Category: 0 Oklahoma

"Glass House" in Vinita, Oklahoma

5/10/2018

Over the Road Restaurant, Since 1957

This is a real stretch for a dining adventure, but I did enjoy some coffee and conversation. I was driving the Will Rogers Turnpike in Oklahoma, when I decided to pull over at the newly renovated gas station and fast food stop.

I'm surprised anyone can resist a stop at this roadside... or rather roadtop stop!

Cookbook Motivation!
I had another reason for stopping and it had to do with a page from a 1962 cookbook.

Don and I love traveling and stopping at restaurants that are featured in our vintage Ford Motor Cookbooks. However, I was driving alone and didn't have the book. I called Don in Texas and had him text me a photo of the page, featuring an image of the grand structure that once housed a gift shop, snack bar and The Broiler Room Restaurant.

Brand New Look

I parked and headed towards the doors, beneath the signs for Mc Donald's, Kum & Go and Subway.

The fast food signs on the newly remodeled building, made it hard to imagine the days, when travelers stopped at the snack shop and locals dressed up to dine in the Broiler Room. Luckily this new look was no shock, since it wasn't my first visit to the arched building. Don and I moved with our kids to Oklahoma over 25 years ago, so we've made a stop or two.

Yellow Arches

This is how it looked in 1992. It was no longer the Glass House, but the World's Largest McDonald's!

Up to Second Floor

I woke up my travel legs by climbing the stairs to the spacious, fast food floor. I should have gotten a closer photo of the Will Rogers statue. I believe the famous Oklahoman was holding a lasso, not waving out the window.

Evidently in 1957, one of Will Rogers' sons, attended the opening of The Glass House. How many get to attend a celebration, above a turnpike... that's named after their dad?

Auto Art and More

There was more to look at, than 25 years ago. There was an interesting piece of hanging art, as well as numerous displays about the history, of what is now called the Will Rogers Archway.

Airport Feel

Maybe it was because I was up in the sky, but I felt like I was in an airport. The few people I saw all appeared to be travelers, so that added to the airport feel.

Signs and Directions

Maybe it was the sign saying "Westbound to Tulsa" that made me feel like I was being guided to the proper terminal. Maybe those signs are for the people who get woozy from the view and lose their sense of direction. You don't want to go down the wrong stairs and end up on the wrong side of the turnpike.

Table with a View

Next time I travel the turnpike, I'm packing a tablecloth and some china and crystal. I'm going to order a Big Mac and a sparkling clear, soft drink. Then I'll spread out my feast with this view. This view was worthy of fine dining back in 1957. Why not now?

Proceeding with my Cookbook Adventure

Don and I usually travel with a couple of these crazy old cookbooks. If we're lucky enough to come across one of the featured restaurants, we take the book in and share with the server or cook. It's a lot more entertaining than it sounds.

But today I had no book and no desire to eat at McDonald's or Subway. Usually, I try to order the featured restaurant recipe, but I just ordered a coffee from McDonald's. I was pretty sure the young kid would not be amused when I stood at the counter and ordered the "Will Rogers Special". Then I would have to show him the picture on my phone and there wasn't a chance that he would get my humor at all. I know my limits.

Friendly Faye

Instead I went towards the gift shop, where a nice looking woman was working behind the counter. I struck up a conversation about the building's past.

A young customer heard my question and butted in. "Oh it's always been a Mc Donald's!" Faye knew better. She was born and raised in nearby Vinita and the Glass House was built when she was very young. When she was old enough, she and her sister walked 2 miles just to buy the lollipops in the gift shop and ride the escalator. She said the place was very popular and held events and proms. She also knew that it had been a Howard Johnson's for a short while. She laughed when I told her my husband had texted me a picture of The Glass House from the old cookbook. She smiled while she studied the beef tenderloin recipe and illustration. I didn't ask if she'd ever dined in the Broiler Room. I figure she would have told me if she had.

Coffee With a View

Before taking off, I had another conversation with a trucker and his grown daughter. He talked about Amish food in Indiana. She talked about taking selfies, while riding in the truck.

I'm sad there are no trucks whizzing by in my photo. But I'll come again and snap more photos... after I set up my table with cloth and china. I'll bring the book, too!

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Angie's Circus City Diner

6/15/2015

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Hugo, Oklahoma

I recently got to visit "Circus City" for the second time. My husband and I took a 30 minute detour from our route in order to have breakfast at Angie's Circus City Diner. We ended up with much more than a dining adventure.

Nearly 20 Years Ago

Angie's wasn't open in 1996, when my friend Patti and I drove our kids 6 hours (round trip) in search of some circus excitement.

I had been told the small town was the winter home to the Carson and Barnes Circus. Surely we could pat a baby lion or watch trapeze artists train! Or maybe we could just have a picnic and then stare over the fence towards some circus trucks and a distant pen of elephants. Good enough!

Feasting with the Locals

So a few days ago, I talked Don into helping me give the town one more try. At Angie's, we could eat breakfast and feast our eyes on circus memorabilia.

