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Allen's Fried Chicken

8/17/2018

Road Trip Dining in Sweetwater, TX

When traveling by car, Don and I are almost always game for a food adventure. Even when the sign looks a little neglected!

Big Sign Little House

If we'd just driven into town and spotted the sign, we would have driven on by. It didn't look like a restaurant that could possibly serve a mount-watering lunch.

But for once, the TripAdvisor reviews empowered me. There wasn't a bad comment and we were warned about the deceiving appearance.

The sign clearly meant... "We're too busy cooking up a storm to fret over signs!"

Busy at 11

Seeing lots of cars so early, was a good sign.

Picking the Door

We had a pick of doors. I liked the old screen door, but that was for carryouts. We headed for the glass door, with prices clearly announced. $11.50 for Adults. That included drink and tax.

Six Family Tables

We opened the door and stepped into the dining room. The place had just opened up, but three of the six tables already had diners. A busy server greeted and pointed us towards a table with two men. I wondered to myself. Where are we supposed to sit? The table was covered in dishes.

Making Room

But the young woman quickly moved a couple serving dishes. Suddenly two clean plates were revealed beneath the bowls of veggies. Luckily the two men looked up from their plates and the ice was broken. They put us right at ease.

Studying the Empty Tables

I wanted to be invisible and observe the diners at the other tables. There were quite a few older folks and I'm guessing quite a few who had come alone. Two tables conversed and the other table was quiet, while food was gobbled.

Our Table Buddies

Our 2 guys laughed and nodded when I asked to take a photo. Then they continued to eat, letting my photo look totally candid.

It was fun hearing the stories of one, who had grown up not far from Sweetwater. He had been in the FFA Club in high school and came to town for judging. That's when he remembered eating at Allen's. He laughed about the time his friend almost got them kicked out, because the friend picked up the serving bowl of peach cobbler and started eating the whole thing. I asked if Allen's had changed much. "Not at all." He answered with a laugh.

14 Dishes

I was so curious to figure out how everything worked. Most of us just aren't used to the world of family dining... with strangers. I watched as new guests arrived to an empty table. A cart appeared from the open kitchen and fresh food was unloaded.

I counted 15 different dishes on our table! There were things I wouldn't ordinarily go for, but I ended up trying a little of everything.

Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, mashed potato salad, sliced buttered potatoes, pea salad, green beans, corn, collard greens, squash, red beans, okra, cole slaw, peach cobbler and rolls... and tea!

The fried chicken was pretty amazing... crispy crust, moist and flavorful meat! The hardest part was trying to pass dishes around our crowded table. It forced us to talk to one another, if we wanted to get to something that wasn't within reach.

The Big Table

The biggest table suddenly vacated, just as a young guy came in looking a bit lost. He was sent to our table and I was pretty excited that suddenly we were the in the know diners, who got to show him the ropes. He had been working in the area and someone recommended the place. What a brave young guy, to choose family dining over fast food!

Old Photos

Since the diners had left the big table, I took a moment to study the nearby photos on the wall. I read some news articles about Mrs. Allen and how she opened her home in 1952. She cooked in the kitchen and served in the front room, using the very table for 12, that had just been vacated.

Billy

As I studied a wall photo, a server named Tabitha paused to chat. I asked if the photo was of Mrs. Allen. "Yes. Her grandson and granddaughter are right back there." She pointed to the open kitchen. "Billy runs the place and his sister is cooking the chicken."

Tabitha insisted on calling Billy from the kitchen, to come meet me. He was pretty delightful, teasing Tabitha a bit and posing for a photo. Tabitha said she'd worked at Allen's for 19 years. "I'm not family, but they make me feel like family." When Billy was out of hearing distance, she teased about him, then got serious. "Really, he's the nicest boss ever. I don't know what I'd do, if I had to work somewhere else."

The Table

I was feeling pretty lucky that there was a lull that allowed us to chat. I guess locals know to get to Allen's, right when it opens.

Billy was able to share a little about the history and his family. He showed me the old table under the cloth. "It was the only table, 67 years ago." He said he wouldn't think of parting with it.

One More Pic

Before leaving, we got one more photo. I got my turn to pose with Billy, while the kitchen buzzed behind us. The next wave was probably about to hit.

Don and I took off with full stomachs and big grins. The whole family dining experience had been better than we'd imagined. There was a time, when we would have cringed at the idea of joining locals

for lunch at a community table. I'm glad Don is game for these wonderful road trip stops. We couldn't have been happier with our dining adventure!

