Category: 00 Cookbook Adventures

Deer's Head Inn - Upstate New York

7/16/2018

Elizabethtown, New York

While on a road trip in June, Don and I shared a Cookbook Dining Adventure with Jennifer and Kate!

The town had a beautiful name, which made the outing twice as fun!

The Book That Inspired the Stop

Before heading off to New York, I made sure to peek inside a couple of our old Ford Motor Cookbooks. I was excited to find a featured recipe, from an inn which was located in an area we planned to visit. The book was printed over 50 years ago, so I was excited to learn that the inn was still in business.

Closed on Sunday

Our route from Lake George to Saranac Lake, took us right through Elizabethtown!

Elizabethtown was a little sleepy when we arrived on a Sunday at noon. Don and I could tell the inn was closed before we even parked.

Posing in E-Town

Jennifer and Kate pulled up minutes later, when I was taking photos of the inn. We 4 wandered the town a bit. My sister and I had some fun taking pictures... and being in them.

I posed with the rusty sign that showed my name. Then we spotted another sign and posed. It turns out, we were standing in front of a shop that benefits a local organization, which reaches out to women experiencing domestic violence.

Meeting Greg

The shop was closed, but Greg saw us and stepped outside. He filled us in on the organization that he and his wife run. We learned about some of the struggles in the community.

We also learned some fun news. Greg's son was chef at Deer's Head Inn. "You need to come back!" Greg insisted. So we did.

2 Days Later

We returned on a Tuesday, after staying in Sarnac Lake. It was a lovely day when we arrived for lunch. It was tempting to dine on the porch. I love porches.

But first I had to take in the exterior, which had a homey, farmhouse look to it.

Side View

I had to study the side view too. The business reopened a couple of years ago, as a "tavern, inn and grocer". What fun it would be, to stay in one of their 4, second story rooms.

I looked at the flowers and cute window, the painted boards of different sizes. Then I began to wonder.

This looked nothing like the illustration of the inn, featured in the book.

We headed towards the front door on the porch, hoping to find some answers.

The Market

We entered the inn's hallway, with stairs leading up to the guest rooms. I peeked at the Market, to the right. The little food/coffee shop was where the old tavern used to be. The original bar was being used as the shop counter.

My eyes were drawn to the potted herbs absorbing the window light.

The Tavern/ Restaurant

We headed into the classy-comfy new dining room, where we were greeted by a deer head above the white brick fireplace. I'm not sure if he's been around since 1808, but the building has.

Only, the building we were in, was located elsewhere and was actually The Annex to the older and larger Deer's Head Inn.

History is confusing.

Photo in the Hall

This old photo shows the original Deer's Head Inn, which was torn down in 1968. It didn't exactly match my cookbook image either, but it is the building that was featured in the book. I'm guessing, after they moved The Annex to it's current location in the 1830's, they added more gingerbread and porches to the original old inn.

Charming Interior

It was fun having Jennifer and Kate join us for our cookbook dining adventure. They were just as excited as Don and me, hoping to show the book to Chef Josh. Funny that we had just chatted with his dad, 2 days earlier.

Where to Sit?

There were some cute little alcoves and bay windows for seating. There was even a great area with dartboard and pool table, if only we'd had the time.

The New Bar

Driving by, you would never have guessed there was such an inviting, modern, Sazerac serving bar, inside this old building... in a town of 1,000.

I love vintage bars, with antique or retro decor. Usually I cringe when things are modernized. But there was something fun about having this new fresh interior, inside a 210 year old building.

Courtney

Our server, Courtney was a total hoot. She handed us our clipboard menus, with a happy welcome, then rushed off.

When she returned, I asked if they served Maple Sponge Cake with Maple Icing. She looked at me as if I'd asked if they sold puppies. "No?" I responded. "Well, you used to." I handed her the cookbook. She took a quick glance at the page, then boomed with a grin, "Get Out!" Her reaction was perfect. "Where did you get this? I can't believe this! Can I show this to the chef?"

I knew they were getting busy and Courtney seemed to be the only waitstaff, but I begged. "We talked to the chef's dad the other day. We were hoping to meet him..." Courtney agreed to bring him out a little later, so I held onto the book.

Yummy Options

Jennifer ordered the House Maple Lemonade, which was pretty refreshing. We shared some locally picked and pickled Fried Dilly Beans with Ancho Chile Spiced Aioli. Yum!

I had the Eggplant and Pickled Beet Sandwich, with Feta, Olives, Capers and Herbs. Don got the Roast Chicken Breast Sandwich with Roasted Peppers and Sweet Basil Pesto. I stole his fries and he snitched my greens! All good!

Deer's Head Bamboo Rice Bowl

Kate's rice dish looked as garden fresh as her blouse. She was a brave one, ordering the dish that Courtney said was very yummy, with "furry" bamboo rice. We had to laugh at that description. It was interesting, with marinated tofu and miso ginger dressing. But I liked my eggplant better.

Waiting on Chef Josh

The cozy tavern at one point, was practically full. Courtney was rushing about, serving diners on the porch and even at the bar. She kept assuring us that Josh would try to make it out to meet us, but we had to get going.

Courtney Poses

It would have been a treat to have met the busy young chef, but we were happy that we had a fun people encounter with Courtney. She was young and she was busy, which usually means there's little interest in posing with a cookbook. But Courtney was game.

We did our pose in front of the deer. Hopefully we'll return someday and meet the chef AND stay at the inn.

