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Diverse Dining List

Mr. D's in Kingman, AZ

2/24/2025

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Diner Stop in Arizona

In the summer of 2023, we had a festive stop at Mr. D'z, while traveling Route 66.
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Don and I were traveling from Oregon to Texas, with our daughter, son-in-law and 2 year-old granddaughter. This looked like a perfect lunch stop to please all of us.

Kingman

There are at least a dozen major cities on historic Route 66. I have absolutely no clue how many towns are along the complicated route.
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Kingman is certainly not the most well known, so I had to Google it. I learned only 1 noteworthy fact. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were married in Kingman, during a break in Clark's filming of Gone With the Wind. Now that's a fun tidbit!

Route 66 Shield

We arrived around 1 pm and parked in a large lot. A big Route 66 shield, with "Mr. D'z" at the top, greeted us on the pavement.
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These shield signs have been marking the highway since the 1920s. But only in recent years have they become selfie photo ops, for Rt 66 travelers. I totally missed that opportunity. I could have posed for an extra special photo, since I was 66 years old, traveling Route 66! 

Lots to Lure Us!

​The bright colors were enough to make me pull in for a burger! The image of Marilyn Monroe on a motorcycle, might have encouraged a few bikers.
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Besides the yummy sign, (with burger, fries and root beer) there was a 1950s police car to excite me.  
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And an old blue Chevy truck. I love colorful vintage vehicles!
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​Mr. Don's Photo Op


I didn't get myself in a photo, but insisted Don pose.  We could pretend the diner was named for him. 
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But the words over Don's right shoulder told us the D was for Dunton.  Who was Mr. Dunton?

Established 1992

Turns out the Mr. D's Route 66 Diner wasn't all that old. Brothers Roy and Scott Dunton, bought property in 1991. I guess there were originally 2 misters. 
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The brothers gutted the old 1930s gas station & cafe and opened a '50s style diner in 1992. Roy passed away some time ago, but evidently Scott died just a couple months before our 2023 visit.

Today

Today the pumps are gone and bright pink and teal paint covers the white.  
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Picnic tables sit under the roof, where cars once pulled up. I can imagine the "ding" sound, followed by the voice of the driver announcing, "Fill 'er up!"

​Crowded at 1

We stepped inside and found a hopping diner.
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We were offered a small table, but said we were in no hurry. Which wasn't exactly true. We were starved.
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There was an energetic, positive vibe to the place. The staff (all in pink shirts) moved about efficiently, taking and delivering orders. Lots of cheerful banter.

Stools and Gas Pumps
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If we'd been a smaller group, eating at the counter would have been fun. I could have swirled around on my stool and purchased some gum-balls from the gas pump machines.
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The diners seemed as upbeat as the staff. We've met a lot of Route 66 travelers over the years and most seem enthused. Many Rt 66 fans come from other countries and we heard a couple different languages nearby. Was that German we heard from a crowded booth? The family was squeezed happily around the table, playing cards as they waited for food.

Booth Time

We didn't have to wait long for our booth. Once we got our legs situated under the table, we took in the show.
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Our table opened towards a bustle of activity that was quite entertaining. 

Elvis and Marilyn

We were amused by the giant celebs, smiling across from us... near the entrance to the restrooms.
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When did these 2 become symbols, for all the cafes and shops that decorate with a retro '50s theme? 

Did they ever meet?

Marilyn was 9 years older and the 2 supposedly met briefly only once, in 1960. They were in a hall at Paramount.
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Of course there's another rumor, that Elvis denied. Who knows?
Anyway, it's funny how their 2 images have been combined over time. I think today if you asked "young folks" to name an iconic Hollywood couple, many would name Elvis & Marilyn.

Record-shaped Menu

Our server Destiny was chatty and welcoming when she brought our album-shaped menus. There were a dozen burger choices. 
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One that was 4 pounds! Another was named for Andy Devine, Kingman's most famous resident. (Had to look him up) A character actor, who worked with John Wayne and Roy Rogers.

Creamy Caramel Root beer

Homemade root beer is one of the things that Mr. D'z is known for. We made sure to get some!
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Charlie toasted with her water. At age 2, she didn't yet know what she was missing!

