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Along I-10 in Arizona This green building caught my eye, when we stopped for gas in Quartzite. It was about 5 years ago, when Don and I were traveling from Texas to California, on I-10. I love a family restaurant in a curious town, but we'd already eaten. I snapped a photo and hoped to return. Quartzite, AZ in January It was January 2021 the next time we traveled the same route. (I-10 cuts right through Quartzite) Our travel dining adventures were still on hold due to the pandemic, so we didn't exit for lunch. Instead we drove right on through... feeling confused by the view on both sides of the freeway. A sea of trailers covered the desert terrain on both sides! It looked insane! A little internet search told us that each January, Quartzite hosts the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous. "Snowbirds" and gem collectors flock yearly to the desert community, to camp (RVs and trailers) and enjoy the month-long gem and mineral show. March 2021 3 months later, Don and I once again hit Quartzite. During our winter stay in Oregon, we'd made a point to watch the movie Nomadland, which features the quirky community. This time we drove down Main Street and wondered if we'd see some of the locals who played small parts in the Academy Award winning movie. I guess we didn't, but I did purchase a cheap-y quartzite bracelet. It came with a complimentary masked camel pin. The snowbird season was nearly over but we still spotted plenty of trailers. Maybe all 2,000+ permanent residents, live in homes with wheels. Times 3 Family Restaurant After getting gas, I spotted the restaurant. I was amused by the green sign and the cartoon characters peering over the top. What was with the double quotation marks surrounding the words, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner? What did "Times 3" even mean? Open I made Don pull in so I could take a look at the colorful building. I was craving a Road Trip Dining Adventure, after a year of pandemic caution. But Don and I weren't vaccinated yet. I sort of wanted to save that big return to indoor dining, at a slightly different kind of restaurant. Stuckey's? So I compromised. I threw on my mask before heading inside to get a quick peek and a coffee to-go. I recognized the building's shape as I walked towards the door. Was this an old Stuckey's? I laughed as I recalled road stops during childhood trips. Stuckey's Pecan Rolls! I can still picture them. Empty Seats I stepped inside and ordered a coffee. I took in the homey decor while I waited. The dining counter seats were empty. A few spacious booths were empty. The walls were not empty. Out of all the shelf collections, the trailer display was my favorite. Diners It was odd to be back inside a restaurant, in March 2021. There were quite a few guests dining in. I spotted a few masks. The spacious dining room had a welcoming feel, but I left with my coffee. Next time, we'll dine in for lunch! I told myself. A Lunch Stop in 2024 So this past winter, Don and I stopped in the dusty little town once again. It was late January and the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous was nearly over. There was lots of traffic on Main Street and lots of good people watching. (no photo evidence) Some of the characters looked a little windblown and dusty, but there was a friendly, upbeat vibe to the people we saw. At a stop sign, a young couple sat on the corner smiling up at us. The woman held a puppy and the man held a cardboard sign. "2 Hungry Vagabonds!" I rolled the window down and handed over 2 apples. The man responded with enthusiasm, "Thanks!" The woman beamed! "We love apples!" They waved with Hang Loose gestures, before biting into the fruit. We drove off happy. Lunchtime! We headed to the green restaurant, excited to finally eat at the funny little place. Our encounter with the Happy Vagabonds, gave me a boost of confidence that we might meet more friendly people. The parking lot was jammed but there were no lines out the door. That was lucky, since nearly a couple million gem and trailer enthusiasts flock to Quartzsite each January. We parked near the mural and I grinned at the camel as we passed. There are a lot of camel images in Quartzsite. More later on that... Hungry Crowd The Family Restaurant was hopping. A sign scribbled on paper warned, "Expect a 45 minute wait for orders." Luckily we weren't in a hurry. Even luckier, there were available seats at the counter. 