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Cookbook Adventure in Ottawa In July, Don and I traveled to Ottawa for Canada Day. We weren't staying at the lovely Chateau Laurier, but we had a view from our hotel window. Our Westin room was lovely, but I looked towards the grand hotel longingly. I've had the Chateau Laurier (now a Fairmont hotel) on my need to visit list, since spotting it in one of our old cookbooks. Ford Motor Cookbook We were of course traveling with our vintage Ford Motor cookbook. It's what we do. I wanted so badly to grab the old book and head over to the classy Laurier Dining Room, for a little adventure. I thought there might be a chance they would still serve the Seafood Cocktail that was a featured recipe in the book. Short on Time But, we were celebrating the weekend with my sister-in-law and her dear friend. The 4 of us had lots of celebrating to do, during our short stay in Ottawa. I was pretty pleased when Jane and Dick were game to head over for a drink at the French Gothic Hotel. As we crossed Rideau Street, we could see how the hotel was build to compliment the adjacent Parliament buildings. Conical turrets, dormer windows and copper roofs! Beautiful! Into the Cool As we came through the revolving door, a whoosh of cool air greeted us. I'm not sure if they had air conditioning in 1912, when the hotel was built. We were grateful for it, that July day. We had come from Texas, expecting cool Canadian temps, but it was actually hotter in Ottawa than in Houston! Marble, Tiffany and Chandeliers I was a giddy tourist as we wandered through the lobby. I believe the chandeliers and hand moulded plaster decor were original. Tiffany stained-glass... marble floors... I wanted to wander for hours. Oh Canada! We wandered a bit, while searching for Zoe's Lounge. The flags displayed from the mezzanine, were a continuation of what we'd seen on the streets earlier. Hours Before You could look any direction and see red maple leaves. They were hanging on poles and waving in hands. Lounging We walked into one of the lovely sitting areas in the lobby. I had to wonder how many of those seated, were actually hotel guests and not just overheated folks who had wandered in from the street celebration. I imagine the lobby atmosphere was not quite so casual, back when King George and Queen Elizabeth visited in 1939! (Important cookbook trivia!) Zoe's Lounge Zoe's Lounge felt like a cool oasis, after a day of wandering. I was surprised there were no crowds gathered around the marble bar, at 6 pm. Zoe's - a 1985 Addition Zoe's Lounge was not around when the cookbook was printed in 1955. The glassed-in area was added in 1985, probably before our cocktail server was even born. I failed to get a photo of our enthused young server, but she snapped a couple of us. She was surprisingly curious about the book and the the old recipe. (at least the book made it in the photo) Dining? As much as I would have loved to have had a complete dining adventure at the Chateau, we just had a liquid celebration. Since we weren't going all out with a meal, I went all our with a drink called, "Oh Canada!" For $17, I had a perfectly refreshing beverage with Ontario Vodka, Maple Syrup, Cranberries Peychaud's Bitters & Lemon Juice! Cheers! A Good Start The old cookbook may not have gotten a huge spotlight on our short visit to the Chateau, but it at least led us there. We enjoyed the clean, bright, historic atmosphere, with some refreshing drinks. Best of all, we celebrated the iconic hotel with Jane and Dick! Next time, I hope we can go back for a meal AND an overnight!