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Half Way House, Near Richmond, VA

7/18/2016

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A Restaurant... Not a Group Home!

Don and I totally lucked out when we found ourselves dining at this 256 year old Manor House. It was built on a grant of land from George II of England, by a patent dated 1743. For many years it was a lodging stop for travelers halfway between Richmond and Petersburg.

How We Found It

Once again, we owe it to one of our vintage Ford Cookbooks. While staying in Williamsburg, we flipped through this 1950 edition and found a page featuring the "Halfway House" restaurant. I Googled to see if it still existed, then called to make sure it was open! A couple hours later, we found the old building under some grand trees... right next to old US Route 1! I can't believe it's still there!

Facing the Highway

White boards and red shutters, faced the traffic. I saw curtains in the low windows, surrounded by brick. Sure enough, that's where we ended up dining, in the basement.

Cozy Space

We arrived at 11:30, since we were squeezing this in on the way to the airport. The hostess had been expecting us and let us choose where to dine. We picked a table right across from one of the 2 fireplaces. Our single candle was lit and a basket cinnamon rolls and poppyseed muffins arrived.

Comparing

I asked our server if they served Beets in Orange Sauce, since I always attempt to order whatever recipe is shared. Of course they didn't have it, but she was amused by the book and illustration.

The fireplace in the book looked similar to the one near our table. The brick floor and the painted door seemed to match. But who were the people in the picture?

The Rest of the Dining Area

On the other side of the dining room there was another fireplace. Hiding behind a beam, to the right, we found the actual framed watercolor image that appeared in the book.

We learned that the woman in the painting was the owner, at the time when the cookbook was put out. The boy was her son. The door and mantel haven't been changed, but the cabinet to the right was moved up stairs.

The Youngs

We learned this info from Sue and Rick, when they came downstairs from an office. The Youngs have owned the business for over 30 years and they graciously spent some time sharing some of their knowledge about the place.

So Much History

I loved looking out the tiny basement window and wondering who else had peered through, in the past. Union General, Benjamin Butler used this house as a headquarters during the Civil War. So you can be sure there was some peeking going on, then. And even before the Revolution, this basement space had been a tavern. The boots of many historic figures have evidently walked on these floors, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Food

I'm sort of glad they didn't have the beets, so I could get the Chicken Pie with flaky puff crust. It came with a twice baked potato and fruit. That seemed fitting for my Colonial Lunch!

Crab Cakes

Don had a crab cake which also came with a potato and green beans. For travelers who don't like hefty lunches, this was perfect.

Our Cozy Nook

The small table behind us was the only table that didn't fill during our stay. It was surprising to see so many business lunches going on. No one else seemed to stare at their surroundings the way we did. I can only imagine how the atmosphere must change at night, especially when fireplaces are lit.

Exploring

Rick and Sue invited us to wander around after our meal. Finding the bathroom was the first adventure. I'm not sure when plumbing was introduced, but the shed-like bathrooms with the whitewashed doors were a hoot. And for our trip upstairs, luckily there was a sturdy railing. I have no idea how many footsteps it took to make those stair-boards go from flat to wavy!

Meeting Room

The second floor had 2 rooms. Don posed in the Meeting Room, so you can see the ceiling is actually pretty high.

The Lady's Parlor

This had been a room for the Ladies at one point, so I did the posing. There was a third story that we didn't visit. That may have been where overnight guests stayed long ago.

The Kitchen

This was the part that made our meal feel most authentic. Our food was all prepared in this separate kitchen house! We could see in through the screen door where the chef was bustling around with various dishes. There's was lots of coordinating going on between the kitchen and the house, just to relay orders. Then our meals had been carried on trays from the cabin into the house. I can't imagine anything more

complicated, especially when weather was an issue! But everything ran smoothly and food was hot and delicious! What a memorable meal and a fun visit!

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Commander's Palace in New Orleans

6/8/2016

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Pre-Thanksgiving Feast 2015

It's taken me a half year to digest this delicious experience and put it in the blog.

Garden District Favorite Since 1893

This is the iconic landmark where I dined with family the night before Thanksgiving. It was dark when we arrived so I didn't see the "Commander's Blue" till I drove by the next day. That whimsical color didn't go on the old building until 1974 when the famous Brennan Family took over.

Party of 13

Our gang miraculously arrived and gathered on the sidewalk, just in time for our 5:30 reservation. What a thrill to walk in the entrance and see the entire wait staff lined up to greet as we passed by.

My brother and wife are frequent guests, so it was fun to see many of the waiters nodding politely and greeting them by name.

Upstairs

We were graciously guided upstairs to the Garden Room where our table awaited us. Since we were the first diners to arrive, I took advantage and slipped over to the window to take in the courtyard below, filled with white tables, trees and white lights.

The Garden Room
The head waiter greeted our table, then turned to my brother, " Welcome..." he said with a teasing smile, "It's been a while. I haven't seen you since... yesterday!" This of course cracked me up, because this was my baby brother who was being treated like a VIP. He used to ask for peanut butter and jelly in restaurants.

We were given menus and then napkins were placed in our laps. I was pretty impressed that we were given dark or light napkins, depending on our outfit. I took a quick snap of the table, then tucked my camera away, so the entering diners might think I was a regular, too!

Cell Phone Snaps

Luckily cell phones can be used to discretely capture a shot without being noticed. This pic reveals the impressive "Commander's Blue" ribbon, down the center of our table. I'm not sure what you have to do to pull off the high ranking blue ribbon, but we had one. The photo also captures a glass or the famous Nola cocktail, Sazerac. There was no camera ready when the waiter arrived with some special drink holders made of twisted iron, which served up our complimentary rum drinks. Oh my!