2 cushy red stools on the corner, just waiting for us. Menu Time Our server (I believe, Shel) handed over menus with her left hand, then turned to top off a customer's coffee with the right. Don and I wondered for a second what to order. A fellow who acted like he dined daily, gave us a quick hint. "It's all good!" He laughed as if he knew that wouldn't help! Seat with A view I was happy with our seats, that offered a great view. Lots of teapots and colorful murals, depicting western scenes. I also had an entertaining view of Shel as she chatted with some regulars at the end of the counter. She wasn't the only one that gave the couple attention and hugs. Loyal customers no doubt. Observing I quickly determined that Shel did an exceptional job of keeping coffee mugs filled. I ordered coffee just for the fun of being included in her coffee route. I was so impressed with how efficiently she worked behind the counter. She was always moving, tidying the collection of creamers, repeatedly refilling the sugar and salt and pepper containers. She seemed to glide as she moved back and forth, delivering plates and scooping up menus, conversing and attending to guests as she did so! In and Out I was amused as I kept an eye on a pair of doors. There was a constant flow of staff, heading IN with dirty dishes and OUT with steaming plates of food. It would have been nerve-wracking to watch if there had been only 1 door. I tried to count the staff as they entered and disappeared. I gave up when I got to 9. New faces kept appearing from the kitchen. The constant movement was like some kind of video game. All the servers seemed to move with the same quick pace and positive energy. Laughing with each other and carrying on with a few regulars. It was clear that they'd gotten the whole system down to an art, after weeks of serving endless temporary residents. Shel's Necklace When Shel delivered my grilled ham and cheese, I noticed her jewelry. She explained that her quartz necklace was a special one. The gold beads came from her grandfather. "He had lots of beads and gems and such." There was much more to the story, about the grandfather who passed away a year ago. But it was a personal one and not for me to share. She's happy to live in his trailer now. I was glad to get a little advice about the "special fry sauce" in the squirt bottle. Shel said some put it on fries, but she thought it was good on sandwiches. I tried and it was. Great fries as well! Don loves a breakfast for lunch. He ordered 2 eggs sunny side up. It came with hash browns and corn beef hash. I had a sandwich, but I still stole some of Don's sourdough toast! Both our meals were good and filling. We could only finish half! Chatting at the Counter Our food was a nice treat. Especially since we'd had a couple diner fails in the beginning of our road trip. The dining adventure was suddenly complete, after we ended up chatting with our fellow diners. The couple nearest me was from Wisconsin. They were wintering in Yuma and made the trip to Quartzite for lunch. We gabbed about horses and travel, until our food came. The woman was pretty excited about the horses on my western shirt. "I'll trade you my green sweatshirt!" She teased. Heading Out We finished up and Shel handed us containers and utensils, for our leftovers. We headed for the door and I heard a server respond to a customer. "We have 2 more weeks of this crazy gem show! I'm about ready for it to be done!" She laughed out loud. Before I headed out the door, I paused to look at a photo of a man name "Hi Jolly" along with a photo of his grave monument. When we passed the camel statue outside, I was reminded of something we needed to do before we left town. In fact there were 2 things we needed to do before leaving Quartzite. Don figured out the first and drove back to the corner, to see if the Vagabonds were still there. (we think alike) They were and they were delighted to take our leftovers. They waved good-bye, saying they'd share with their doggy. Hi Jolly Cemetery Then we were on to the cemetery. A dining adventure in Quartzsite couldn't be complete without a stop to see Hi Jolly's grave. Quartzite has some interesting history, from long before the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous began. We stopped to pay respects to Hi Jolly, the Syrian-born camel driver who emigrated here in the 1850s! I'm so glad we finally got to eat at Times 3 Family Restaurant. And I'm glad we met some travelers and some locals and some vagabonds. I'm glad we got to visit the the petrified wood and quartz pyramid, that honors Quartzite's most beloved resident.
Next time we're in town, I'll ask about the restaurant's name. And we'll come earlier in January, to catch the annual Hi Jolly Parade!
