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Detour on Route 66 I left Springfield, MO on a Monday in April. I had 2 days to drive home to Houston, so I meandered on Route 66 a bit. By 11:30, I had a coffee headache. I had been so busy grinning over passing barns and vintage gas stations and old motor courts, that I'd forgotten to grab breakfast or coffee. "A Must See" This is the first sign that caught my eye. I was on a 2-lane road in the middle of nowhere. What was this sign pulling me towards? I pulled over and studied the sign's hot air balloon and airplanes. Above the words, I saw the cute little design with knife, fork and spoon. I eagerly continued on, until I saw the next sign. A Mirage? This sight from my car window was almost too good to be true. I needed a restroom & coffee break and it looked like I could get that, right along with a little adventure! I zoomed in for this photo. The rounded structures were actually much further away. I laughed out loud. It just seemed so whimsical, to come across this Oz-like image across the fields. Best of all, I was being invited by the signs to stop in! Tables and Cars I parked beside some work trucks and walked across a spacious patio with enough tables for a large crowd. There were a couple of small planes on green field and two sweet vintage cars under the shelter. I smiled and headed inside. In the Hangar I stepped through the doors and found the colorful dining area nearly empty. Roberta, in the pink sweatshirt, welcomed me in and I asked about coffee. Then I realized how hungry I was and asked if they were still serving breakfast. Taking It In She rushed off to check with the cook and I sat at one of the cute little diner tables and stared in every direction. Bright, planes and hot air balloons swooped above me. A runway, right beside my table, lead to the Men's Room. The women's room door was also painted with field and sky to fit in with the wall mural. There was no need for a TV, with all the amusement, but at least I got to see a little retro "Andy Griffith" along with my comfort food breakfast... which arrived not long after my coffee. Table With a View I had no idea how hungry I was, until my plate was in front of me. I don't know about the rest of the food, but my simple scrambled egg breakfast was perfect. I was ready to devour my food, but heard a roar behind me. I turned around towards the wall of glass, to see where the noise was coming from. Outside, one plane had landed and another was just heading off to the grass runway. I grabbed my camera and left my plate. Inside and Out The planes outside were just as adorable as the ones decorating the restaurant ceiling. I spent a little time squinting into the noon sun, watching the plane activity. Back inside, Roberta offered to reheat my breakfast, but I assured her, it was fine. I let her fill me in, a little more. I learned that the other nearby hangar was where sky diving and crop dusting classes were held. I also learned about the Kingsley Brothers. Kiman, Kaleb and Kaland are 4th generation farmers in the Miller, MO area. The 3 farmers and cropdusters, opened the cafe a number of years ago. Roberta tole me their mom was helping in the kitchen at the moment. I saw Mrs. Kingsley come out for a little break, at one point. Balloon and Flight Stories After I finished my eggs, I wandered to the additional room, where private parties are often held. I studied the photos of tractors and crop dusters, skydivers and hot air balloons. I wondered about the people in the photos and their stories. Roberta introduced me to a pilot who had just parked his plane. "He might want to eat lunch with you," she added. I wondered if she maybe she'd never served a woman eating by herself before. I would have gladly shared my table, but the very nice pilot wasn't stopping to eat. It would have been fun to have heard his stories, but I actually have plenty of my own to share. I could have told about my 5-dollar flight lesson in 1975...or my hot air balloon ride, with a crash landing... or my one time parachuting experience, with twisted lines..." He probably would have thought I'd made up those stories anyway. Photo Covered Walls I only spoke a few words with the pilot, but a gentleman sitting nearby noticed me looking at the photos. He struck up a conversation. He owned a horse ranch (I believe) and had taken up photography in recent years. The photos were his and they were quite entertaining. From Above I loved this photo, taken from a plane, I can only assume. Seeing the photos made me wish I didn't live so far away. What fun to come back on a weekend and eat lunch, watching people jump from planes, or dancing to a live band in the evening. Balloon Basket When it was time to pay my $5.00 bill, I walked over to the hot air balloon basket where the cash register was held. That's about the size of the basket that I was in, when it smacked ground and dragged through an oat field in 1974. Oh what fun, being reminded of some of my own past, sky-adventures! A Quick Pic Before heading out, I asked Roberta if I could get a quick photo of her. Next thing I knew, she was introducing me to Kayland Kingsley and his friend. They graciously put up with the interruption. Then Roberta asked me to sign the guest book with my address, so I'd be on the mailing list. Few Days Later A few days later a card arrived in the mail. What a surprise! When I read the note, I learned "Bert" is Roberta's preferred name. And I learned that Bert has some pretty good drawing skills! Back for Pie After reading the note, I decided I will have to get back that way just to show Don this wonderful little Missouri oasis. Also, I'll need to have some of Bert's pie! One More Update! In November 2019, I returned to Hangar Kafe, with my husband and my dad! What a treat to have a meal with family and another visit with Bert!
