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Along I-10 in Arizona This green building caught my eye, when we stopped for gas in Quartzite. It was about 5 years ago, when Don and I were traveling from Texas to California, on I-10.  I love a family restaurant in a curious town, but we'd already eaten. I snapped a photo and hoped to return. Quartzite, AZ in January It was January 2021 the next time we traveled the same route. (I-10 cuts right through Quartzite) Our travel dining adventures were still on hold due to the pandemic, so we didn't exit for lunch. Instead we drove right on through... feeling confused by the view on both sides of the freeway.  A sea of trailers covered the desert terrain on both sides! It looked insane! A little internet search told us that each January, Quartzite hosts the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous. "Snowbirds" and gem collectors flock yearly to the desert community, to camp (RVs and trailers) and enjoy the month-long gem and mineral show. March 2021 3 months later, Don and I once again hit Quartzite. During our winter stay in Oregon, we'd made a point to watch the movie Nomadland, which features the quirky community. This time we drove down Main Street and wondered if we'd see some of the locals who played small parts in the Academy Award winning movie. I guess we didn't, but I did purchase a cheap-y quartzite bracelet. It came with a complimentary masked camel pin.  The snowbird season was nearly over but we still spotted plenty of trailers. Maybe all 2,000+ permanent residents, live in homes with wheels. Times 3 Family Restaurant After getting gas, I spotted the restaurant. I was amused by the green sign and the cartoon characters peering over the top.  What was with the double quotation marks surrounding the words, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner? What did "Times 3" even mean? Open I made Don pull in so I could take a look at the colorful building. I was craving a Road Trip Dining Adventure, after a year of pandemic caution.  But Don and I weren't vaccinated yet. I sort of wanted to save that big return to indoor dining, at a slightly different kind of restaurant. Stuckey's? So I compromised. I threw on my mask before heading inside to get a quick peek and a coffee to-go.  I recognized the building's shape as I walked towards the door. Was this an old Stuckey's? I laughed as I recalled road stops during childhood trips. Stuckey's Pecan Rolls! I can still picture them. Empty Seats I stepped inside and ordered a coffee. I took in the homey decor while I waited.  The dining counter seats were empty.  A few spacious booths were empty.  The walls were not empty.  Out of all the shelf collections, the trailer display was my favorite. Diners It was odd to be back inside a restaurant, in March 2021. There were quite a few guests dining in. I spotted a few masks.  The spacious dining room had a welcoming feel, but I left with my coffee. Next time, we'll dine in for lunch! I told myself. A Lunch Stop in 2024 So this past winter, Don and I stopped in the dusty little town once again. It was late January and the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous was nearly over.
There was lots of traffic on Main Street and lots of good people watching. (no photo evidence) Some of the characters looked a little windblown and dusty, but there was a friendly, upbeat vibe to the people we saw.
At a stop sign, a young couple sat on the corner smiling up at us. The woman held a puppy and the man held a cardboard sign. "2 Hungry Vagabonds!" I rolled the window down and handed over 2 apples. The man responded with enthusiasm, "Thanks!" The woman beamed! "We love apples!" They waved with Hang Loose gestures, before biting into the fruit. We drove off happy. Lunchtime! We headed to the green restaurant, excited to finally eat at the funny little place. Our encounter with the Happy Vagabonds, gave me a boost of confidence that we might meet more friendly people.  The parking lot was jammed but there were no lines out the door. That was lucky, since nearly a couple million gem and trailer enthusiasts flock to Quartzsite each January. We parked near the mural and I grinned at the camel as we passed.  There are a lot of camel images in Quartzsite. More later on that... Hungry Crowd The Family Restaurant was hopping. A sign scribbled on paper warned, "Expect a 45 minute wait for orders."  Luckily we weren't in a hurry. Even luckier, there were available seats at the counter.  2 cushy red stools on the corner, just waiting for us. Menu Time Our server (I believe, Shel) handed over menus with her left hand, then turned to top off a customer's coffee with the right.