Order Up!

​I kept my eye on the little warming window. Good smells were coming from the kitchen.
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I'm not sure which dishes used old family recipes. Supposedly the menu includes some recipes that came from Roy and Scott's mom.

Dinner Salad at the Diner

Salad isn't exactly a diner food. But my retro plate, with greens, veggies and  good old 1,000 island dressing, was pretty tasty. Something healthy to go along with root beer, burger & fries.
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Elvis kept an eye on Don and little Charlie kept an eye on the big knife, when Don's food was served.
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Don's bacon cheeseburger wasn't served on retro china. Instead a guitar-shaped basket held his burger and fries.  
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Pretty yummy actually. I kind of liked the space age designs on the table, too!

Hit the Road Time

No complaints about food or service. Destiny and all the servers seemed well trained in dealing with crowds of tourists.
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It was a fun stop for lunch, on the old Mother Road. It was nice to take a break in an upbeat atmosphere. Decent restrooms as well!

Charlie's good behavior was rewarded with a little outside time, before she crawled back into her carseat. 
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Too bad we couldn't have given her a quick ride in the odd pink car. I wonder what the story is with that?

Elvis Again

Charlie had a fun time crawling over a few picnic tables, near the entrance to Mr. D'z Pizza. The little pizza parlor section of the diner, is where garage door once opened to the service station.
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Luckily Charlie was a little too young to care about Elvis and his middle finger gesture... beneath "2020 Lockdown".  I'm sure the diner suffered during the pandemic, but I wasn't sure I wanted to think too much about this message.

Biker Shop

It was an odd ending to our fun little dining adventure, when I spotted the yellow building near the parking lot.
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The bright place seemed eager to attract bikers traveling 66. A yellow sign on the yellow building told us, "No Mask, No Vax, No Problem. You're welcome. Come on in."
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Oh my. We didn't.
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Delgadillo's Snow Cap in Seligman, AZ

2/10/2025

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Route 66

It was 10 am. when Don I drove through Seligman looking for gas.
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It was a little early for a burger, but the sign above Delgadillo's did delight me! 

Along the Route

​We drove down historic Rt 66 and I had a grand time snapping pics from my window.
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Clearly the town of Seligman was playing up the old Mother Road! Lots of tourists on a June morning in 2023.

​Malts, Creamy Root Beer, Shakes

After getting some gas, we headed back the way we came. I urged Don to just pull over so I could snap a better photo.
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I admired the fine looking eatery from afar. I even admired the motorcycles in front. I studied the words above the awning and got a tiny bit hungry.

A Little Closer

I so adore a picture perfect drive-in, or diner. I just couldn't stay seated in the car. 
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I promised Don I'd be just a minute. I crossed the street, where I could get a new angle. I spotted the EAT sign, with a giant ice cream cone.

I traveled down the sidewalk, past the motorcycles.
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Before heading around the side to peek at the white Chevrolet, I hollered to Don that I would be a while.

1936 Chevrolet

I read later, that this 1936 Chevrolet was purchased by the Delgadillos, as a humorous lure to tourists. 
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The top of the car was sliced off and curious decor was added, including a Christmas tree in back.
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Built by Delgadillo Boys

This building with all its carnival colors, has been around a long time! It's older than me. It's older than Don... but just barely.  
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It was built by Juan Delgadillo, (along with his father and brother) using scrap lumber they had gathered while working for the railroad.

1953
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Juan and his wife Mary, established Snow Cap Drive-In in 1953. How I do love those food images! And silly words like, "Slightly Used Napkins and Straws"
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Juan retired from the railroad and worked every day at Snow Cap, until he died on a June day in 2004, after working a full day. He was 88. 

Morning Meal

I suddenly didn't care that it was 10:15 am. I had to have a Snow Cap dining adventure. I could have tacos or burritos or... dead chicken! As printed above the door and window!
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But was it open so early? There was a neon sign near the yellow door. It said, "Sorry, We're Open". More of Juan's humor, I guessed. 