The Corner

This shot of the room, taken much later, shows the back corner. My brother explained the corner table was often booked for special guests. I kept an eye on the table, kind of hoping Sandra Bullock showed up. She lives just a few doors down, after all.

Time to Explore

After ordering our main course, I decided I needed to powder my nose. I headed down the stairs where I had a good view of the dining room and all the gentleman diners. I made sure they were following rules, since jackets were required. That's what you do when you are still angry since childhood about having to wear a swim cap when boys didn't.

The Powder Room

I had to check out the Ladies Room, since I didn't want to be accused of lying. I was mighty impressed with the padded upper walls and marble lower section. Those mounted sconces added a retro touch.

I really had no powder, so I moved on to explore.

Yes and No Doors

The place was busy at this point, so I didn't feel like I was too obvious as I peeked around a bit. I loved the doors into the kitchen with reminder signs telling you which to use. I wasn't trying to go further, but a gracious waiter recognized a nosy customer. Suddenly he was inviting me in to see the kitchen.

Hard at Work

I felt like I was snooping around backstage during a Broadway play. Surely I shouldn't be there. But he encouraged me to take a photo and when a couple busy chefs took notice, what could I do but grab my cook book from my purse?

Not Just Any Chef

Maybe my Sazerac gave me a little nerve, but I hadn't really intended on intruding! Suddenly though, I was showing my 1950's Ford Motor Cookbook to Chef Roby (I think that's his name) and he was laughing at the page featuring Commander's Palace in the 1950's. He got the attention of Chef Tory, who had his hands full but still had a good laugh as he looked and cooked. Ignorance is bliss, because I NEVER would have intruded if I'd known I was interrupting Executive Chef Tory PcPhail! I'm not sure if Emeril Lagasee or Paul Prudomme would have been so tolerant when they were Executive Chefs at Commander's!

The Head Table

Before leaving the kitchen I did notice The Chef's Table, set up with a view of the kitchen action. Yep, there were two ribbons on that table! The lovely blond woman at the table caught my eye and inquired about that book that was causing a commotion.

I Join the Chef's Table

She was curious, so I explained how the book from 1954, featured famous restaurants, most of which are gone now. Rachel, who had been celebrating her anniversary asked me to sit right down a moment. She seemed intrigued to hear how my husband and I often travel in search of these old dining gems. We laughed about the old Commander's recipe for Remoulade Sauce. The illustration shows the wonderful building before it turned Commander's Blue.

Lally and Todd

Then Rachel asked their waiter, Todd to take our picture. And then Lally Brennan who is Co-Proprieter of Commander's arrived on the scene. She had come to our table upstairs, earlier and my brother had introduced us to her. Then suddenly I was greeting her in the kitchen and she was having a look at the curious book.

One More Photo

Next, Lally, who has been working in the Brennan family biz since she was 13, was encouraged to join the gang for a photo. I promise you... at least I'm pretty sure... I was not obnoxiously inviting myself into all of this. Commander's is just a welcoming place and everyone was in an awfully good mood!

Back Upstairs

I returned to our family gathering and had to explain why I was gone so long. My relatives laughed and seemed amused that I'd been kitchen hopping. I'm guessing, my own kids might have been glad I did my restaurant socializing out of their sight!

The Food

This is a lot of chatter about everything but food. But the happy faces say it all. The food was indeed amazing, right down to the Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé finished table-side with warm whiskey cream. Before that, we devoured some turtle soup, gumbo, sea scallops, Autumn Mushroom Risotto and much more. There wasn't a dish or taste that wasn't perfect.

Lingering

We stood under the glow of the neon sign and lamps for a while after. The old cemetery across the street added some good ole New Orleans eeriness.

Planning and Sharing

It was a nice treat lingering on the sidewalk, sharing what we liked best about our meal... and making last minute plans for our Thanksgiving feast the next day.

The Palace

What a fitting name for a place that made us feel like Royalty. Maybe it was my brother's connection, or maybe the staff was all in the holiday spirit or maybe Commander's Palace is just an all around friendly place with decadent food.

Memorable and Delicious!

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La Placita, in Albuquerque

5/25/2016

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Food, History and a Fun People Encounter!

In the heart of Albuquerque's historic Old Town, sits a sweet little house with a bunch of dining rooms. Don and I visited last September and had a fine time!

The Cookbook Link

Once again, we came across a dining option by browsing through one of our vintage Ford Treasury cookbooks. This one from 1950, features cafes and dining rooms (with recipes) from 48 states.

On our 4-week road trip last fall, we made sure to pack all 4 books. It's always an adventure, tracking down a featured eatery that still exists!

Dating Back to the 1700's

The restaurant in our book was housed in what was once a hacienda belonging to Don Manuel Armijo and his family. The rambling, Pueblo-Spanish style building sits across from the Plaza that was once the bustling center of life in the 1700's.

1935

This is how the casa looked in 1935, long after the Armijo Family left. The second story was evidently added to the structure around 1872, when one of the daughters got married and needed a dramatic stairway.

Under the Portal

When we arrived last fall, the long portal was offering shade for the Native American vendors selling their crafts. We took a peek, but moved towards the door near the corner... hungry for lunch.