Don and I wondered for a second what to order. A fellow who acted like he dined daily, gave us a quick hint. "It's all good!" He laughed as if he knew that wouldn't help! Seat with A view I was happy with our seats, that offered a great view. Lots of teapots and colorful murals, depicting western scenes.  I also had an entertaining view of Shel as she chatted with some regulars at the end of the counter. She wasn't the only one that gave the couple attention and hugs. Loyal customers no doubt. Observing I quickly determined that Shel did an exceptional job of keeping coffee mugs filled. I ordered coffee just for the fun of being included in her coffee route.  I was so impressed with how efficiently she worked behind the counter. She was always moving, tidying the collection of creamers, repeatedly refilling the sugar and salt and pepper containers. She seemed to glide as she moved back and forth, delivering plates and scooping up menus, conversing and attending to guests as she did so! In and Out I was amused as I kept an eye on a pair of doors. There was a constant flow of staff, heading IN with dirty dishes and OUT with steaming plates of food. It would have been nerve-wracking to watch if there had been only 1 door.  I tried to count the staff as they entered and disappeared. I gave up when I got to 9. New faces kept appearing from the kitchen. The constant movement was like some kind of video game. All the servers seemed to move with the same quick pace and positive energy. Laughing with each other and carrying on with a few regulars. It was clear that they'd gotten the whole system down to an art, after weeks of serving endless temporary residents. Shel's Necklace When Shel delivered my grilled ham and cheese, I noticed her jewelry. She explained that her quartz necklace was a special one. The gold beads came from her grandfather. "He had lots of beads and gems and such." There was much more to the story, about the grandfather who passed away a year ago. But it was a personal one and not for me to share. She's happy to live in his trailer now.
I was glad to get a little advice about the "special fry sauce" in the squirt bottle. Shel said some put it on fries, but she thought it was good on sandwiches. I tried and it was. Great fries as well! Don loves a breakfast for lunch. He ordered 2 eggs sunny side up. It came with hash browns and corn beef hash.  I had a sandwich, but I still stole some of Don's sourdough toast! Both our meals were good and filling. We could only finish half! Chatting at the Counter Our food was a nice treat. Especially since we'd had a couple diner fails in the beginning of our road trip. The dining adventure was suddenly complete, after we ended up chatting with our fellow diners.  The couple nearest me was from Wisconsin. They were wintering in Yuma and made the trip to Quartzite for lunch. We gabbed about horses and travel, until our food came. The woman was pretty excited about the horses on my western shirt. "I'll trade you my green sweatshirt!" She teased. Heading Out We finished up and Shel handed us containers and utensils, for our leftovers. We headed for the door and I heard a server respond to a customer. "We have 2 more weeks of this crazy gem show! I'm about ready for it to be done!" She laughed out loud.
Before I headed out the door, I paused to look at a photo of a man name "Hi Jolly" along with a photo of his grave monument. When we passed the camel statue outside, I was reminded of something we needed to do before we left town.  In fact there were 2 things we needed to do before leaving Quartzite. Don figured out the first and drove back to the corner, to see if the Vagabonds were still there. (we think alike) They were and they were delighted to take our leftovers. They waved good-bye, saying they'd share with their doggy. Hi Jolly Cemetery Then we were on to the cemetery. A dining adventure in Quartzsite couldn't be complete without a stop to see Hi Jolly's grave.  Quartzite has some interesting history, from long before the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous began. We stopped to pay respects to Hi Jolly, the Syrian-born camel driver who emigrated here in the 1850s!
I'm so glad we finally got to eat at Times 3 Family Restaurant. And I'm glad we met some travelers and some locals and some vagabonds. I'm glad we got to visit the the petrified wood and quartz pyramid, that honors Quartzite's most beloved resident.
Next time we're in town, I'll ask about the restaurant's name. And we'll come earlier in January, to catch the annual Hi Jolly Parade!
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Arizona Tiki! In the past decade or so, Don and I have hit about 8 tiki bars in half a dozen states.  I'm pretty sure this is the first Tiki Adventure we've had in Arizona! Desert Oasis We discovered this little tropical paradise, on the way to our vintage hotel on the east side of Tucson.  It was about 2 pm, when we spotted the colorful sign. The 61-year-old building was tucked back, between businesses in a shopping center. Quick Peek Don pulled into a mostly vacant parking lot and I ran inside. I just had to get a peek at this place.  I followed the pebbled path over a bridge, which crossed a mosaic river, which seemed to flow from a pastel wall mural... with volcano, sea turtle and ship! "Kon-Tiki" Expedition I should have studied the mural better as I headed for the entrance. But I was distracted by those bright red doors. Worthy of a fairytale castle.  I didn't even capture the ship image in my photo. It was actually the Kon-Tiki raft, which sailed across the Pacific in 1947, from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. Evidently there's a good story! Dim and Quiet The words above the red doors invited me in. "Welcome to Paradise" But would this tiki joint really be open at 2 pm?  I've had a few mid-day visits to vintage bars in my day. (Reconnaissance missions like this) It can be a little eerie with day drinkers. The windowless lounge was dim and quiet, but not creepy. The place serves food as well as drinks, so there were some legitimate diners along with a couple of solo drinkers. No Greeter I didn't see anyone working behind the bar, so I felt free to snap some pics without explaining myself. The entrance to the restrooms had a nice spotlighted piece of art.