When we made our mid-morning entrance, diners looked up to take note of the folks who were "passing through." The crowds had thinned by the time I pulled out the camera, but there were quite a few still lingering over coffee or chatting with Shamisha, the cashier.

Colorful Decor

After ordering, I wasn't a bit shy about wandering the cafe and absorbing all the clowns and elephants that covered windowsills and counters. I studied the colorful posters plastering the walls and learned that there were actually numerous circuses that had called Hugo "home".

Circus Chat

Samisha was more than happy to chat with me, in between checking out the customers... who called her by name and often teased her. She told me about the time she took her 3 small children to see the circus in Paris, TX. "Oh the circus was wonderful, but my kids were so wild. I had us sitting at the top so no one could see when they misbehaved! I even tried using those little harness things and those worked terrible. " She said they didn't try to stay more than an hour and as they moved down to exit, her little boy made a dash into the ring. "It was so embarrassing!"

Fertility Favorite

I asked Shamisha which figurine or decoration was her favorite. She pointed to the carved statue on the counter, calling it, The Fertility Elephant. She said when she first started working at the diner, she touched it and ended up pregnant. "Well, maybe I was already. But when I came back after having my little boy, I touched it again and next thing, I was pregnant with my twin girls. I don't touch it anymore."

The clown shoes were my favorite. I chatted with a couple seated nearby and the man frowned and pointed above the shoes. "I have a hat just like that, but my wife won't let me wear it." His wife (who happened to be sporting a sparkly silver cap) rolled her eyes and told me her husband looked silly in that hat.

My Favorite!

Shamisha showed me the photo of the clown who used to wear the shoes and hat. The clown is (or was) just one of many circus locals who frequents the cafe. Evidently he came in one day and said they could add his shoes and hat to the decor. He was retiring... to become a nurse.

Back to the Table

I returned to the table, where Don had not been ignored. A soft spoken man had passed by the table with a greeting, "The Lord's been good to you today, hasn't he?" Don, wasn't sure if the question needed a reply but he answered, "Absolutely!" Then he sipped his coffee and enjoyed the conversation of the men behind him, who were flipping coins to determine who paid the bill. Before the last 2 left the table, I heard one tell the other, "Let's blow this popsicle stand!"

Food

Our server Levi, kept our circus mugs full until our plates arrived. I went for a couple of fried eggs, bacon, hash-browns, biscuits and gravy. All good! Angie herself had cooked up those biscuits in the kitchen. They were a perfect blend for people like me, who can't decide which they like better, biscuits or rolls! Half of Don's huge omelet went out the door with us in a box.

Breakfast Clubbers Depart

I had a better view of the wall photos and the puzzle covered tables, when customers got up to pay.

But nobody was in a big hurry to leave, because the real conversations seemed to start up near the cash register. One fellow laughed that I hadn't taken his picture yet. I was happy to have him pose, but he got distracted with Samisha, telling her he wanted to pay the bill for a man across the room. Then he turned back to me and got serious about the circus locals. "You know a lot of people don't have high opinions of circus folk. But they are some of the hardest working people in the community. In fact one of the circus owners who lived here retired and then he became town manager. People figured anyone who can run a circus, can run a town!"

Post Breakfast Adventures

Before leaving, Angie came out from the kitchen to greet us. I ended up buying a purple "Angie's Diner" shirt just like she was wearing. Then there was a last bit of sharing with an enthused couple near the door. They steered us up the road to check out the elephant sanctuary.

Endangered Ark Foundation

I am a huge fan of elephants and yes I know the controversy about circus animals. But I would like very much to believe "Ark" is a good thing.

Don and I peered through the fence, since tours are only given on Saturdays. Bill, who was mowing the property, took a break and filled us in about the non-profit foundation dedicated to endangered Asian elephants. "There are 12 or 14 here now. It's a farm for retired circus elephants. But they aren't all old, 'cause they breed elephants, too." He pointed to the youngest, 4 year old "Hugo" who hanging out near his aunt. Looks like I may have to visit Hugo one more time (on a visiting day) to see the talented little guy, who can paint!

Trucks, Trailers and Barns

We followed more tips from the diner folks and traveled down the road to see more signs of circus. Since June is when circuses are on the road, I was glad to see at least a few colorful goodies left behind. A ticket trailer here and concessions truck there!

And a Stop at Showman's Rest

21 years ago, the kids didn't look exactly giddy when we stopped to see Hugo's cemetery, dedicated to circus folks who have passed away.

Some might think that's an odd outing, especially for kids. But the folks at the diner encouraged a visit.

A Welcoming Place

It's pretty clear that Hugo is proud of its circus heroes. And I'm guessing that these festive looking gravestones were meant to be enjoyed.

Final Pose

I didn't get a chance to pose with Angie or any of the fine folk back at the cafe, so I decided it was okay to pose with Popcorn's resting place. I'm sure hoping Popcorn is not the owner of those clown shoes back at the diner. The engraved hat and shoes image is pretty familiar... but hopefully the clown-turned-nurse is still going strong and making people smile!