Memorable Features

The building was divided into 6 dining rooms, with hints of what the old home must have been like. I took a good look at the classic stairway that was imported from Spain, after the second floor was added. This allowed the young bride an impressive way to show off her 30-foot wedding train.

I asked if we could be seated in the dining room with the tree, since I'd seen it in the almost cartoonish cookbook illustration. The tree room had once been the courtyard. It was enclosed with a skylight back in the thirties when La Placita opened.

Windows and Doors

Our young waiter, Matt was happy to seat us at a table on the raised terrance beside the tree. The nearby window once gave a peek inside the house. Now the glass was covered in painted flower designs. The doorway into the next dining room revealed the 4-inch thick walls. I wonder how many coats of paint have gone on that wood trim.

Menu and Book

I loved the vintage photos on the menu. It could have been the same menu cover given to the writer/ illustrator who visited the restaurant over 65 years ago, for the Ford cookbook. The book's recipe for Sopapillas called for lard and the illustration showed a smaller tree. But at least I found sopapillas on the menu. Often restaurants no longer serve the recipes that are featured.

Hidden Fireplace

The illustration showed a fireplace covering half the wall. I had to hunt a bit for that fireplace, but I found it.

Corner Fireplace

There were corner fireplaces in many of the rooms. These had once been used for "top of the stove" cooking, while the baking had been done outside in cone-shaped, mud ovens. This fireplace behind the bar was used for stacking wine carafes.

Dining With a Tree

For a while no one else was in our dining room. I had expected tons of tourists in this festive part of town. But eventually some others diner arrived and became interested in the cookbook they saw on our table.

Cottonwood Tree

The bricks surrounding the tree trunk were beginning to buckle. We laughed with our dining neighbors about how small the tree looked in the book.

The trunk today, looked to be about 4 feet in diameter. The branches lifted up through a metal portion of the skylight. The branches above the roof, swayed in the breeze and cast odd shadows in the room. A leaf or two had managed to drop onto the brick floor.

Food

I had to save room for sopapillas, so I had a salad and shared Don's enchilada plate. The plate was piping hot and spilling over with flavorful sauces, rice, beans and cheese. The most fun part of the

meal was hearing from Matt that many recipes are still used from the day when La Placita first opened in 1931. The same family still runs the restaurant.

Dessert!

I obviously was dressed for my dining adventure on this day. Luckily I didn't burn myself on the scalding little pillows off goodness. And I also managed to keep the drippy honey off my embroidered blouse... bought 20 years ago at a thrift shop and used for very special occasions. What a yummy and sticky treat!

Our Waiter, Matt

I was delighted when Matt saw our cookbook and laughed. He actually recognized it! He said he had been working at La Placita for 10 years, starting in high school. He was sad that his days with the La Placita family might be coming to an end soon. He had just graduated from college

He couldn't rave enough about the family who owns the restaurant. His favorite working memories revolved around Christmas and the festive decorations and the families who came every year on Christmas Eve and posed beside the tree. It made me want to come back in December.

Best Server on Trip

Matt showed us around a little before we left. We told him that we were reaching the end of our 4-week road trip and he was being highly considered as our favorite server of all the places where we'd dined. He disappeared and came back with a great little book that included La Placita history and recipes. He chuckled as he handed it to us. "Not that I'm trying to sway you with your decision!" He grinned as we read where he had signed the inside of the book...

"From: Matt (Top Candidate for Best Server Award) September 24, 2105

Yep, Matt won!

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Parry's Lodge in Kanab, Utah

2/24/2016

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Can't Miss It!

Our drive from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, took us right through Kanab.

Don and I couldn't have missed the Parry Lodge or its towering sign if we'd tried. We pulled past the colorful words and parked underneath the equally awesome Coffee Shop sign.

Cute Little House Motel

What a fun looking motel sitting in the shade of the trees, with an almost fake-looking mountain range just beyond. It looked inviting enough with the porch and rocking chairs, but what really had me excited was that we had spotted this place in our old retro cookbook. Here was a chance for yet another dining/cookbook adventure!

A Late Lunch

We entered the cozy lobby and were pleased to know lunch was still being served. We spoke with a young man at the old desk who said his grandmother had managed the hotel & restaurant for years.

Hollywood Stars

He pointed to the framed photos on the wall and told us his grandmother had some great stories about some of those movie stars. Kanab had evidently been nicknamed Little Hollywood long ago. Over 100 movies and TV episodes had been filmed in the area.

Curious History

In 1924, local brothers got some temporary work when a Hollywood movie was shot for the first time in Southern Utah. The brothers helped with transporting some of the crew who came to film a "picture" starring Tom Mix. Within a few years, the area was swarming with Hollywood folks. The Parry Brothers built their motel in 1931 to accommodate the stars and crew members. At one time, the lodge itself became part of a movie set for the film, "The Girl in the Black Stockings".

Built Around an Old Farmhouse

The Parry brothers built their motel/lodge around what was then a farm house. They provided lodging, food and transportation for Western film stars like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, as well as more serious actors like Gregory Peck and Sidney Poitier. I imagine some of those big trees were there when the lodge was built. Too bad they lost their sprawling lawn in front, when the highway cut through. But that was the highway that helped us discover the place.

The Restaurant

We were invited into the sunny dining room with flowery wallpaper, ruffled curtains and more Hollywood photos. I was sorry that the hostess was fairly new and didn't have much more input for us.

Pot Roast?

It's always fun to see what kind of reaction we get when we share one of these old Ford Cookbooks with a server or cook. Often the recipes are outdated and no longer used. Often the illustration gets a good laugh or gasp.