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Mom & Pop Gem in Colorado While driving through Pueblo last summer, I searched the internet for a lunch stop. Estela's Mill Stop Cafe had good reviews. Don made a few comments while following my driving instructions. "Are you sure we're going the right way?" he questioned, as the directions led us into a somewhat sketchy section on the south side of town. Near the Steel Mills It became clear that the "Mill Stop" part of the cafe's name was due to the cafe's proximity to a steel mill. We could spot the green and blue restaurant just past the Cosmopolitan Club. This was defiantly a cafe that attracted a blue collar work crowd, but we also saw a family heading that way. Big Lot Across from the Estella's, there was a huge parking lot. Professional Travel of Pueblo? Who knows? But the old building looked interesting. Dancing? If we'd come during dinner hours, maybe we could have gone dancing afterward. Cosmopolitan's was closed. It looked like someone had had a good time the night before. They deposited their empty whiskey bottle in the gutter. Colors of Mexico As soon as we reached the door, we knew we'd come to a good place. No more worries about location. We could see the place was bustling with diners and we also noticed the sign for New Hours. The Mill Stop Cafe was closed on Saturday and Sunday, This Mom & Pop business must be doing well, to be able to close for weekends! Full House The cozy cafe didn't seem to have an empty table or booth, but there were a few stools at the counter. Don and I were invited to sit at the counter until a table opened. We said we were happy to stay put at the counter. It took only a moment to pick up on the happy energy in the place. There were at least 5 people behind the counter as we approached. I couldn't hear what they were all laughing about. Estela? A young woman named Vanessa, handed us menus after we got settled. I pointed to a framed photo above the shelves and asked if the smiling woman was Estela. Vanessa's smile was as big as her grandmother's. She said I was right and that the photo was of her grandparents. Both had passed away, but she pointed our her father and a cousin or two, in the cafe behind us. The room was filled with family. Taco Salad I ordered a taco salad. It must have had an entire bag of chips circling the plate. I'm guessing that most diners don't order salad. The man next to me was a regular and he seemed surprised to see my dish. He laughed at the size and said, "I thought salads were supposed to be healthy." I'm sure it wasn't. I felt like I was eating a giant 8-layer dip all by myself. It was yummy. Don ordered the chicken enchiladas. His plate was quite a blended feast! The soupy rice, (good!) spilled into the enchilada sauce. I stole many bites and we still couldn't finish. Sopapillas Vanessa reminded us to save room for sopapillas. Her reminder came too late. I was stuffed. But I changed my mind when 2 piping hot, complimentary sopas arrived. Cinnamon and Honey It's been a long time since I've indulged in one of these treats. I put on my glasses to make sure I aimed the honey correctly. I still made a sticky mess! I ate more than my share and enjoyed every bit! Celebrating I told Vanessa that it seemed like everyone working (and even eating) seemed to be in such good moods. I was impressed with the efficient and friendly atmosphere. Vanessa admitted her family was in extra good spirits because they were just about ready to close the restaurant for 2 weeks. They do this every year around July 4th. Christmas too, I think. She said the business was celebrating their 40 year anniversary! As we headed off, I wondered what this happy family would do with their 2 weeks off. If the family smiles this much when they're working, I'd like to see them when they're relaxing and celebrating!