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St. Louis, MO The Broadway Oyster Bar opened in an old warehouse, in the 1970's. I remember going there with my mom, who had a knack for discovering unique places. Mom was a big fan of oysters and curious historic buildings. When Don and I joined Mom there in the early '80's, the place was still pretty much a dive bar. Don and I decided to pay a visit, on a trip to St. Louis, a couple years ago. April 2016 Don and I were staying at the hotel in the old Union Train Station, so it was only a 5 minute Uber ride to reach BOB. There was quite a crowd outside waiting to be seated. The old building from the 1840's, still had lots of retro charm with the glowing neon. The building itself was filled with history. Before selling drinks and oysters, it was a boarding house, a Chinese laundry, a bordello and more. The Bar But seeing the crowd outside was a clear reminder that times have changed. The people spilling into the street, were not local neighbors and workmen, stopping by to slurp down a beer and a few oysters. We were about to see what changes had attracted this crowd. The main bar area was pretty much how I remembered it. The small room was a bit cramped with folks on stools and a few tables behind. The walls and ceilings were still plastered with faded posters and photos...dangling Mardi Gras beads and Christmas lights. The people looked different. No one appeared to be a "regular", but I could be wrong. Many were glued to a St. Louis Blues hockey game on TV and that made me feel the strong, St. Louis vibe. St. Louisans are loyal sports fans. Decor We were able to snatch a bar table while we waited to get the text, telling us our table was ready. It gave me some time to study the walls and ceiling. I wondered what decor was original, from when we first visited 30+ years ago. I heard that the owner doesn't like to remove anything... just add. Maybe there are treasures hidden underneath! Food & Space Changes Years ago, BOB expanded their menu from oysters and booze, to award winning Cajun and Creole dishes. The restaurant & bar also expanded their kitchen and added new dining spaces, some inside and some out. For that reason, our wait wasn't very long. Patio Dining We were seated along the fence in one of the colorful patio areas. Luckily we had jackets on a cool April night.
Don and I could sort of peek out to the wild traffic on the corner of Broadway and Gratiot Street. On a Saturday night, there seemed to be a pretty crazy parade of motorcycles and souped up cars, all competing to make the most noise. Mosaic There was lots to amuse us within the patio area. A pretty amazing mosaic decorated the exterior wall that faced the patio. I wish I'd gotten a better photo, because you can't tell this is made with oyster shells. You also can't tell that it's nearly 2 stories high! I heard later there were interesting bathroom mosaics. Darn. I usually make a restroom trip just in case there's something curious... and I missed this one! Oysters! Of course we had to order some oysters. There were numerous options, as you might expect. We were not disappointed by our simple, breaded oysters with parmesan. Crawfish Pot Pie I ordered the Crawfish Pot Pie, which sounded a little decadent. It was supposed to come with a cheddar cheese biscuit, which had me pretty excited. It took a while for our food to arrive, so when a plate of equally decadent crawfish fettuccini arrived, I just considered it my lucky day. My photo makes it look small. It was huge, rich and heavenly-delicious. I didn't get close to finishing. Music Starting Up As we finished up our meal, a band was completing sound checks for a show starting at 10. The group, that had traveled from Brooklyn to perform was yet another reminder of the times. Don and I were about the oldest in the young, hip crowd that now filled the area. Back when I was 21, there was no stage, no patio and no menu period. Good Bye BOB It was a little quieter outside, when we grabbed our Uber to head back to the hotel. I laugh now as I write this, 2 years late... that night was our first Uber experience. Who would have guessed 30+ years ago, that there would be such a thing as Uber? Who would have guessed that we'd stare down at our "traveling phones" to see words appear, telling us our table was ready? If I'm around in 30 years, I hope BOB will be, too. Then, we'll see what else has changed! Devil's Elbow, Missouri I remember my parent's talking about Devil's Elbow when I was a kid. They had stories from their youth about the winding portion of Route 66 that lead to the tiny resort town. I pictured an evil and eerie place, but really the town got it's name because of a dangerous bend in the Big Piney River. Elbow Inn Today, only a couple of the original buildings remain. This