Opposite Side

I decided to go to the door on the opposite side of the building. I reached for the doorknob beneath the PULL sign. Locked. Oh well. I turned to leave and noticed a woman nearby, holding a broom.
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She stopped her sweeping and assured me they were open. I headed back to the yellow door and noticed the hinges on same side with the PULL sign. This time I reached for the doorknob on the right and it opened. I looked back and the woman with the broom was laughing.

​Endless Surprises

I stepped inside and found myself in sort of a mysterious tunnel. The window glass facing the street, was covered in cartoonish art and silly statements.
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The ceiling was dripping with dollar bills and fabric patches and business cards, from far away places.

Only for a moment did I have the interior to myself. Suddenly a man came in and I let him go first as I tried to decide. I chuckled to watch the woman behind the counter squeeze a bottle of mustard... a yellow string shot out at the man. Silly!
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A mother and daughter on a 3-week roadtrip came in behind me. We chatted a while about the fun of Route 66. I said I was really enjoying it, since I was 66 years old. The perfect age to travel Route 66. The mother was so giddy about that news, she had me pose at the counter for a photo.
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What a hoot to order lunch at such an iconic little place, before 10:30 am.

Juan's Garden

I was told I could pick up my order at an outside window, when I was called. I hoped it would take a while. I wanted to explore the rear of the property, known as Juan's Garden.
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I had time to check out the back of the property, with interesting things like a triple wide outhouse. I think there were actual toilets in there.
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More surprises! Like a pink potty in a telephone booth!
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There were lots of old cars. I guess Juan had a thing for Chevys. 

There were lots of signs. Phillips 66 and a fine yellow bellhop... or carhop?
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I could see a few more cars and motorcycles pulling up. A lot of bikers in black leather, with German accents. Europeans do love Route 66! And good timing for me. A tour bus was arriving!

Juan!

I found some old photographs on display. There was an image of Juan!
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He was standing at the very window, where I ordered. Holding a mustard bottle, with a string! He must have been such a character. I believe today, his kids run the business.

Lunch in the Car!

I was gone long enough that Don couldn't be too bothered. He had time to work up an appetite for early lunch!
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Our cute little meals came wrapped nicely in yellow paper.

Cooked to Order

My Girl Cheese was less than 5 bucks! I pretty much loved it because of the name.
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Don's cheeseburger for $8.75 was tastier than my photo. After my photo snap, I reassembled Don's burger and we got back to the driving schedule. We devoured our little lunch as we headed off towards Tonopah, Nevada.

Sweet Stop

So glad we got to enjoy of piece of Route 66 in this part of Arizona.
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Sure wish we'd come 2 decades ago. It would have been fun to have experienced Juan's humor first hand!
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Times 3 Family Restaurant in Quartzsite

6/12/2024

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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. 
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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. 
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.   
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The dining counter seats were empty.  
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A few spacious booths were empty.
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The walls were not empty.
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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.
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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. 
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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.
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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.
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​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. 
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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. 
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We parked near the mural and I grinned at the camel as we passed.
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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." 
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Luckily we weren't in a hurry. 

Even luckier, there were available seats at the counter.
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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.
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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. 
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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. ​
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. 
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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! 
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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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Kon Tiki in Tucson

6/11/2024

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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. 
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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.  
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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.
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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.
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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? 
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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.
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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.
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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. 
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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. 
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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.
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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. 
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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.
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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?
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There were more obvious faces, like the one Don posed with. 
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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. 
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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.  
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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.
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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!
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Stables Ranch Grill at Otero Ranch

8/28/2015

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​Tubac, Arizona in 2014
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Don and I were headed to Bisbee, AZ.
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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?
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I prefer old roadside diners or curious cafes in historic hotels.  
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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!
 
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We walked through the lovely fountain courtyard and into the Stables Ranch Grille.
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 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
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I'm not sure when the other rooms were added on, but the brick arches and wood beams made it all blend.  
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We moved to the back, for window seats!
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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

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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
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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.
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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
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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!
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 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
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It's always fun to have an unplanned adventure which involves good food and nice atmosphere and a little history.  
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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!
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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.

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