Clackamas, Oregon In July, Don and I had a fun-homey meal at Dean's. We had heard about the family owned cafe, from my sister. Jennifer sent a text last February, "Kate and I just ate at a place that you and Don would love!" She raved about the food and the folks running the place. Dean's went on my list! Palms & Roses Don and I were back in Portland in July and checked the place out, on our very last day. It was an easy stop, right off the highway on the way to the airport. We parked and headed towards the sweet looking bungalow. What a palm! It made me feel like we were back in Texas. Those roses were mighty sweet, too! Bonus points! Picnic Tables and Porch Bonus points for picnic tables, too. Don and I are cautious travelers and diners, during these pandemic times. We appreciate outside options. And oh how I love a porch, I guess we could have eaten out there too. But we were curious to see the inside of this cute place. We headed for the door. Luckily we had cash, since the sign told us they didn't take credit cards. Eating in the House We were greeted by a young bearded man, named Tyler. He was carrying on with a group of coffee drinking men, near the fireplace. Tyler invited us to sit anywhere. We peeked in the second room, which looked cozy with lots of old woodwork. I was curious about the window that connected both rooms. Was that original? I could see through to the fireplace. Summertime Fireplace The front room had the fun fireplace, that would have been nice on a cold day. I was sort of amused by how the mantel was being used on a day in July. It had become a shelf, for holding napkins and carry-out containers. I was more amused listening to Tyler, with the locals who were sitting near the fireplace. Tyler was across the room, but he conversed with the older gentlemen, as he moved from here to there. Don and I felt somehow included in some of the humor, that flew back and forth. The coffee drinkers seemed to egg Tyler on. At one point an old fellow stood and headed to the counter, with his cane. Tyler teased, "No running on the pool deck now!" There were some chuckles. Sitting in the Front Room Don and I were seated at a comfy table in the front room, with a view of the dining counter, below a display of old tools. Next to the old saw and drill, there was a sassy little sign. "I'll have a cafe mocha, vodka, Xanax, Latte to go please." More Signs I read a few more snappy sentences above the window. "Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy!" "Bacon makes everything better!" "Public Drunkenness Prohibited!" As we sat and absorbed the atmosphere around us, I began to see how these signs set the tone for the place. Personalized Mugs On the wall past the man at the counter, I spotted another sign, with yummy (and reasonably priced) food options. The sign was surrounded by shelves of personalized mugs. Clearly, Dean's was a place where lots of locals enjoy breakfast. If it hadn't been so close to lunchtime, I'm sure more mugs would have been missing. Chicken Noodle Soup When Tyler came to take our order, I was able to compliment him on his t-shirt, with an amusing photo from the movie, "Step Brothers". He looked down to remind himself, then laughed. He seemed pleased that someone appreciated his goofy Will Farrell shirt. I ordered Soup & BLT. My chicken noodle soup came so packed with noodles and chicken, I could have used a fork and knife. Moments later I heard a man nearby complain that his soup didn't have enough chicken. Tyler responded, by pointing to me. "Well, I gave all the chicken to her. It's her first time here!" Too Much? Don was pleased to have breakfast options for lunch. He was then perplexed about how to begin, with the massive serving on his plate. Actually he was excited about his ham & cheese omelet and hash browns. There were no signs demanding that we clean our plates, so he was safe. I even helped him a bit and it was a yummy feast. My delicious BLT arrived on sour dough. When I placed my order, Tyler suggested English muffin for my BLT. I hadn't caught on to his humor yet, so I said "Sure, BLT on and English muffin." Tyler shook his head and scolded that idea as if he hadn't given it to me. "What? You'll never fit 5 slices of bacon on that!" I scratched my head and ordered sourdough, which I loved. The sandwich was delish! And I wasn't a bit annoyed by Tyler's dry humor. Exploring After lunch I explored on the way to the bathroom. I loved the old stairs and wondered about the family that once lived in this wonderful house. Tyler saw me snapping photos and invited me to look at the framed photos of the Haberlach family. Haberlach Fam How wonderful that these photos were preserved when the home was bought. I did some internet searching later and couldn't find much info. But it looks like this family had some history with Tillamook Cheese! Chatting with Tyler Tyler checked us out and didn't reprimand us for not finishing our meal. He did ask where we were from though and said he might just have to charge us tax, since we were from Texas. His silly sarcasm reminded me of some of the old timer characters we've run across on our travels. But his quick and sassy remarks were somehow refreshing and kind. I thanked Tyler for the great food and his fun humor. He seemed to genuinely appreciate that. Heading Off On our way out, we were stopped by a couple on the porch. They had overheard our conversation and seemed so pleased that we enjoyed the place. They told us, "We came all the way from Vancouver to eat today!" They agreed that Tyler was a fun and funny addition to the place. They also mentioned that Tyler's parents owned the place. "We've been coming to eat here, since Tyler was about 7 years old." I loved ending our homey visit, with this extra little prize at the end. We drove off knowing that Dean's Cafe had been serving food for years in a couple other locations and in this cute house for about 10 years. I loved it that this couple knew Tyler as a little kid and had fun watching him grow up on their visits.