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A Dining & Cookbook Adventure Don and I had so many reasons for stopping at The Pink Adobe, when visiting Santa Fe, in July. The restaurant opened in 1944, in a house that is now over 300 years old. That's a good reason there. Memories Don and I also have fond memories of the restaurant from when we dined with our kids, 18 years ago. They loved the cozy little rooms inside the pink building... but they hadn't learned to love Santa Fe style cuisine yet. The Patio Don and I arrived at 6 and found quite a few seated on the patio, between the restaurant and the Dragon Bar. We headed left into the Dragon Bar. Our son and daughter-in-law had been recently on their honeymoon and raved about Happy Hour. Cheers! We sat at the bar and soaked up the colorful atmosphere. An upside down Christmas tree hung from the rafters and a few dragon images lurked nearby. But the most interesting decoration was the tree trunk behind us, wrapped in colorful lights. The Tree in the Book The live tree, was the very tree, shown on page 228 of our Ford Motor Cookbook from 1959. We of course had our silly cookbook with us and hoped to have some fun sharing with others. But things were pretty busy for a while. We grabbed some popcorn and took a look at the page ourselves. Funny. The book illustration showed the tree growing through a roof, but there was no enclosed bar. Sharing Conversation... and the Book After a while, we began chatting with Bob, who was eating dinner at the bar, beside us. We had a lot in common and the conversation was entertaining. I asked him a lot of questions about Los Alamos, where he works. I really wanted to ask him why he was letting the bartender eat off his plate. It turns out that Randy the bartender, was Bob's son. He had missed lunch that day and Dad was happy to share. I was amused. At some point I shared the book with Bob and he was clearly amused. He shared it with Randy, when the rush was over. Another restaurant server walked by and Bob showed her the cookbook, featuring Pink Adobe. Hungry We had such a good time at the Dragon Bar, we hardly needed to amuse ourselves more. But we were starved. It was time to revisit the cozy restaurant, we had enjoyed 18 years ago. We headed over to the original pink building. Remembering I recognized the cozy room where we once dined with the kids. I can't remember what we ate, but I do remember there had been a fire burning and it felt like we were dining in someone's home. Our Room The hostess seated us at a corner table, in a room beside the courtyard. The adobe and beams and colorful artwork, made the room equally inviting. Bread and Menu I would have been happy with a meal of bread! We dug in, while we looked through the menu. Enchiladas and Gypsy Stew Carolina was our server. She was attentive and quick. I didn't bother her with the cookbook until she brought my enchiladas and Don's Gypsy Stew. Then I dared to ask. "Do you think they still use this recipe for the enchiladas?" She glanced at the book and said she didn't think so. Time to Eat Don and I chuckled to ourselves when she left. You just can't expect everyone to get excited about the silly cookbook. We dug into our food. Don's green chile stew, was thick and tasty with Gruyere. Evidently the soup was served when the restaurant opened in 1944. I'm sure my Enchiladas Pink Adobe was better than the recipe in the book. It was made with Chimayo red chile, served on blue corn tortillas with cheese, beans, rice & posole. More Chatting with Carolina The crowded restaurant began to empty and Carolina ended up spending a little more time at our table. We talked about the wonderful cat painting behind us and Carolina chatted about her upcoming trip to New Orleans with her mother and daughter. She was so excited. Carolina took another peek at the book and offered to pose for a photo. I asked if she thought the tree in the book was the same tree in that's in the bar, today. "Yes!" She assured me. "Go out and look!" I looked through the window bars first and then I stepped out the side door. More New Friends As I stood in the courtyard, I studied the illustration. Then, I looked at tree growing through the roof. Some nearby diners, (who happened to be right beside our window) noticed me with the book. "Have you noticed this very special tree over here?" I asked. Before long I was practically seated at their table and the book was being passed around. I introduced them to Don, through the window. We gabbed a few more minutes about Rice University and law and blue states... Then they insisted it was my turn to be in a picture. Through the Window I handed over my camera and headed for the side door. Once at the table, Don and I leaned towards the book, that I displayed between the bars. Oh what a silly time. Good-Bye Pink After a bit, Don and I headed off for our B & B, just a short walk down the road. What a fun memory. The sweet pink house was as cozy as I remembered. The food and drink was yummy. And the people were fun. Our cookbook did another good job of bringing people together!