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Oklahoma Road Food!

7/22/2012

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First Blog since my International Dining Goal was achieved!

So, until I discover more ethnic restaurants in Houston, I'll concentrate on some Regional Dining Adventures!

Good place to start...Route 66 in Oklahoma!

Hard to find an open restaurant on Sunday!

The Milk Bottle Landmark in Oklahoma City was closed. This tiny triangular island in a sea of traffic, now holds a Vietnamese Bakery. That would have been a good treat at 9 am!

We traveled west on 66 and took a detour north on the Chisholm Trail to find Eischen's also closed. We missed out on the best fried chicken in Oklahoma...served in the oldest bar in Oklahoma!

Hit the Jack Pot in El Reno, Oklahoma!

Robert's Grill has been serving Route 66 customers since the road opened in 1926!

Onion Fried Burgers and Chili Dogs with Slaw!

The tangy, grilled slaw gave this Coney dog big bonus points! Nearby customers helped us along, reminding us that additional cheese would drown out the flavors in both specialties.

The Grill is Key!

This old griddle may look like a sloppy mess, but it is the key to the mingling flavors of the onion fried burgers. After swift and aggressive griddle scraping, globs of beef were slammed down on the hot grill along with onions. Linda, on the stool next to me, said they had tried to open another Robert's elsewhere, but the restaurant couldn't create the same burger flavors without the 86 year old griddle.

All Locals

The only seating at Robert's is at the counter. When we arrived, everyone looked up and began scooting around the 14 stools to give us two seats together. The act of accommodating us, seemed to create a family table atmosphere, with the whole restaurant sharing the same conversation.

Stories and Suggestions

Don and I were the only tourists. Everyone seemed pleased to fill us in on the diner and town history. Mike and Linda, a 50ish couple, told us their parents used to come to Robert's as teenagers. Kenny was enjoying lunch with his daughters. Besides giving us suggestions of sights to see, Kenny told us interesting stories about his work as a US Sheriff Marshall. Trinity was very curious about my camera and suggested a few shots...including the one of her at the front door!

Down the Mother Road to POPS!

I usually avoid the new tourist traps, but who can resist a 66 foot high soda bottle and bizarrely modern gas and grill... with a display of 12,000 pop bottles! We didn't eat, but we purchased some oddly flavored pop... like pumpkin pie and buffalo wing!

Old Cafe, Old Sign, Old Car!

Further east on 66 in Stroud, we lunched at Rock Cafe, which opened in 1939. (rebuilt after a major fire) This fine Packard (I'm guessing) pulled up after we arrived. A man from Portland, OR, was traveling the whole route, from LA to Chicago. That gave us something to ponder.

Food
The cozy paneled interior was the perfect atmosphere for alligator burger. (well, they were out actually) But the Reuben sandwich was outstanding...along with 2 fried green tomatoes!

Main Street Diner in Chelsea, OK

This tiny diner north of Tulsa was here 3 decades before Route 66 was completed. I have a feeling they were serving the same specials back then. I had meatloaf, beans and mashed potatoes. Don had navy beans with ham and fried potatoes. Our bill came to less than 12 dollars.

The Locals Dine Early
Earlier in the evening, I poked my head in to see a menu. About 25 heads looked up and stared from booths and tables. I had the feeling they hadn't seen an outsider in a while. When we returned at 8, the stools and chairs were empty, but the waitress was chatty. And the owners came in for their nightly dinner before closing up.

Tulsa Dining on Route 66

Route 66 (or 11th street) in Tulsa was once bustling with motels, diners, motor courts and gas stations. Down near Hank's, there are more tire shops and boarded up buildings than anything. But we saw a lot of cars squeezed in the lot and decided it was worth a visit. Since 1949 Hank's has been grilling Okie Burgers and whipping up Real Malts. We shared a burger and malt inside, with about 8 other customers. I don't think there was room for more.

El Rancho Grande

After days of burgers, we were beginning to miss the Mexican food we eat regularly back in Texas. This big brick building on 11th Street has been serving the same recipes since 1950. Our "snack" of beef tacos along with our shared burger at Hanks, allowed us a good sampling before dinner.

A change in style for our Tulsa dinner!

Okay, so this is not Road Food! But it is in Tulsa, just a few blocks off Route 66. The Chalkboard Restaurant is in the Ambassador Hotel, which opened just a few years after Route 66 was completed. So that can be my excuse for mentioning this restaurant in a road food blog.

Actually, I think Don and I just needed a reward of gnocchi and crab cakes and scallops and beef bourguignon, after days of diner burgers and fries!

Dinner with the Deans and Harts

But really we need no excuse to put this photo in the blog! Our good friends The Harts and The Deans were the motivation for making this crazy journey through Oklahoma. It's been 15 years since our 7 children played on the same street in our neighborhood in South Tulsa. This was our last meal in Oklahoma and I must admit, our best!

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"Glass House" in Vinita, Oklahoma

Angie's Circus City Diner

Oklahoma Road Food!

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