There were cases holding vintage tiki mugs and souvenir platters. Options I was surprised to find so many different areas for seating. I'm guessing this place must have been a hopping, popular place when it opened 6+ decades ago.     I made a quick sweep and was staring at a giant see-through fish tank, when a young woman returned to her place behind the bar. Aurora greeted me, then shared a bit about the fish tank. All the fish were descendants of the original 1963 fish. I told her that I was just stopping in to check the place out. But her welcoming vibe allowed me to make a speedy decision. "I'll be back a little later with my husband!" Minutes Later Don and I headed over to "Lodge on the Desert", but were unable to check in early. So I dug a flowered shirt from my suitcase and changed in the car.  We drove a mile back to Kon Tiki. What a fun place to kill an hour. I posed with the sign before heading inside. Cozy Corner Aurora was behind the bar when we entered around 2:45. There was music playing this time. It wasn't exactly Island or Hawaiian music, but at least the place felt like it was waking up.  Aurora invited us to sit anywhere and we chose a corner with interesting textures and designs on the walls. We sat at the table closest to the Tiki Head. Menu Aurora brought us menus and I was amused by the artwork. Was that really what the Kon Tiki building looked like? The palms had blocked my view.  Inside the menu we found about 30 cocktail options. Most for less than 10 dollars. Painkiller and Original Pyrat Mai Tai I told Aurora I wanted a drink that looked festive. She suggested the Painkiller.  Don ordered the Original Mai Tai, using a special Kon Tiki recipe, of course. He was pleased, which says something. Don can be pretty critical about Mai Tais. We weren't served in giant tiki mugs, but the drinks were actually displayed better in glassware. My frothy Painkiller tasted like a coconut kiddie cocktail. I mean that in the best way.
The pineapple slice, cinnamon stick, agave leaf and cherry made it extra fun. The Caribbean Rum was powerful. I did not slurp it down like a kiddo, although I wanted to. In fact I only drank half, since we had plans an hour later. No to-go cups with tiki drinks! Wandering After finishing up, Don and I toured around the dining areas, taking in all the decorative details. While studying the clam waterfall, I noticed a winking face, with dripping teeth! Was that supposed to be a face?  There were more obvious faces, like the one Don posed with.  We asked Aurora a few questions about the place. She wasn't old enough to have too many of her own memories, but she collected a few stories from long-time regulars. Smoking Days The wood floors were spotless on a Wednesday afternoon. Aurora told us the carpets had been removed at one point. Along with all the smells of cigarettes and spilled drinks.  I never spent much time in bars, but back in the day you didn't have to spend more than a minute, before your hair and clothing absorbed the odors of Marlboros and Winstons. Bird Aviary Aurora showed us the outdoor patio, that was once a bird aviary.  She heard from some old timers that there were other critters besides parrots in this space. Some kind of dragon lizard and rumors about a jaguar. Aurora was skeptical. Long Ago Aurora said she'd talked to some locals who remembered when the tiki lounge was first built. They claimed Broadway was just a dirt road then. That was hard to imagine in 1963.
We thanked our chatty bartender and headed out, I took one more photo of the little stone building dwarfed by palms and bigger buildings. Then I found an old photo on the internet. What fun to compare! The old image shows an isolated building and hazy mountains in the background!
What a fun quick Tiki Adventure! I hope Kon Tiki is around for another 61 years! Tubac, Arizona in 2014 Don and I were headed to Bisbee, AZ.
We saw Tubac on the map and remembered hearing there was something historic and artsy about this community... and we were hungry for lunch. Golf Resort? I prefer old roadside diners or curious cafes in historic hotels.
