Category: 0 Missouri

Taylor's in Springfield, MO

6/6/2018

Good Memories

When I was a little girl, Springfield felt like the big city, when we visited from Iowa. We didn't even have a McDonald's in Grinnell, so it was a thrill when our Grandma Daw took us to Taylor's.

Burger Adventure in April

When my sister and I stayed in Springfield last April, we rewarded ourselves with lunch at Taylor's. We were in town, sorting through our Dad's apartment after his move. After 5 days of working and reminiscing over Springfield memories, Jennifer and I worked up a good appetite for burgers.

No So Easy

Eating at Taylor's is not as easy as grabbing a bite at Mc Donald's. When I was last in Springfield, two years before, my hubby and I did not luck out. We arrived at 2:01 and hoped we could still get lunch.

April 2016

There were a few people finishing up that day and I pleaded with the owner Darlene, to let us have a quick bite. She assured me the kitchen was closed. Darlene was sitting in a booth, checking a few people out with her adding machine. I could see staff peering through the kitchen window. They looked relieved that I wasn't able to convince Darlene to re-open the kitchen.

Last Taylor's Meal in 1969?

I remember practically sulking that day, when I realized I was not going to be able to give Don the Taylor's Experience. Actually I needed the experience as much as he did. It had been over 45 years since I'd eaten at Taylor's, so my memories were pretty vague. In fact, I don't even remember the very odd drive-up-order-area in back. I wonder if that still works?

Open 15 Hours a Week!

On April 23rd, Jennifer and I were lucky that we happened to be driving near Taylor's during their 3-hour open period... on a weekday. It took luck, because we were far too busy working dawn to midnight, to schedule in a burger adventure. We just happened to be doing an errand at the right time!

So Happy!

The cozy square-shaped diner was packed. I recognized Darlene bustling about in a pink "70th Anniversary" tee shirt. She pointed towards an open booth and tossed a couple menus our way.

I chuckled over the abrupt greeting and reminded Jennifer how Darlene had refused to budge with their closing time, 2 years earlier. We took a quick glance at our menus and made sure we were prepared to order when Darlene came with her pad and pen.

Sharing the Booth

What I wasn't prepared for, was the surprise of sharing my side of the booth with Darlene. Without hesitation, she plopped herself right down to take our order. "I'm too old for this!" Darlene shook her head. She told us that one of her girls had quit and she was having to wait tables. I'm sure she was extra glad that Taylor's is only open from 11 to 2.

Grinnell Girls!

Darlene didn't have to be told that Jennifer and I were out-of-towners. As Darlene scribbled our order, we told her that we sisters had lived with our family in Grinnell, Iowa in the 1960's. "We used to come to Springfield to see our grandmother and she would bring us here!" I had expected to see Darlene's jaw drop, because we'd read in the menu how she and her husband moved from Grinnell to buy Taylor's in 1978! But the news hardly phased Darlene. I guess lots of people come from Iowa to Missouri.

But she did seem pretty relaxed and rejuvenated after being off her feet for 3 minutes. Suddenly she got up and hurried off to turn in our order.

Steak Burgers!

Between the 2 of us, we had a couple steak burgers, fries, salad and an extra thick chocolate shake.

It was absolutely what the doctor ordered!

The burgers were flat and crispy around the edges, like Steak-N-Shake, which was another Springfield favorite when we were kids. I ate way more than I should have!

Darlene's Desk

We finished up and headed to the back corner, where Darlene was winding down in her special booth. Luckily we had cash, since Taylor's will remind you they do things the old fashioned way. We thanked Darlene with smiles and food compliments. I told her I hoped she could find a new server soon. She laughed that it wasn't easy finding someone who wanted to work just 3 hours a day.

Nostalgia

As we headed out, I glanced at the news clippings and wondered about Coach Taylor, who opened the burger joint in 1947. It was quite the popular teen hangout when it first opened. My Dad would have been attending Drury College, just a few miles away during those first years. Jennifer and I regretted not having Dad with us, on our errand that lead to Taylor's. What would my dad have remembered about the burgers and the coach... and all the cars that evidently circled the lot, American Graffiti style.

Next Time

I'm so glad I got to enjoy a little nostalgia-dining-adventure with my sister! I'm so relieved that Darlene is still running the place after 40 years. I'm sure she's ready to have more than a 3 minute break, in a booth!