small restaurant/bar still sits beside the road, not far from a bridge that crosses the Big Piney. The wood framed building looks much as it did in 1929, except the quaint windows are covered with bold, beer and "Bike Night" advertisements. Odd Connection Last spring, Don and I were on a Missouri road trip when we planned on tracking down good old Devil's Elbow. The night before, we stayed at the iconic Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, MO. While learning about some of the motel history, we learned that the Munger-Moss name was also connected to the restaurant in Devil's Elbow. In Search of Devil's Elbow The next day, we took the old scenic 66 out to Devil's Elbow. Elbow Inn Biker Bar We arrived at about 11:30 on a weekday, so things were pretty peaceful. I had seen pictures on the internet to know the place isn't always so peaceful. I was glad, since it was easier to imagine what my parents might have seen in their youth, without any motorcycles parked in front. Munger - Moss Sandwich Shop Back when my parents were babies, a Mr. and Mrs. Moss began selling barbecue in Devil's Elbow. Mrs. Moss married Mr. Munger after her husband died and they used both names for their sandwich shop in the early 1930's. I love this image with the sign in front, making you hungry and thirsty for Old Kentucky Barbecue and Orange Crush! Picturing my Mom When we stepped inside I took one look at the old counter with the stools and pictured my mom as a little girl. Maybe she never came in here at all, but I distinctly remember driving through Missouri and listening to my parents talk about Devil's Elbow. My mom said she remembered being very small and stopping with her parents, to experience her very first soda pop. "I remember how it stung and fizzed!" Maybe this was the actual place my mom sampled her first pop! A New Addition In the 1930's, this was a sandwich shop, not a bar. I'm also pretty sure the very fine tradition of hanging bras from the ceiling had not been introduced. This was quite a colorful assortment. Lunch There were a few locals dining when we arrived. Kimmie welcomed us and invited us to sit anywhere. I commented on the balloons, "Looks like you're going to have a party." Kimmie chuckled and said the party had already happened. "Oh, we had a baby shower. Don't know why, since the baby was born 5 months ago. Always looking for an excuse to have a party!" No Soda Pop You'd think I might have felt uncomfortable dining under a ceiling of bras, with a few men smoking and drinking beer at the bar. (It's been a long time since I've been anywhere that allowed smoking) But the folks were all pretty welcoming. After I ordered my chef salad, I told Kimmie about my mom's story of drinking her first soda pop. She was so sorry she didn't have any bottled soda. She thought that would have been fun to have had an ice cold soda pop in honor of my mom. Don and BBQ Don's BBQ Slaw Sandwich was pretty tasty. I guess it wasn't the original recipe from the Munger Moss Shop, though. In 1946, Route 66 was realigned, ruining business in Devil's Elbow. The Munger Moss restaurant took their BBQ recipe and opened a new business in nearby Lebanon. A motor court was added, which became the motel that we enjoyed the night before. Bathroom Adventure The outside of the Ladies Room was curious enough to make my Memorable Bathrooms list. First of all, SOFTTAILS is a pretty weird name for the Ladies Room. Then just getting to the door was an adventure, with all the balloons. Once I got them batted out of the way, I had to tug on the door. Part of a bra was wedged in at the top! Ladies Lounge? Once inside I found some unusual decor. A quaint little shelf decorated the brick wall and a swanky black and silver bed seemed to be inviting something? I had a good chuckle over that as I washed my hands. I asked Kimmie about the decorative bed and she acted like it was no big deal. "Oh, that's just to cover up the bathtub." Evidently the Elbow Inn was an inn at some point... or at least it accommodated overnight guests. Curious indeed. Photo Op As we got ready to depart, two friendly fellas dining nearby wished us safe travels. Then one stood and insisted we pose for a photo before leaving. "That's what all the bikers do." He said. I didn't notice till later the words "Legalize Freedom" above the white letters. Hmmm? I'm not sure I'd want to talk politics on a Saturday night here. But we had a great visit!
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-Stir 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 list of unusual dining experiences.
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! New Bag 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! |
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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