A restaurant at a golf resort doesn't usually sound like a "dining adventure" to me. But this lovely resort was located on the Otero Ranch, established in 1789. We could eat and absorb a little history! Lunch in the Old Stables! We walked through the lovely fountain courtyard and into the Stables Ranch Grille.  It wasn't just a cute name, the building once housed the horses used by the Otero Family and Spanish settlers, working the ranch. The old stone floor was original. Beams and Arches I'm not sure when the other rooms were added on, but the brick arches and wood beams made it all blend.  We moved to the back, for window seats!  As you can see it was not crowded. In fact we were the only diners, which seems to happen to us a lot when we travel off season. It was early May, with perfect weather, but we didn't see a golfer in sight. Dining View
What we did see were the Santa Rita Mountains and a picturesque view of a pond, white fencing and cows in the distance! Private Dining Don was pretty delighted with his fish tacos, with pineapple-mango slaw on pickled jalepeno tortillas. My apricot chicken salad with walnuts was like dessert! But as yummy as the food was, I'll remember the staff more.
Our friendly waiter was excited to see Don's wallet made of stingray skin. He'd been hoping to get some stingray cowboy boots. The hostess was chatty when I showed enthusiasm about our view. When she pulled out the vacuum a while later and got to work before we finished eating, I wasn't even annoyed. (That usually bugs me!) Our private dining was as comfortable as if we were eating at a friend's house... who had chores to catch up on! The Bar I had to take a stroll into the bar, where the only other customer was hanging out. He didn't seem so amused when the bartender invited me to try out one of the saddles... or I would have invited him to pose!  The bartender wasn't old enough to remember when John Wayne used to come to this bar, but he was around when Kevin Costner and Rene Russo hung out, during the filming of the movie, Tin Cup. A Lucky Find It's always fun to have an unplanned adventure which involves good food and nice atmosphere and a little history.
I think if I was going to plan a visit in the future, I'd aim for dinner, with a view of the sunset and a few more diners to liven the place up. Of course I wouldn't mind having Kevin Costner join us at the table. Of I'd even go along with the ghost of John Wayne... of Mr. Otero!
Saloon Options in Tombstone  I'm embarrassed to even say I went to Tombstone, but we did in the spring of 2014.  It was early, so the there were more people dressed like this, than tourists with their newly purchased cowboy hats. Which Saloon for Lunch?  I liked the name Crystal Palace, so I told Don we should go there. All Men? There seemed to be only men at the Palace. (That is a man with the long blond hair) And most of them had their heads bowed down at the bar.  I don't think they were praying. I don't even think they were texting. I'll tell you later what I think they were doing. A Manly Kind of Place Maybe it was the macho moose..elk head or whatever that was, that attracted the men. Or the tall ceiling with bullet holes? That's attractive to men, especially tall ones, who can spot those holes in the tin, while they chuckle about their own gun mishaps.
Of course the gal at the door wearing the black & red, Frederick's of Hollywood get-up, couldn't have had anything to do with the number of men in the place. Beer or Lunch? It was early, but we were hungry and there were indeed people ordering food. "Maybe we should just sit at the old bar, for the real experience."  I told Don. "We can have a beer and decide if we want to go all out and have lunch." You can be like that when you're on vacation. People Watching So we sat near the end of the bar where there was some good people watching. Maybe not as fun as this old image of the bar, but we did watch an incredibly old man in a cowboy hat leave his stool.  At first I thought he was doing a slow-motion, soft shoe dance to amuse the costumed hostess. But then I realized his arms were held out for balance and his slow, toe to heel, sideways shuffle across the worn wood floor was just the way he moved...until he grabbed hold of the railing. Where to Look? Our barmaid wandered down to take our order and it was all I could do to keep from busting out in giggles. Her body, squished into her little outfit was like a cartoon drawing.
When she returned and leaned in with the beers, it was as if she also was offering a plate with 2 mounds of jello hors d'oeuvres. I'm not kidding. It was weird. Again, I wanted to laugh, but her icy expression seemed to be saying, "Don't even look at them!" So I stared forward at the bar mirror, which reflected a raunchy old-style painting from the opposite wall. And then a quick glance at the fine calendar tacked to the wood and I realized, we were being served by Miss April! Looking Down So all those men gazing downward, were either so incredibly intimidated by Miss April's eye-rolling attitude or they were all texting photos of her to their friends.  That better not be what Don was doing! I wish I'd had the guts to get a closer picture of her because I truly wanted to study how she fit into that corset thing! Conversing with Miss April I started to feel sorry for Miss April. Probably no women will ever talk to her. And men are probably either rude to her or too intimidated to speak. So I struck up a conversation. I stupidly asked about the history of the saloon.