However, I hope she hangs in there a while longer, so I can get back with Don... and get my Dad over to Taylor's for a burger and shake!

0 Comments

Hangar Kafe in Miller, Missouri

5/18/2018

0 Comments

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.

Perfect

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.

Table with a View

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 starting for 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 on the Kingsley Brothers instead. 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 told me their mom was helping in the kitchen at the moment. I saw her come out for a little break, at one point. Next to the Kafe Hangar, there was another hangar, where sky diving and crop dusting classes are held. What a hopping place!

Roberta served a few workmen who had stopped by. When a pilot headed from his plane towards the cafe, Roberta insisted on introducing me. "He might want to eat lunch with you." She added, as if she'd never served a woman eating by herself. I would have been happy to share my table, but the very nice pilot wasn't stopping to eat. I would have liked to have heard some of his stories. Of course, I could have shared a few myself.

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

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. A gentleman eating alone, struck up a conversation. He owned a horse ranch (I believe) and had taken up photography in more 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 pic. Next thing I knew, she was introducing me to Kayland 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!

0 Comments

Broadway Oyster Bar

5/11/2018

1 Comment

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.

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 Bar

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

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 suped 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 at Broadway Oyster Bar

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.

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!

1 Comment

Factory Diner in Farmington, MO

11/19/2016

0 Comments

Lunch in a Factory

Don and I have eaten meals in train cars and boats, old churches and schools. But we've never eaten in an old factory.

Rice-Stix
Factory

This is how the old shirt factory once looked. We know, because we stopped by the museum, also inside the building.

We were traveling through Missouri last fall, when we needed to stop for lunch. Factory Diner popped up on an internet search, so we pulled up to the big brick building.

Picket Fence

We stepped into the warehouse-like interior and spotted the white fence and archway. We seemed to be the only visitors, which is not always a good sign. But how could we resist a picket fence inside a factory?

A Stage Set?

The set up was a little odd. We entered the tiny "patio" and walked through the back door. A few diner tables were lined up against the partition-type walls. I felt like I was on a movie set.

Lunch is Served

Our waitress came in from the main room and yawned as she handed us our menus. "I got up at 5:00." She needed us to know. She seemed a little concerned when I ordered a garden salad. "That's our lamest salad." She warned. I told her I was fine with the lamest. Maybe she was concerned I wouldn't get enough food, because the garden salad looked extra generous. Don's hamburger and fries were surprisingly good. Too bad the atmosphere was a little negative, because the food was decent.

The Museum

After lunch we wandered through the mall-like setting of the old shirt factory. There were a few mostly closed shops and a free museum. It was actually interesting peeking at the old photos and news clips that gave us a glimpse of the once lively building.

History

Don and I are always eager to pick up a little town history when we're just passing through. Our waitress couldn't tell us a thing about the old factory, but I'm guessing there are some old timers in town who have some stories to tell.

I'm not sure if the diner has what it takes to make it in a small town. But at least I can add factory to my dining list.

0 Comments

White Castle in St. Louis

10/27/2016

0 Comments

Serving Tiny Burgers Since 1921

I had my first White Castle burger in 1975 when I moved to St. Louis. Locals made a big deal about the greasy little burgers that they called "Belly Bombers". Nobody talked about the Castle's history of being the country's first fast food chain.

Posing at the Castle

When Don and I visited St. Louis last April, we had to make a stop. We can buy frozen White Castle burgers in Texas, but not hot ones. The Ingram family still owns the company, since it opened in 1921. They made the decision early on to expand carefully, staying near the company's resoursces... no franchising. There are only a few states, mostly in the midwest, that have the fast food diner. That makes finding one pretty exciting.

White Castle in the Movies & Science

This silly movie about the search for the tasty burgers, confirmed the image of the White Castle as being the top choice for late night munchies... after a night of partying.

But sometimes the little burgers can be a very serious thing. When Don was a young chemical engineer, working in St. Louis, he and couple fellow workers did a very serious experiment, inspired by a White Castle outing.

Hypothesis: No self respecting mold would ever grow on a White Castle burger.
The 3 scientists carefully placed one belly bomber in a jar and attempted to remove the oxygen by purging with nitrogen. The mold did indeed refuse to grow, at least for a number of months.

White Palace... White Knight?