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Tiki Tolteca in 2017

8/16/2018

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Tiki, Nola Style!

I'm having a throwback spotlight on a tiki-evening we enjoyed in the French Quarter.

Up We Go!

A year ago in May, we were in New Orleans for our son's graduation from Tulane Law. This was one of the places he wanted us to experience.

You just have to do what your son wants, so we entered the white door and headed up the stairs. Two wicker chairs welcomed us, with some coconut art!

Dark

Tiki bars are almost always dark. It takes some nerve to flash your camera, when the locals are gathered at the bamboo-canopy-bar.

Art on a Brick Wall

But the island masks and ship decor were all worthy of my camera's sudden spotlight.

Cozy Corner

Luckily it was early and there was ample seating available. We found the best corner.

Moai and Flames!

Sitting beneath the Moai tiki god, we felt the need to order something equally bold. The flaming bowl of booze lit up the corner!

Heidi and Jamie

Our daughter and her fiancee were happy to demonstrate, how to share a rum-filled cocktail.

Plus Boozy Bears

To balance out the dangerous adult drink, we added a playful order of gummy bears on ice. Of course the bears were filled with alcohol, so it wasn't exactly balancing anything.

The Kids

It's kind of scary how many photos we have with our kids enjoying cocktail adventures. Oh well.

With the Parents

This guy graduated from law school the next day, so I guess all our parenting wasn't bad. Cheers to Scott and cheers to tiki bars!

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The Breakfast Klub in Houston

7/21/2018

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Remembering... My First Wings & Waffle Experience

The first time my daughter mentioned the combination of fried chicken wings and breakfast waffles, I sort of gagged. It sounded like just another food gimmick.

Joining the Line in 2011

So we checked out the craze on a Sunday morning in March, 8 years ago. Both kids had come home from Austin, for the weekend. Our family of 4 headed into Houston to enjoy a food adventure! The line at The Breakfast Klub was crazy.

A Fun Wait

We were handed menus right away. The restaurant staff was very much used to dealing with crowds. All were in good spirits.

The cool spring weather made the wait tolerable. But the people watching, made the wait entertaining. Some came dressed in their Sunday Best. Others looked like they had rolled out of bed. But all seemed happy and eager to be there.

Our Breakfast Table

Once seated, we studied the menus with big cups of coffee. The youngins ordered Wings and Waffles, so I knew I'd get a bite. I went ahead and ordered the other dish The Klub is known for...Catfish and Grits!

Catfish and Grits!

I don't love grits, I'm just drawn to them for some odd reason. Catfish? I'm not even a fish person. But I kind of loved my comfort food meal, with big biscuit and fried eggs.

Waffles & Wings

The kids loved theirs. I was intrigued with my sample tasting, but I'm not sure it's a combo I'll ever crave. Sweet and Savory, I get it. But it's just not my favorite.

So it's been 7 years and the breakfast combo is seen on more and more menus. It wasn't a short trend, afterall. They probably even serve wings and waffles at Denny's.

It might be time to head back for some Catfish and Grits!

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Lunch in Pie Town, New Mexico

7/18/2018

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Gatherin' Place Cafe

Today, it's about 100 degrees in Houston. I'm thinking back to a cozy lunch last February, in Pie Town, New Mexico!

Road Trip to California

I heard about Pie Town a few years ago and I made a mental note. So last winter when Don and did a TX to CA road trip, I was pretty excited to study the map and realize we could go a little off-route, between Truth or Consequences, NM and Gallup, NM.

Open!

The weather was a little worrisome, but the winding drive on US 60 was scenic. Luckily, one of the three pie-related cafes was open.

A Welcome Truck

The old truck outside of Gatherin' Place was a pretty good reminder that we'd made it to Pie Town. Evidently the town of under 200, got its name because of a bakery that served up pie to travelers, back in the 1920's. Pie is still pretty much what the town is known for.

The Bakery Door

There were two doors on the front porch. The door on the right took us into the bakery where 3 women greeted us, while their flour covered hands worked at various tasks.

Eating Room

We stepped into the other room which held 3 community tables. An older couple from Iowa was finishing up their pies. We chatted road trip talk until they headed off. Then we had the place to ourselves.

Snowed In?

We kept an eye out the window, watching the snow. We worried a little over the drive ahead, but also figured this would be a pretty good place to get snowed in. Not only did the place have pies to last for days, but each table had a few games. We could have played Cribbage and Checkers, into the night.