But I held the book back a while and studied the menu. No pot roast offerings, so I went for the salad bar.

Salad Bar

I took my time piling my plate with greens and crispy bacon and chopped egg. I scooped up some chili that turned out to be pretty tasty. And I chatted with a nearby couple at the only other occupied table.

Daily Special

Don ordered the Special of the Day for $7. 95. Beef patty with onions, mashed potatoes & gravy...and of course some good old peas, corn and carrots.

It kind of looked like a meal they might have served in the 1940's or '50's.

Cary and the Cookbook

While finishing our meal, this fellow came out from the kitchen and asked playfully, "How was your food today... because I cooked it!" I ended up showing him the book and he was thrilled. He said he'd been experimenting with old lodge recipes, like one for dinner rolls and another for Chicken and Dumplings. He chuckled that customers had complained about too much salt in that one.

Darla and the Book

Someone got word to Darla, the manager that there was a vintage cookbook in the dining room. She came in and joined us and shared some old postcard images of the lodge. She was eager to copy the Pot Roast recipe for their records and then she showed me around outside. She studied the book's illustration and we imagined how nice the porch sitting would have been with no highway and parking lot. She pointed to some rose bushes and told me they'd been there since the place opened.

A Peek at the Pool

Darla pointed towards the pool and said Frank Sinatra had some influence in getting that put in, when he and the Rat Pack stayed. Sinatra must have had his wife with him at least some of the time, since he made a special request to the Parry Brothers.

Darla said he talked the brothers into building a suite for his mother-in-law... at the opposite end of the complex!

Next Time

Our dining adventure was more about the Hollywood history than the food. I hope next time we come, we can stay over, for a Notable Night experience. Then we'll have a little more time to enjoy dining and lingering in the Coffee Shop.

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Wild West Dining in Cody, Wyoming

11/21/2015

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Following Our Cookbook

On recent travels, Don and I had one night in Cody. We were pretty darn delighted to learn that Cassie's Supper Club was still a happening place after many, many years. How did we find out about Cassie's? Once again, we were traveling with a few vintage cookbooks, put out by Ford Motor Company. Whenever we're lucky enough to find a restaurant that is still in operation, we stop!

Cassie's Supper Club

We headed west of downtown Cody and spotted the snazzy sign! It looked pretty much the same! In the cookbook illustration you can see the showgirl, tipping her top hat and the parrot perched on top. I read later that the owners, Ole and Mabel Nelson (in 1963 when the book was published) had a pair of parrots that were well known to customers.

Today?

The facade had changed from stucco to an Old West Saloon look, but it was still set far back from the road, like the picture. We were just a mile and a half from downtown, so I had expected to see the place squished in between shopping centers. That's one big parking lot and I believe it actually gets filled up.

4 PM

There were quite a few cars, considering the time of day. We headed towards the door near the Buffalo Bar sign.

Hungry, Curious, Thirsty?

The "Howdy Folks" above the door was welcoming enough, but I kind of liked the other words... especially the word "curious".

Greeted by Beasts

Just inside the door, we met up with lot of stuffed fellows. They were keeping a good eye on the huge space. Over the years, Cassie's has expanded to 20,000 square feet, with numerous levels and rooms.

Rustic Bar

We stepped in to get a look at the first bar, which wasn't open, yet. There were some rustic stools around a curved cedar bar and lots of goodies you'd expect in western bar, like mounted longhorns and cow skulls.

Greeted by Melody

Then we met Mel who filled us in on some more history after she had a good laugh at the book. She tole us about Cassie, who opened the Supper Club in 1933.

Cassie had already spent a number of years running a house for "Ladies of the Night" in Cody. She and another madam were encouraged to close their establishments, so they opened Cassie's for dancing, liquor and later dining. Mel was kind enough to pose with the fine cookbook, right in front of Cassie's original "cabin", which is behind the Restrooms sign. I'm still a little unclear about what this "cabin" was all about. But I know the rest of the building is built up around it.

Yummy Reicipe

Mel was pretty amused by the recipe for Chicken Cream Salad. "No, I'm afraid we don't serve this." She laughed as she studied the ingredients with minced chicken, gelatin, mayo and heavy whipped cream... Mmmm. Not to mention, celery, stuffed olives, shredded lettuce and tomato!

Saved for Later!

Mel made sure she got some pictures of the colorful page with her cell phone. The old cookbook claimed that the creamy chicken dish was a favorite of the diners! I don't picture the loyal customers today begging for this salad. Most come in for the huge steaks!

Dancing!

Mel told us to feel free to look around and there was plenty to see. We heard the dance floor gets pretty crowded, especially on rodeo nights. We could barely make out the letters that spelled Cassie's, engraved into the wood floor. The room was surrounded with western art scenes. The painted wood panels were spotlighted high on the walls. Just past the first piano, were a couple levels of dining areas with white tablecloths and some very early (or late lunch) diners quietly eating. Every room seemed to have its own flavor.

Another Bar

Towards the rear, we found a completely different style of bar. Smooth, polished wood, stained glass, Victorian style wallpaper. I would have loved to have lingered till the place was filled with customers, to see if the two bars attracted different kinds of crowds.

And the Lounge!

The only bar that was open before 5 was a lounge that took me to a completely different era. There were painted western murals and some knotty pine... slick orange booths with branded wood trim. We so wished it had been dinner time or later!