About 30 years ago, White Castle was the inspiration for a book and movie starring Susan Sarandon. The plot was a love story that began at a White Castle in St. Louis. However the fast food chain refused the author or film studio the rights to their name, so the title was White Palace. Scenes were shot at a cute little downtown diner, now called White Knight. The diner was unable to get the rights from the film studio to name their diner White Palace, after their brief fame.

Lots of name hoarding!

Ordering Our White Castle Feast

So back to our dining experience... The interior looked a little less shady than I remembered. Don and I still stood out as tourists when we sat down waiting for our order.

Old Sack

I wish they still had these old sacks. There's something about a white sack, that seems so appropriate... and wholesome and bakery-like.

"BUY 'EM BY THE SACK" Good logo!

Here's the new bag, with grease stains.

There's a new slogan.

"Anything on the Menu Anytime We're Open"

That's a good slogan for a place that's open 24-hours.

About the Food

So the food was as greasy as I remembered. The bun absorbed a lot of that oniony grease.

I should have removed the bun to reveal the nice two-and-a-half-inch square burger with its 5 punched holes. Supposedly the holes help the meat cook evenly, without flipping.

Many Burgers

You don't order one burger. In fact there was a disgusting table nearby that had not been cleared. There was a mountain of at least 30 boxes and only 4 chairs. I decided not to take a photo.

Don and Burger

That square burger in Don's hand looked even smaller in person, but it felt a lot bigger in the stomach.

Not only are the burgers known for being greasy, they're known for how they're grilled with chopped onions and served with one pickle. So simple and tasty... at least that's the thought. There's a good reason they call them belly-bombers. I couldn't eat 2.

I'm first to admit, I crave the experience not the food at White Castle!

0 Comments

White Knight in St. Louis, MO

8/14/2016

0 Comments

A Diner of Many Names!

This colorful little diner was once called, Super Sandwich Shop. After Universal Studios used it in the film, White Palace, the diner hoped to keep the new name. Universal said no, so then it became White Knight.

Bounce Castle in the Street!

When Don and I drove by it last fall, we both laughed. It was sitting there at the intersection of 18th and Olive Boulevard, just west of downtown. It looked like one of those blow-up Bounce House Castles, that had been caught by a breeze and landed in the street.

Glass Block and Turrets

Don and I lived in St. Louis, but neither of us really remembered this oddball place. We adore a good diner with character, so we of course had to stop.

Closed

The sign said they were open for breakfast and lunch and it was after 3. Darn. At least I could peek through the glass beside the colorful letters, "God Bless America" and see the interior. Wow. What an iconic looking place.

Movie History

Not only was the diner iconic, but it had a little history with Hollywood. In 1990, the quaint diner had a starring role as a hamburger joint in the movie, "White Palace". The movie starred Susan Sarandon, as a waitress and James Spader as her young lover. The little diner proudly displayed many old movie photos and news clippings.

White Castle

Anyone from St. Louis knows about White Castle, whether you can stomach the greasy burgers or not. White Castle is really what author, Glenn Savan was writing about when he wrote the book "White Palace" in 1987... but he had to change the name. Don and I were living in St. Louis in the eighties. We lived near a cafe in Webster Groves where the author spent time. When I visited the cafe, I thought I recognized Savan, sitting alone reading. Like a groupie, I introduced myself, but he laughed and said no. Sadly he died in 2003 at 49.

Back to the Diner

Don and I were actually more curious about the diner itself, than the film connection. Who would go there? We decided to catch breakfast the next morning before leaving town. It was hopping at 9:30.

Chrome

We sat down on 2 of the 4 red stools near the 3 small booths. Later, when some black stools around the corner cleared, I snapped a few photos. Lots of St. Louis Cardinals and US flags in the diner!

Grill View

There were 3 women hard at work. The place was small, but there were tons of carry out orders. I so wanted to ask about the history of the place, but the cook, was a little busy for chit chat. She did mention that the current owner had owned the business for 46 years. I can find little on the internet, so that's about all I know on history.

Food

I ordered from the menu section titled, "Customer Creations". I ordered the "How 'Bout 'Cha", which was a grilled up combo of chopped ham, hash browns, eggs, cheese, green pepper and onions. Not too bad, with some crunch to the potatoes.