Brigham City, Utah Don and I had to go a little off our road trip route, to find this restaurant. I spotted the large, twirling sign first. Then I saw their other sign, with a little bowtie-wearing dude, running with a tray of root beer mugs! Maddox Ranch House It was our silly cookbook that guided us towards the Maddox Ranch House... as it was called in our 1962 book. I was sad that the restaurant no longer had an exposed chimney or logg-y exterior. A Dining Oasis The rambling structure didn't look much like the image in our vintage Ford Motor Cookbook. But it still looked like a welcoming dining spot, along the highway, with the mountains beyond. Now and Then As I headed towards the front entrance, I saw there was a fake little hint of the old log look, above the door. The words mentioned the Famous Fried Chicken, just like the illustration. When I got inside, I saw a displayed photo from the 1950's, that looked very much like the cookbook image. Yay for Knotty Pine! It was 11 am and the restaurant had just opened when we arrived. I was so glad I could take a moment to peek around before guests filled the place up. I was so delighted to see some retro pine as I headed towards one of the many dining rooms. Better yet, there was a hostess who was more than willing to chat about Maddox's history. Sharing History The hostess was seasoned enough to be pretty amused when I shared the old cookbook with her. She seemed thrilled that I was so interested in the history of the restaurant that began as a drive in, in 1949. She pointed out the log walls and explained how they had once been the exterior. She pointed to the stairway. "There's a dining room up those stairs now, but the Maddox family used to live up there." I loved knowing the restaurant was still owned and operated by the Maddox family. Through the Years I loved studying the old photos on the walls. I'm guessing back in 1949, that Irv and Wilma probably had not clue how popular their tiny cabin restaurant would become. Yay for Drive Ins! Luckily, Maddox's still keeps the drive-in running. Don and I had eaten a huge breakfast and we couldn't even imagine having a big meal before noon. So we parked under the carport and hoped to get a little something for later. Park and Order We joined the line up of cars. The place was pretty hopping at 11:15. Tramway We studied the hanging menus and signs. I read the words, "Keep off the Tramway" and did as I was told. Hmmm? That's an odd word for the platform, where the young girls rushed back and forth. Chicken Basket Tiffany Our server, Tiffany greeted us through the window. I knew she was far too young to be thrilled by an old cookbook, but I had to share. I reached across Don and asked if they still served the Potato Soup that was shown on the page. "Only on Wednesday." Tiffany answered. She started to hand the book to Don, then pulled it back to have another look. "How old is this!" She laughed and I was delighted that she'd passed the cookbook test with a good reaction. She was nice enough to pose with the book for a photo. Picnic Time! We ordered a 4-piece chicken basket, along with some root beer and had a lovely truck stop picnic, a couple hours later. The chicken would have been much better on a china plate with mashed potatoes... seated beside a logg-y wall. But our picnic was a yummy way to complete our funny little dining/drive-in adventure!
Midway, Utah Don and I found ourselves in Midway, Utah in August. We didn't have time to stop for a meal at the old Homestead Resort. But, we did make time to grab our traveling cookbook and head inside for a peek. The Cookbook This is the crazy book, (put out by Ford Motor Company) that has led us to some curious places and some fun people encounters. As we walked across the lawn, I studied the illustration in the 1963 cookbook. The columns were still there. The circle of grass was there, with a fountain in the middle... and the mountains were back there... somewhere. The Property
Exploring The Homestead Don and I walked towards the main house and stepped inside. There was little vintage charm to the remodeled lobby, so we headed down a knotty pine hallway and found an interesting display of historic photos. Chicken Livers! It was about 5, when we headed for the restaurant. We weren't interested in eating, but we were a little curious to see if they still served this fine recipe for Chicken Livers with Bordelaise Sauce. Don and I both liked everything about the recipe, except the liver. Dining Room & Bar The dining room was quiet and the hostess was not all too welcoming. When we asked if the bar was open, she handed us menus. "Well, we're only licensed as a restaurant, so you'll have to eat something." She could tell we weren't from Utah. Quiet at the Bar There was no bartender on duty and the lovebirds seated at the end, pretended we weren't there. I could tell we were not going to have any fun with the cookbook. When the hostess came to take our food and drink order, I told her I didn't see any chicken livers on the menu. I had already guessed that our hostess would not be a bit amused by the vintage book and recipe. I was right. I pointed to the cookbook page and grinned. "You used to!" Awkward pause. Then I asked if we could split a cup of soup. Cookbook Failure Don and I shared a cup of broccoli soup and it was actually delicious. We sipped our wine and beer and I laughed at my failed attempt with the cookbook. The Chef Gets It!
"No, we don't make this." He said with another chuckle. "But we could!" He stood a while and mentioned a few ingredients that would make the recipe better. "Would you eat it if I made it?" I paused and admitted, "No." He grinned and took one last look at the book cover, before handing it back. "By the way," I said, pointing to the empty cup. "That soup is amazing!" Good Bye Maybe that wasn't top on our list of cookbook adventures. But our brief little soup dining adventure ended well. The chef's yummy soup and his genuine delight with the book, made us put The Homestead on the list, for next time!
Elizabethtown, New York 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! 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 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. We headed towards the front door on the porch, hoping to find some answers. The Market My eyes were drawn to the potted herbs absorbing the window light. The Tavern/ Restaurant
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
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
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
April 2024
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