I tried to find more information on the internet, but found very little. Dean's is obviously a happy, homey business with lots of pleased customers. They evidently don't need lots of write ups and ads to lure people their way. Word of mouth got us there! The best kind of advertisement! On Route 66 This cute little cafe is named for College Street, the street that it sits on. But College Street used to be Route 66. You'd think they'd to capitalize on that! A Night on Route 66 Don and I found the cute little cafe in June. We were staying a half mile down the road, at Rock Wood Motor Court. If you're going to stay in a retro motel (that used to be a Route 66 gas station) you have to complete the adventure with a breakfast at the College Street Cafe. Before 8 It was just before 8 when we arrived. There were 3 tables and one booth open. We took the booth near the door and I had a nice view of the whole cafe. Rounded Counter My seat gave me a good view of the 4 sitting at the corner of the rounded counter. The men looked like they were about ready to head to work. They had to be a little careful coming and going, since a couple hanging flower baskets were squeezed in behind them. Boulevard of Broken Dreams On the wall behind the counter, I recognized the old print, with James, Humphrey, Marilyn and Elvis. I sort of wanted to ask the 3 men and 1 woman to shift themselves around a bit, so they would better match the framed print. I'm not sure how that would have gone over. Other View The window next to our table didn't have the best view. But I loved studying the steel framed windows. Is that steel? Don't know, but I sure wondered how many layers of paint was coating that metal. I love red paint. Kim and Coffee The place was starting to get busier, but Kim didn't ignore us. She rushed over in her black hat and air purifying necklace and took our order. When she brought our coffee, I commented that she seemed to be handling the whole place herself. She shook her head and said, "I don't usually even work Fridays!" I had a feeling she'd been called in at the last minute. I had the feeling this wasn't the first time. Taking a Seat There was no doubt that Kim could handle the crowd. It seemed everyone knew her, which could have slowed her down with their banter. I took a pic of Don to sneak a pic of Kim, when she took a load off for about 45 seconds. At one point, she greeted a man sitting alone, "So will it be pancakes or eggs, today?" She sat down in the seat across from him for only a moment. Eat and Go The workmen at the counter didn't linger long. They left without damaging any flowers. A man came in wearing a shirt with lots to say and sat alone in the very last open table. I guessed he would eat and go. There were a couple of interesting shirts in the place. "Dirty White Guy" was written on another shirt. Hmmm. Sit and Linger This is a photo I took when we were getting ready to leave. It was pretty crowded by then. The cafe seemed to be quite the hang out for men. The conversations were not confined to tables. Lots of chatter between. I had the feeling many of these folks came daily and probably lingered quite a while. Big Breakfast Don ordered the Early Bird Special (from 6-9) for $4.79. I was wise and had a breakfast sandwich. Just the right amount for me. I was there for the atmosphere more, than the food. But the food was pretty decent, especially for the price! New Friends Don and I didn't try to blend in with the locals. We clearly were travelers taking up valuable space. But then suddenly Don asked me a question and that got us some attention. "Where do you think we pay, Beth?" Before I could answer Don, a number of nearby diners chimed in. Suddenly everyone wanted to show us where to pay and then the chatter began. I made some comment about how well Kim handled handled this crowd and a few of them made some teasing comments that I won't repeat. Another 2 men came in looking for a seat and I offered up our table. They were more than pleased. Screened Door The men happily slid into our booth while Don got up to pay Kim in the back. The men chit chatted while I waited for Don. I told them I just had to get a photo of the screened door just steps from their booth. Ralph (not wearing a hat) thought that was pretty funny that I was taking a photo of the door. He offered to take a photo of Don and me. I said I'd rather have a photo of them. Click! They laughed, as the photo shows. Posing at College Street Cafe Don returned after paying Kim and Ralph jumped up to decide where to take our picture. I'm pretty sure every person in the cafe was taking note. We decided to pose outside, so one guy from the kitchen rushed over to grab one of the hanging baskets from the floor. He made sure the flowers were hanging from the awning, just in time for our photo.