Rude Photo

This is the second photo I took of Don and his pancakes. He was taking a bite when I snapped the first time. Angela, who was seated next to me, laughed and reprimanded me for taking a photo of my husband when he was chewing. That opened up our conversation which went on until we left the diner. Angela had been trying to converse with the cook and servers earlier.

But they had no time to hear about what Angela thought of church service last week and how her bus ride went that morning. But I was happy to chat with Angela, who despite missing a few teeth, posed beautifully for our photo.

"I don't usually warm up to women that much!" She laughed after we had talked quite some time. She told me about how she became a minister at age 5 and how she just finished her cancer treatment and how her daughter looked after her.

We chatted until the other tables cleared out. She told us to come back and get the hamburger next time. We promised we would and she wished us well as we departed.

Interesting atmosphere. Interesting people encounter and interesting connection with the movie world! I just wish I knew more about how this little place has managed to hold onto this spot for so many years. I'm sure there are good stories out there!

0 Comments

Food & Drink in University City, MO

8/13/2016

0 Comments

Fun Part of St. Louis

Last April, Don and I spent a night in University City, not to be confused with Universal City... even though, both have a lot of festive lights and attractions.

"U. City" is in St. Louis County, near Washington University. Delmar Blvd. is the main drag and it was hopping, even on a Sunday evening.

Tempting Signs

There were a lot more options for dining and drinking, than when we lived in St. Louis, 30 years ago. We strolled down Delmar, feeling extra intrigued,

by all the neon signs luring us. The Pin-Up-Bowl, looked like a good option of food, drink and entertainment!

Blueberry Hill

Blueberry Hill has always been a favorite. I wrote it up in the Dining Blog, back in January 2013.

We headed in for old time's sake. Don was eager for a beer and I was eager to feast my eyes.

There's a lot of stuff to look at in Blueberry Hill!

Lots of Old

We sat in a booth by the old bar. The bar is pretty impressive, but that doesn't thrill me as much as all the weird stuff that covers the walls and fills the shelves.

Back in the seventies, Blueberry Hill was just about the only reason for coming to this area of U. City. Don loved the beer and darts. I loved the whimsical collections that owner, Joe Edwards displayed. Vintage toys and record albums, to giant oddities... like Pinocchio's head! I was glad to see it was all still there.

Peacock Diner

We had already decided on a Thai place for dinner, but I had to stop to take in this beautiful sign, just down the street from Blueberry Hill. It was tempting to change plans, but Don and I decided we would save a stop at The Peacock, for the morning.

Coffee at The Peacock

It's pretty lame to sneak in a blog write up about a place, when you've only sampled their coffee. But that's how much I loved the atmosphere. We stopped in at 9 am and the place was festive, bright, curious and a little empty.

More Collections!

I looked across 4 U-shaped counters and saw a lit up case of themed goodies! As it turns out, Joe Edwards also owns this place. But the collections displayed at The Peacock were all bright and sparkly. I'm not sure I'd want to see some of the Blueberry Hill collections (many items are comically creepy) in the bright of day!

Best Seat in the House

I'm not sure where everyone was, but the place was pretty empty. A sweet old woman sat alone at one booth and a man with laptop sat at a table. He saw us oohing and ahhing and he actually looked up to enjoy our enthusiasm. He encouraged us to go ahead and sit in the "Carousel of Love". When our server brought our coffee, she explained how the round booth rotates on a platform. In the evening you can reserve the booth and spin it towards the curtains... which open up to reveal large TV screen! Crazy!

Feasting My Eyes Again!

I almost wanted to take my coffee and try out every booth. There were many delightful displays of dairy related goodies. Milk bottles and cows.. coffee cans and chickens. What a great place to have breakfast! But we had to save our appetites, because we were heading out of St. Louis in a moment. And we had already planned an important breakfast stop. And that will be my next blog!

0 Comments

Sainte Geneveive, MO

6/20/2016

0 Comments

Old Brick House

In 2014, Don and I visited the old Missouri town of Ste. Geneveive. Since it was established in 1735 by French Canadian Colonists, it seemed like a good place to enjoy some historic dining. We started with drinks at the Old Brick House, which is the oldest establishment in town... I believe. The locals were talking politics, but soon the discussion turned towards area history. One woman knew a lot of local history, since she was born in an old house just up the road. She and others talked about when the Mississippi River ran backwards, due to an earthquake in 1812.