She answered in monotone and pointed to bullet holes above. I should have just gone ahead and asked her the question I really wanted an answer for. "That contraption, that is lifting your boobs up in such a comical way... does that thing make you feel like you're in a middle-aged nightmare and trapped forever in a Mammogram machine?" She would have probably sighed, "Mammo-what, Honey?" Big Nose Kate's We finished our beers and moved on.  The tough guys in black, at the entrance to Big Nose Kate's Saloon, seemed much less intimidating. A Nice Change It was all noisy, crowded and sort of silly in the spacious saloon. But we had a great time, seated up on a raised area where we could enjoy more people watching!
The vibe was touristy, but totally comfortable at this saloon! A Friendlier Place I was feeling mighty content and relaxed as we shared a Rueben sandwich and some chili. Some man from a nearby table stopped by our table to comment about my pleasant smile.  I'm past flirting years and he was mannerly and not drunk... which made the comment all the more confusing. Was I radiating some kind of grinning relief because I was far, far away from Miss April? Oh Those Silly Tourists There were a lot of middle aged tourists having a grand old time, posing behind the bar or even on top of the old player piano.  Such silliness! Then I reminded myself of all the goof ball things I do with posing and cameras. I guess I won't make fun. "Locals" So as we listened to the live music and counted all the cowboy hats and chuckled over a few tourist babies nearby, we also took in a few of the "locals" dressed in sheriff and outlaw attire.  Don and I had such a short visit to Tombstone, we never quite grasped what the place was about. It's not like we paid a fee to come into an "Old West" theme park with paid actors. How does all this work?
We'll have to figure it out next time! Alpine, Arizona in 2014 Don and I were on the road headed towards Winslow, when we made a stop for lunch at this fine place.
We were still chuckling a bit as we entered, because we had just noticed a truck flying by on Highway 180, with a gas hose flapping from the side of the truck. Wood Covered Cafe We passed the fine sign with the bear weathervane, then climbed onto the porch, noticing an awful lot of banners with "POW- MIA" and "Don't Tread on Me" thoughts.  The inside reminders, "No Bikes on the Porch" and "No Cell Phones" didn't seem too welcoming, but we got a nice greeting from staff. Screen Door and Knotty Pine! I love a screened door, propped open with a half a brick, especially when there are moose and bear images involved.
And I do love knotty pine! The pine walls were covered in photos! Good for browsing. Cluttered and Cozy! Stools, booths, lights hanging from antlers, brown & tan tile below and shiny wood above!  What a welcoming sight, just inside that door! Where to Sit? We chose the back "sunroom" with booths along a windowed wall. The tables provided cozy seating and a view.
I was also hopeful about a good people encounter, since the man in overalls looked like he might know the local gossip. View and Gossip First we enjoyed the view below, of some hunter's cabins and some trees that hadn't realized it was spring, yet. Then we had a chance to meet Rick, who sat behind Don. "Looks like you two are a long way from home." You have to love that line.  When he heard we were headed for Winslow said, "Oh, I'm sorry." We had to fill him in about the Harvey House Hotel we were excited about. He came around.
Rick told us he'd been coming to Bear Wallow since he was about 5 years old. He knew the area well and gave us some suggestions for scenic roads and historic towns. Our chatty waitress got in on the conversation. She and Rick had already heard about the truck that ran away with the gas hose! Food and History Rick had recommended the Half and Half Chili. It was a great mix of regular and green chili...with lots of onion!
Don had a burger which was pretty basic. We read the menu, hoping for some history of the cafe, but learned more about Alpine's history. No wonder I was feeling woozy. Alpine is at 8,050 feet! Taller Than Don I made Don do a quick pose with the chainsaw bear near the porch.
The words "Bear Wallow Cafe" were barely visible on the fish, held by the paws. Sweet old bear at a funny old place.
We always like to catch the unusual places, before it's too late and they're suddenly gone. I have a feeling Bear Wallow isn't going anywhere soon. |
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
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