Cowboy Bob

Bob the Cook, popped up in the window when our food was ready. He seemed pretty eager to come out and chat since there were no other food orders.

Chat Break

Bob didn't grow up in Pie Town. He told us he sold his ranch and retired to Pie Town, where his wife was a school teacher.

Somewhere in the conversation, Bob mentioned that he usually wore a gun. Hmm? The town seemed safe enough to me. But, I guess the gun was more about completing his outfit, than safety. "They wanted me to wear it when I worked here. But it's just too heavy." He laughed.

Chili and Cornbread

Don ordered chili, which seemed like the perfect food for a snowy day. Bob did a good job. The chili had big chunks of meat and the cornbread was fresh.

I ordered a baked potato, which is my comfort food of choice. We saved room for pie.

Pie Waitress

I was excited to know our waitress was actually from Pie Town. She didn't have much to tell us about the town, because there wasn't much to tell. She was mostly excited about the weather. "It's been so dry. We need the moisture!"

Small Pies

We had about pie flavors to choose from, but only one size. I kind of loved the mini size, which is good for people like me who love a good crust!

We split a caramel-apple pie and got a chocolate-cherry to take on the road. Both were fresh out of the oven, rolled out on the cooling cart!

Yum!

Bye Pie Town!

Five months later, I'm still thinking about that snowy visit to Pie Town. I can't believe we got to spend a cozy time chatting and over chili and pie, with a few welcoming people. We also got had just enough snow to make it fun! We faced no travel issues after we got back on the road.

Yay for Pie!

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Chando's Tacos in Sacramento

7/18/2018

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A Quick Bite

Chando's in Sacramento, is all about the authentic taco experience.

I however, had a memorable experience with a mystery food, that makes our quick lunch worthy of a dining adventure write up.

Lunch in February

Don and I visited our son and daughter-in-law, just after they moved to Sacramento. Their furniture hadn't arrived, so we helped them with other important tasks, like exploring the food options, near their home.

We had noticed long lines, every time we drove by this tiny yellow taco restaurant.

Order Window

We studied the chalkboard menu, with numerous taco options.

Tostilocos!

But as soon as I got up to the window, I noticed a picture on the glass. "Tostilocos!" I loved the name right off.

Once I read the word peanuts I was excited! It sounded like the kind of creation a kid would make for an after school snack. A "Frito-Pie" with peanuts!

I placed my order!

Dining with Lola

Part of the attraction of Chando's, was that we could dine with Lola, the pup. Lola was adjusting to her new life in Sacramento, too. We tried to include her whenever we could.

All the seating at Chando's was outdoors. Luckily there was a table left for us, in the back, away from the busy line and street traffic.

The Food

Our order was ready! The others went for tacos, because that's what Chando's does best. The owners follow their family's taco tradition, that began in Tijuana.

Everyone seemed pleased!

Mystery Ingredient

My Tostilocos was served in an opened chip bag. I squeezed some lime and dug in! I wasn't really sure what all the ingredients were, but the peanuts were good. I liked the crunchy cucumber and jicama.

Hmm? The little slices of onion seemed to have an odd flavor and texture. Chali took a bite and wondered with me. "There's a strange aftertaste." Then I looked at the list of ingredients, on the sign. "What's cueritos?" I asked.

Pig Skin! That wasn't an onion that I tasted. It was written right on that bright ad, but I don't speak Spanish. Luckily there was no table service and I didn't have to insult a server by not finishing my meal.

I'll have a taco, next time!

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Deer's Head Inn - Upstate New York

7/16/2018

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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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Chinatown in Bangkok

6/16/2018

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Hua Seng Hong Restaurant

During our Thailand visit last January, Don and I got to experience a little bit of the Chinese influence.

After 2 weeks of eating Thai food, 3 meals a day, we switched it up a bit and enjoyed some Chinese food!

Luckily our daughter-in-law was able to find the restaurant she thought she remembered from years ago. I liked the sign with the happy chef!

Exploring

We worked up an appetite before, roaming the hot and congested streets of Chinatown. I'm lucky I didn't get hit by a tuk tuk or bike. My eyes were so busy taking in the sights and smells surrounding me.

Smiles and Green Aprons

It wasn't obvious where we were supposed to go, since the whole entrance was blocked with kitchen excitement, that spilled right onto the sidewalk. We avoided touching huge metal pots, steaming over flames. We carefully made our way past the hanging food-critters and through the cluster of servers and cooks.