The Anvil

It was close to 8:00 when we decided we better rush, before food service closed in the small town. We headed towards The Anvil, just a few steps away. The building first opened as a hardware store in 1850. In 1855, the Vaeths bought the store and opened a Gentleman's Bar called The Anvil Saloon. The Vaeth family owned the business until 1978. I should have asked if there are still Vaeths in town.

The Bar

We grabbed a table not far from the bar. I've been inside a lot of old saloons, so my eyes were actually more drawn to the framed image of The 3 Stooges and the sad clown art, mounted on the brick wall. But really, the bar was worthy of my attention. In 1855, the heavy pieces that made up the bar and back bar, had been traveling down the Mississippi by steamship. When the ship became stranded on a sandbar not far from Ste. Genevieve, they needed to lighten the load. The bar pieces were unloaded and moved by ox cart to this location.

Food

I have to thank "YELP" for the bar photo, because I forgot to get a shot. But I did capture a photo of the food on my plate. Mostly I wanted to document the fact I ate LIVER DUMPLINGS and gravy! The grilled chicken, and German potatoes were very yummy. The roll reminded me of grade school lunch. (which is a good thing) and the dumplings... well, they did not get finished. That's because I hate liver. But I did enjoy the opportunity. And the gravy was tasty.

Dessert?

This is where I would have had dessert, had it not been dark and closed, when we walked past after dinner. All in all, our drink & dining experience was about the buildings and history. Our meal at The Anvil, was fine but we did feel rushed, knowing the kitchen wanted to close. The town was charming and well worth the stop!

0 Comments

Missouri Hick BBQ, in Cuba

4/18/2016

0 Comments

Cuba, as in Missouri

With the recent talk of our president visiting Cuba, I was reminded that I never wrote up my dining experience in the small Missouri town of Cuba.

Hicks in Cuba?

I'm not sure how the town got the name Cuba and I'm not sure if there are a lot of hicks in this town. But there was some pretty fun hillbilly humor on the sign near the cedar stairway and skillet display. The chalk words announced, "We like Pig Butts and we cannot lie."

In the Stables... on the Farm

I loved the cedar tables and benches, beside the barn doors. It would have made my day if "Old Daisy" the mule had really poked her nose out over the table!

Barrels and Washtubs

The barrels holding up the counter and the tubs holding the ceiling lights were a giveaway, that Missouri Hicks has not been sitting around here on the old Route 66, for decades. It was all a little too clean. Which is a good thing, when you're fixin' to eat food. And besides we were getting our "authentic retro fix" right next door, at the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel.

Piggy Place Mat

I did love my paper placemat! That sweet pig was wearing a napkin and ready to dig into a meal himself. Hopefully not pork!

Missouri Hick Beer...

Don was pretty delighted to have a local beer. Missouri Hick's River Buck Ale. I was amused to see how many different sauce options we had, all lined up in squeeze bottles on our table.

Starch for Me!

Sometimes I just have to go for the foods that I crave! The "Hick Bowl Mash" seems like an incredibly poor choice right now, but that night I had to have my mashed potatoes with brisket, gravy and cheese, plus two rolls! Yikes.

Pulled Pork

Don enjoyed a little pulled pork with two sides. He's the BBQ guy, so we both got what we wanted. By the time we finished up, a few other travelers staying at our motel had come over to dine.

Before heading back to our little retro oasis, we swapped travel stories with the new arrivals. We were traveling in opposite directions on the Mother Road, so we were able to give each other tips of all the things not to miss.

Route 66

We headed back, past the motel office feeling content and lucky. I'll bet the restaurant and motel could be a whole different experience with swarming tourists in sweltering summer months. But in October, we had some decent food in a relaxed and clean atmosphere... and a fun people encounter to top it off.

0 Comments

Lambert's "Home of Throwed Rolls"

4/7/2016

0 Comments

Sikeston, Missouri

Before living in Texas, Don and I spent many years traveling 1-44 to Missouri from Oklahoma. The billboards for Lambert's, with images of hot rolls being tossed about, made me curious and hungry. But we never had time to stop, until our midwest road trip in fall of 2014.

Time to Pose

Not only did we have time to stop for lunch, we had time for me to pose with the Amish buggy in front. I really have no idea what that buggy has to do with Lambert's. And I also don't know why I would include this photo, since I look painfully awkward in that hideous outfit.