Sharing with Steve

As Don and I headed to the car we heard a voice coming around the side of the building. "Is that the cookbook?" We stopped and had the best time chatting with Steve Singer, who grew up a couple houses down from Cassie's. His parents knew the Nelsons and sometimes on weekends, he and a few other kids (sibs or friends?) would get to pretty much have a sleepover in the old "Cassie's Cabin" area.

Preserving Cassie's

Steve studied the book illustration and pointed where the big trees in the picture once stood. He also remembered how the place looked before the 1980's, when new owners gave the rambling building a wooden facelift and covered all the bumps and warped features. He clearly had an appreciation for preserving the past.

Steve had fond memories of Cassie's, not just from childhood, but from performing there as a young man. His band West The Band, entertained regularly for 20 years and then he bought the place in the late 1990's. He and Mel have continued to serve up great meals and provide almost nightly live entertainment, but they've also spent time retrieving a lot of Cassie's old history. Many of the original treasures from Cassie's have surfaced in recent years.

Off to Our Hotel

Don and I headed to our hotel, knowing we would eventually be hungry and regret what we'd missed. The Irma Hotel also had lots of history, as well as a restaurant and saloon. It was built in 1902 by Buffalo Bill Cody and there was much to explore while we worked up an appetite.

The Cherrywood Bar

Eventually we ate a simple salad and a sandwich at this gorgeous carved bar. It was a gift to Buffalo Bill from one of his big fans, Queen Victoria. That's an amazing story. But we were served by a summer worker from Eastern Europe and she knew nothing about the history. There was no live music and no dance floor.

Dining in Cody?

We left Cody with some good memories, but our travels only allowed us enough time for 1 meal in Cody. Next time, we will come hungry and have a real dining adventure at Cassie's! Not just juicy steaks, but maybe some dancing on the big wood floor! Next time!

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Lake Hotel in Yellowstone Park

11/16/2015

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Another Cookbook Dining Adventure!

It's hard to tell this hotel is 126 years old. The fresh yellow paint makes the colonial style hotel look pretty young. It's actually a pretty swanky place that we couldn't afford. We were staying in a cabin, down the road.

Dinner Options

Our Lake Lodge Cabins had a cute dining room, but it was cafeteria style which sounded less appealing. Plus, our Lake Lodge was not one of the hotels or lodges featured in our silly 1950 Ford Treasury Cookbook, with recipes from restaurants around the country. Lake Hotel did have a page in our book!

Down the Road

We grabbed our cookbook and headed down the road to check out Lake Hotel and its dining room. The parking lot already made us feel like we might be out of our league.

The Front

The ritzy lakeside entrance was made extra snazzy with the yellow tourist car resting in the shade of the modern (added 1928) porte cochere. Looking down at Lake Yellowstone it was fun to imagine the wealthy guests arriving by ship. This was much preferred, since stage coach travel was bumpy and dusty!

The Lounge

Don and I had only traveled 2 minutes from our lodge, but we needed to sit and settle our nerves for a bit in the lovely lounge, surrounded by windows. We sipped on lemon water and pretended we were guests until we got up nerve to peek at the menu and ask about reservations.

The Pre Happy Hour Crowd

We wandered past the small crowd gathering early at the tiny bar near the dining room entrance. The earliest reservation opening was 9:30. "We'll take it!" We decided after a quick look at the menu that didn't look much steeper than most National Park Lodge dining rooms.

Back Again

After spending time at our own sweet lodge on porch rockers, we returned later in the evening to the lounge. There were indeed some snooty guests, giving the poor bartender a very hard time. But there were some delightful and possibly sober guests, who were enjoying live piano music. Some sang along while others danced. We finally entered the dining room, only a little famished by 9:30.

Sharing the Book

After being seated I hoped we would have an older server who could appreciate the silly nostalgia of an old cookbook and who could laugh at the old illustration which revealed the same yellow paint in 1950.

Most National Park lodge employees are international students, which could make my "cookbook encounter" extra tricky. But we lucked out with a young and relaxed American student named Dominique. He was chatty and comfortable and made no attempt to hide the fact that he was glad his busy night in the dining room was almost over... and that his long work season was about to come to an end. He seemed to be the kind of guy that could handle a lady and her cookbook.

Time to Order

It was time to order, so I asked for the Barbecued Spareribs that are featured in the cookbook. He laughed and said, "I wish." "Well, you should serve them. This book says you do!" I teased as I pulled out the book with the recipe. He frowned at the page for a split second, then his jaw dropped, "What the...!" He caught himself, politely. I handed him the book and he propped it open on the back of a chair and leaned in to study. "Where did you get this?" He seemed utterly perplexed. And so was I

because young people don't generally care a bit about an old cookbook. He continued to explore the book, the date and pages. I announced, "Now you know you're going to have to be in a photo with that book? Is that okay?" "Sure." he answered with out paying attention. Then he asked if he could borrow the book for a minute and he ran off and returned with the manager and two servers.

The Pose

Jim took our photo while Dominique held the book. A few diners seemed to be wondering what was going on, but no one bothered to ask. We placed our ordered and teased about expected spareribs, next time!

Dinner

We did eventually eat. It was late and we didn't order big or linger long. Don's bacon cheeseburger with truffle fries was just about perfect. My spinach and cold rice salad was the excellent choice after over 2 weeks of road food dining. It all tasted fresh and that bacon was so crispy I had to steal some!

