaurant's name includes it. But I was full.

I love peanuts and the Peanut Butter Pie looked fabulous. But I needed a slice that would travel. We chose the Snickers Pie and it held up fairly well in the cooler. The chocolate was gooey and thick and the peanuts weren't a bit soggy. I'm so glad I waited until I was hungry, because I absolutely savored every bite!

Heading Out

We finished up and headed for the door, before noon! Every table was full at 11:58! I spotted cowboy hats, army fatigues, trucker hats...lunching ladies, scholarly types... a possible hipster or 2 and a big family, being greeted with hugs by the owner.

Mystery Photo

I took a photo of this framed picture, just before we left. I was thrilled to know the big cow head was on the building, way back in Old-timey-car Days.

But... I searched for more internet info and learned the Texan Cafe opened in 1966 and moved to its current location in 2005. What? That makes no sense. The building looks the same as the one in my photos.

I was still confused when I read that the original restaurant, had a giant whole cow in front. The cow's name was Ferdinand. When the business moved, they only took Ferdinand's head. What's with this vintage photo? Maybe those parking strips are telling me it's not an old photo. Hmm? I should have asked when I was there. I do love a mystery.

Off to See Hippos

Don and I were in great spirits after our fine lunch. It was time to see some Hutto Hippos.

I was pretty amused by the story behind Hutto's love of hippos. It all goes back to 1915, when a circus train stopped in the area and a hippo got loose. A few years later, the high school adopted hippo as their school mascot. Over the years, hippo statues have multiplied in town.

I had hoped to go on a major hunt to photograph as many plump hippo figures, as I could find... but the temps were headed towards 100. Don wasn't interested in getting out of the car and posing with me. So I captured 2 of my favorites.

Now I have an excuse to go back to Hutto. More hippos and more pie!

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Mikeska's BBQ in Columbus, TX

Orsak's in Fayetteville, TX

Gasthaus Berliner Baer in Beeville, TX

The Root Beer Barrel, in Douglas, MI

Texan Cafe and Pie Shop - in Hutto, TX

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