What a fun little ending to our sweet little breakfast! Father's Day Breakfast So many of Don's 35 Father's Day celebrations, have been spent on the road. This year, we woke up on Sunday morning in a small Arkansas town. Our grown kids were far away and there wasn't much happening in Mena, but we found a mighty fine diner to start the day. Mena, AR We spotted The Skyline Diner, the day before. It was a warm afternoon in June, when we arrived in Mena. We had a fun time wandering to town from our Airbnb. I've never seen such a quiet downtown, on a Saturday evening. Closed By dinnertime, we spotted the little cafe with a Closed sign on the door. It looked like our favorite kind of diner, with a red bench in front and a newspaper vending machine. Skyline had closed at 2 that day, but if we'd been able to hold off for 11 hours, we could have enjoyed some eggs and coffee, when they opened in the morning! Sunday Morning We didn't arrive when the doors opened at 5:30 a.m. But, we were there about 3 hours later. The sign said Open and there was no line out the door. Dad Day Busy Who knows if that morning was a typical Sunday at Skyline, but it was full. At 8:30 a.m., we could have been looking at the usual pre-church crowd. Or maybe all the dads in Mena chose Skyline breakfast over church, on Father's Day. We were happy to wait for a table and enjoy some people watching. Map Studies While I studied the dining room, I sensed that we were the only non-locals in the restaurant. Then, I studied the map by the cash register and realized travelers have come to Skyline, from places a lot further away than Texas! We didn't bother to add a pin. History Studies There were so many old photographs in the cafe. I wanted to study them all. But that would have been awkward, leaning over folks, as they tried to eat their biscuits or omelets. One table cleared and I dashed over to get a look at this old photo of Mena Street, from about 90 years ago. A man at a nearby table chuckled to see me take this photo. Mena Street Today I could spot the cafe and Mercantile, in the vintage photo. Mena Street looked similar in 2021, except fewer cars. In fact we saw no cars at all, on Saturday night. I wish I'd spotted a photo of the cafe from 2009, when a tornado came through and destroyed much of the town. I didn't see a photo, but I saw a framed news clipping, telling how the town pulled together to rebuild the cafe. Seated! Don and I were finally seated. I took a look at the menu cover, before checking out the food options. You know you're in a small town cafe, when you have to pay cash. I wondered how many photos they went through, before they decided this one should be featured on their menu. No Church Clothes The diners in the cafe didn't seem to be dressed in church clothes or motorcycle clothes. It was a casual crowd that kept the 3 servers very busy. Too busy for my small talk or silly questions. What would I have asked a server or diner, if I'd had the nerve to interrupt? Maybe I would have asked, "How many times would you guess that you've eaten in this cafe?" If I'd added up the answers, I'm guessing it would be 1,000. Rules I read this little sign, back near the kitchen. I'm guessing this was a little joke. But who knows. It's hard to tell. Dad's Breakfast This Old Dad had one of his favorite breakfasts. He had an omelet and taters and a big slice of ham. No it was not the best breakfast in all the world, but he was quite satisfied. Well Balanced I don't love grits or gravy, but I always feel like I have to order them when I'm in a small town cafe at breakfast. Again, it wasn't the best breakfast ever, but I appreciated the simplicity of my plate. Look at that nice little oval plate with all those round things. Nice Price Our check arrived and I had to smile. Two breakfasts for less than $10! Well, we didn't get coffee for 75 cents like the sign said. Oh well. Adventure? We were headed towards the door by 9:30. Would this go down as a memorable Father's Day breakfast adventure? Would I remember this place at all in 10 years? I guess I can't call it an adventure when we didn't have a good chat with a stranger. We didn't try any daring foods. We didn't see any outlandish decor or happenings. But we had a meal at a cafe that survived the Great Depression. It narrowly survived a tornado. The cafe also survived the pandemic. So for that I offer, "3 Cheers for Skyline Cafe!"
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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
June 2024
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