Happy Dining

I'll add two more photos as a reminder that cookbook dining adventures bring out the fun in all of us. Wait a minute? I really am not sure what those expressions are about.. on my face! I really just wanted to capture the smile on the Adam, the manager's face. And the other photo shows Dominique's big smile. I guess I could have just cropped myself out... but cropping can sometimes remove part of the story! It was a fun dinner and evening.

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Lodge Dining in the Rockies

10/2/2015

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Raining in the Rockies

Last month Don and I drove through Rocky Mountain National Park. We got out a couple times, but there was nothing to see. It was a good day to enjoy some lodges!

The Historic Rapids Lodge

This rustic lodge was built by the Ish family in 1915. J. Lapsley Ish had a funny name, but he was a hardworking man from Missouri. It seemed like a place we should check out.

Dining In or Out?

There was a nice view of the creek from the dining room, but where was everyone? Most were seated on the patio, because the rain had stopped.

By the Creek

Don and I grabbed a table near a lovely pot of flowers, with a view of the boulder-filled creek.

We shared a salad and a cup of potato soup, which was perfect for Texans with thin blood on a chilly day in Colorado. Nobody else looked a bit cold.

We were almost able to finish the grilled chicken sandwich on pretzel bun... but it started raining. Time to move on down the road.

Grand Lake Lodge

We had just eaten, so we didn't enjoy a meal at this lake view lodge with old cars. We put it on our "next time" list and headed into the National Park.

Still Pretty

Sometimes we could see mountains and sometimes we saw nothing... and hoped for the best. After a somewhat harrowing drive, I begged Don to stop at one more lodge.

The Baldpate Inn

We found the nearly 100-year old place at the end of a muddy, dirt road. It wasn't mealtime, but I just had to have a "dining adventure" even if it involved no food.

Why?

I'm sort of addicted to a few of these old cookbooks put out by Ford Motor Company in the '50's and '60's to spotlight eateries around the country. Most of the restaurants and hotels are gone, but when I find one that's still in business, I have to make a call!

The Inn's Second Owner

Since the Mace Family built the inn in 1917, it has been run only by 2 families. I was lucky enough to meet Lois Smith, who bought the hotel in 1986. She was pretty tickled by the recipe. They only serve breakfast, dessert and salad bar at the inn's restaurant, but she laughed that tuna salad is often on the buffet.

Dining

If we hadn't been racing to get to our hotel, we could have at least stopped for some pie! The view was lovely even on a damp day.

Salad in a Tub

And to think I'd ordered soup and salad a couple hours earlier. Here, I could have dug my own lettuce right out of the bathtub! (It actually looked very tasty) And there was a nice collection of framed photos that I wanted time for. Evidently the Mace family had a photographer or two.

And the Keys!

All I initially knew about this place was that it once served tuna noodle casserole. I was pretty excited to learn how it got its Baldpate name and why there were 20,000 keys hanging from the beams!

After the Mace's opened their inn, novelist Earl D. Biggers came to stay. He claimed the Mace's inn matched the description of the hotel in his mystery novel, "Seven Keys to Baldpate". The inn name was changed and guests have been contributing to the hotel key collection for nearly 100 years.

Next Time?

It was tough leaving when we hadn't had a meal or an overnight. What a perfect contribution to my Dining or 90-Nights blog! The inn closes for the season in a few days and it kind of looks like one of those places that just might decide against ever opening again. Hopefully not. One more to add to my "next time" list!

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Dining in the Amana Colonies

7/18/2015

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Ox Yoke Inn or The Ronneburg Restaurant?

Don and I were eager to have a meal in the old Iowa town, settled by German immigrants over 100 years before I was born. We both love German food and we loved the idea of eating the foods that were once prepared in communal kitchens... homes in Amana didn't have their own kitchens! Which place should we pick?

Ox Yoke Inn

We had to decide fast because Amana closes down early. We decided to stop first at the Ox Yoke... partly inspired by the great illustration and recipe in our old Ford Motor Company Cook Book!
We couldn't eat two dinners, but maybe we could stop for a German beer!

Ox Yoke!

But it was already clearing out by 6:00. We stepped into this newer room to see if we could grab a beer at the bar.

Where are the Crowds?

Cindy Welcomes Us!

Cindy had just collapsed into a chair near the bar. "Come on in and pull up a seat!" she said, patting the chair beside her. She and her grown children had worked a busy 2-day Apple Festival weekend and Cindy didn't try to hide her weariness. We joined her after ordering a beer at the bar. Cindy began filling us in about the history of the restaurant, stopping to introduce us to her daughter and son in law who were bustling in and out. Her grandfather had run the restaurant for 40 years and she pretty much grew up in it.

Lina and William

Cindy had us follow her upstairs to see a few things. She pointed to a portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Leichsenring, who opened the restaurant in 1940. Mrs. L. appeared to be holding a bible in the photograph... unless it was a cookbook. Evidently she worked in one of the communal kitchens as a young woman, until the depression. That's when the Colonies found they could no longer remain self-sufficient... the end of the communal kitchen. Cindy remembers when Mrs. Leichsenring used to come in daily to test the potato soup. The Ox Yoke is still owned by the Leichsenring family.

Yokey and Our Cookbook

Cindy took us to a room filled with antique crocks and stuffed beasts. She wanted to show us Yokey the Bear. She laughed about how that stuffed bear scared her as a little girl. I then had to share my silly cook book with the water color illustration and recipe for Ox Yoke Sauerbraten. She was pretty surprised to see the restaurant featured in the 55 year old book.

On to Ronneberg!