History of The Roll Throwing Cafe

There's lots to feast your eyes on when you walk in the doors. I liked this painting of Earl & Agnes Lambert, who opened Lambert's Cafe in 1942. It was their son Todd, who started throwing rolls back in the '70's, when he took over the biz. He was carrying a panful of rolls through the cafe one day, when a hungry diner just couldn't wait. The man hollered to Todd to just throw him a roll and the rest is history.

Today

Today, the (newer) restaurant clearly holds more than 9 stools and 8 tables. There were at least 2 rooms with rows of wooden tables and benches. The walls were covered with framed photos and art. High above, a tooting train, flags, airplanes, a rusty tricycle and a hobby horse filled the space.

Food Everywhere!

We knew this place was serious about food, when we looked at our table holding a roll of paper towels and 2 baskets stuffed with condiments. The real indication that food was the focus, was in the number of bow-tie wearing servers, flying back and forth, with big bowls and cans and platters of this and that.

"Pass Arounds"

All the foods that had been whizzing by, began to make stops at our table. While we waited for our food order, we had our first offering of what they call pass-arounds, which are basically side dishes.

Looking like obvious first-timers, Claudia had to tell us to lay out a piece of paper towel before she plopped out a few spoonfuls of fried okra. I asked how long she'd been working at Lambert's. Claudia said she started about 10 years ago, but she

remembered coming to the cafe as a child, for special occasions. Now, it's her kids who want to come to Lambert's for birthdays.

Molasses Sorghum!

Of all the foods coming around, I was most intrigued by the dented can holding the drippy molasses sorghum! To me that looked like the most fun pass-around to serve. Evidently there is no real favorite of serving jobs. Claudia said she'd never had much success with roll throwing. She teased about trying to get demoted to okra handouts. I should have asked what made her like the okra job. She was fun and friendly, so I doubt she was demoted.

Eating Light?

I'd been warned about all the festive pass-around foods and rolls, so I ordered light. But look at my salad! It was served in a giant pie-sized, bread bowl. The greens were heaping with strips of meat, veggies and cheese. Don's chicken salad came with green beans and cucumber salad. Hardly room for pass-arounds.

My Plate O Pass-Arounds!

I had to have an extra plate to hold my goodies. Besides okra, I had fried potaters, lima beans, macaroni & tomato, apple butter... and that was before my hot rolls arrived.

"Hot Rolls!"

This was the part I was waiting for. I suddenly heard his voice from behind, "Hot Rolls!" I turned to see the young man smiling near his rolling cart of bread.

I waved that I was ready, but he seemed to be wheeling up too close. "Go back a ways!" I encouraged, wanting a little more fun in my experience.

Overhand!

And he was happy to oblige. I'm not sure if you can see him, way back there. But I did manage to catch the hot roll. I was surprised. It came fast and hard and HOT! I knew from chatting with Claudia that not everyone gets to be a roll thrower. She said the job usually goes to baseball and football players. Our thrower admitted he wasn't always so good. Another roll thrower admitted he'd knocked over a few drink glasses. I didn't pry about any worse mishaps, but evidently there have been some feisty customers who have tried to sue Lambert's over thrown roll injuries. Maybe one should avoid restaurants that advertise "throwed rolls" if you're so worried about bread injuries.

Appealing to the Kid in Me

Miniature tractors and farm murals sort of delight me. Maybe some would find this restaurant atmosphere a little corny and gimmicky. But the whole lunch experience appealed to my younger self. In other words, I've never really grown up.
A Trip to the Restroom!
I would have so loved Lambert's when I was a child. As a kid, I could turn the hunt

for a restaurant bathroom or even my hand-washing experience into an adventure. I always assumed my reports were worth sharing when I returned to my family. As a young Beth at Lambert's, I would have had bigger things to talk about than the color of the soap. I would have told about the giant footprints I followed towards the neon sign. Then I would laughed about the stairs I didn't get to climb, because they were painted on the wall. I would have had to explain how I'd "gotten lost", for a while in the gift shop... and that's what took me so long to get back.

What I'll Remember Best

There was lots to absorb during our lunch visit. I'll remember the staff in their suspenders and bow ties, being friendlier than ever. And I'll remember the food being almost ridiculously plentiful!

Hot Rolls!