We tried not to rush, but wanted to check out the other nearby German restaurant we had heard about. Don and Elsie Oehler opened the Ronneburg in 1950. Elsie's grandmother had been a "kitchen boss" during the communal day.... I believe in this very building. In this photo you can glimpse at a few folks through the windows, some wearing suspenders. We were too late for the German band, but we saw a few gentlemen in lederhosen relaxing around the bar.

Tiny Table

Our table was almost too small for all the dishes that cluttered the checkered cloth. Meals are all served family style as they were 150 years ago. The only difference is that Don and I got to sit at the same table. Men and women ate at separate tables back in the day.

More Than 15 Minutes

We felt a tiny bit rushed since we were some of the last diners, but at least we got more than 15 minutes, which had been the allotted time for Amana dining. How would we have eaten our Sauerbraten and Wiener Schnitzel that came with cottage cheese, slaw, fried potatoes, gravy, green beans , Spaetzle and bread!! I'm guessing we wouldn't have had wine and beer either!

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Sportsman's Lodge & Patio Cafe

7/3/2014

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Studio City, California

Why This Place?

Of all places to eat in the LA area, this was high on the list. Not because we knew the food was excellent. Not because someone told us about it.

It was because we saw it pictured in a travel cookbook... from 1963.

More on that later.

Don and I parked in a huge lot and walked to this great retro entrance. The grand motel was added in 1962. It's recently been renovated in a very modern- sheik style.

Going Way Back

Now, the hotel sits beside busy Ventura Boulevard, but the 8-acre complex actually predates studio film history. In the 1880's the lodge was a rural attraction frequented by farmers and families who came to fish and turned their catches over to the chef. When Hollywood began to grow up around it, it became "Hollywood Trout Farm" and stars like Clark Gable and Bette Davis became regulars.

Odd Rumor: The old hotel from the 40's is gone, but rumor says the modern motel had a special visitor in 1968. It is said that Robert Kennedy stayed here the night before he was killed. Evidently the rumor has been a strong one, even still today. But the owner of Sportsman's Lodge was tracked down and put an end to the story. The only reason he could imagine for the rumor, was that R. Kennedy at one point, possibly talked about having the election night gathering the the Lodge. Odd and sad to think about.

Lobby

The sitting area and bar near the lobby looked extremely mod and fun. We had heard the hotel gets some very interesting guests and it did seem like everyone who walked through the door was a part of something interesting.

To The Cafe

I carried our special cookbook as we walked down the hall to the café. We hoped we might end up talking to someone who was interested in the history of Sportsman's Lodge... and the odd book.

Orange and White

The café felt like a giant crème-cicle, with it's fresh décor! The woman dressed in white behind the counter, made me think of old fashioned bakeries. The orange stools reminded me of Howard Johnson's

The slick white chairs made me wish I could watch the Jetson's on TV. No cartoons for me, but I did get to feast my eyes on the wonderful display of Hollywood stars... who once visited the lodge.

Meeting Moe

I didn't' get to meet any celebs, but I got to chat with our wonderful waiter from French Morocco. I showed him our cookbook with the watercolor illustration of the lodge, along with a recipe for Beef Stroganoff. He was quite amused and said they actually had that on the winter menu. He was intrigued enough by this old Ford Motor Company Travel Cookbook that he disappeared to his car to get his cell phone to take a picture.

Another People Encounter

We had no stroganoff options for lunch, but the menu looked very good. While we were checking out the food choices, we had a nice visit from a woman who was seated behind Don. She had noticed our enthusiasm for the place and seemed excited to let us know she was the designer for recent renovations. She shared a few stories and we let her know we were impressed with the new, fresh and modern concept.

Food!

I can get overly eager about a place and end up not even caring about the food. But this food was absolutely perfect. I had a Caesar salad with chicken wrap that came with sweet potato chips. Don's sandwich with incredible sauce was equally yummy. Can I tell you what it was? Actually I can't remember for the life of me 2 months later. But I remember begging for bites. So much for food review.

Posing

Moe offered to take our photo. I see we're properly lined up with Clark and Kate. We stumbled across their hand and footprints an hour later when playing tourists at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Mermaids in the Pool?

After eating, Don and I went exploring a bit.

The wonderful pool area looked quite inviting and also very quiet.

If we'd come another day we might have caught a performance or taken a class by "Aqualillies" a synchronized swimming group.

To view the fine Aqualillies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i7sPwOeGd4

The Old Sportsman's Lodge

Before we departed we had to explore the old lodge area from the '40's, where you can still dine at night or book an event. The water color image is taken from the cookbook and shows the view through the window glass. Lush ponds, bridges and swans create a little urban oasis hidden in the middle of Studio City. This is where John Wayne supposedly taught his kids to fish.

A Little Distraction

While we wandered the pathways, we noticed the constant noise of LAPD helicopters overhead. It's good we had some exploring to do, because Ventura Blvd. was closed down due to a nearby robbery at a cell phone store.

The thief was caught and we finally got to leave the parking lot.

I love a Dining-Cookbook-Adventure that includes some sirens and flashing lights!

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Deer's Head Inn - Upstate New York

Half Way House, Near Richmond, VA

Commander's Palace in New Orleans

La Placita, in Albuquerque

Parry's Lodge in Kanab, Utah

Wild West Dining in Cody, Wyoming

Lake Hotel in Yellowstone Park

Lodge Dining in the Rockies

Dining in the Amana Colonies

Sportsman's Lodge & Patio Cafe

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