To the Back

The middle room was crowded with shoppers and diners and staff. We were ushered back further, past the shelves of wrapped foods and bottles. Don had to stoop over to step through the low threshold into the back room.

Little Red Oasis

Suddenly we were in a small room that at least looked like a restaurant. Whew. Even though we were with our daughter-in-law who has spent many of her years in Bangkok, it had been a little stressful navigating the streets of Chinatown. Finding ourselves in an air-conditioned, fairly quiet room, decorated with a lit up shrine of sorts, was a nice treat.

Shark's Fin Restaurant, Since 1973

I wish I knew the history of this place. The menu displayed the restaurant's curious name in English, but that's about it.

As we studied the menu, I peeked around at all the serious diners. It was January, peek tourist season in Thailand, but all the diners appeared to be locals on a lunch break. Then I noticed a blond couple sit down right next to us. Did those tourists follow us in?

Rest Room Break

Taking a trip to the restroom always gives me a chance to snoop around. I had to be pretty discreet snapping a photo of the bathroom door. Too bad I didn't capture a man and woman, bumping into each other. I wonder how often that happens?

The 2 little doors sort of amused me with their mint-colored glass and chrome. It seemed like they should be leading us to a swimming pool or spa.

Lazy Susan

We were starved and thirsty. The Lazy Suzan spun around quite a bit, with the 4 of us grabbing for food. Then we began to slow down.

Dim Sum, Cashew Chicken and Sweet & Sour Pork

We weren't too daring with our ordering. After walking by so many curious food stalls with not so appetizing smells, we just went for the basics. We got pleasantly full, using up a lot of the Kleenex thin napkins. Maybe next time we'll check out the Shark Fin Soup!

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Jungle Bird in Sacramento

6/8/2018

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Tiki Time in February!

It was chilly when Don and I visited the California capital, early this year. Our son and daughter-in-law had just moved from New Orleans and their blood was as thin as our Texan blood. Surrounding ourselves in tropical decor, sounded like a good idea.

Scott and Chali had heard about the Tiki Bar in Sacramento's Midtown. We arrived on a Sunday night to check it out. For a moment, the dark windows made us think the place might be closed. But evidently the windows are kept dark on purpose.

Corner Hut

The first thing we saw was a corner bar, under a thatched roof. The bamboo stools were mostly taken, but luckily there were more options for seating.

Birds!

There were birds hanging from the ceiling, but also a wall covered in bird prints. Don and I love a tiki theme, but this additional bird theme should have pleased our son the most. As a little boy, Scott was obsessed with birds. He had as much bird decor at his 4-year-old "Bird-Day Party" as the well decorated tiki bar.

Where to Sit?

The 4 of us were hungry and cold and ready to cozy up with food & drink in the jungle atmosphere. Luckily it was early and it wasn't crowded. The wicker chairs would have been nice, if it had just been Don and me. One corner had a nice little palapa roof and some carved masks.

Dining in Back

We found a nice table in the back with some interesting art work above our heads.

I'm pretty sure there is a good story behind every collected piece in the bar/restaurant.

I wanted to ask a ton of questions, but our server was a little rushed. She clearly was not up for chit chat, about all the tiki decor surrounding us.

Festive Drink Menu!

I've never been in a tiki bar that was bright enough to read a menu. My cell phone light was helpful, though. There were lots of delicious drink ingredients to choose from, but I basically chose my drink because of the vessel it was served in.

Posing

We hadn't even had more than a sip or two, when we snapped these photos. But these drinks made us very cheery. Our drinks came with fruit garnishes and umbrellas, curly straws and lots of alcohol. I'm lightweight, so I took my time.

Tabar Island Toucan

All the drinking containers were mighty fine, but I was the only one who had to hand over my credit card for collateral. My 10-dollar drink with vodka, syrup, mint and lime was worth it. Evidently, my credit card would have been charged $100. if my 4-pound copper bird had accidentally slipped into my large purse.

Our Tiki Gang

The youngin's were good sports when I asked our, not so friendly server to take our photo. But after 3 sips of tiki drinks, none of us were too concerned about looking touristy.

Pu Pu Platter

It's never a good idea to do your tiki-drinking on an empty stomach. We shared a Pu Pu Platter and a rice bowl. Having a flame at the table added a little more drama, but we didn't really use it. The food was satisfying, but mostly Jungle Bird is about the drinks.

Music Changes

After enjoying ourselves a while, the vibe suddenly changed at Jungle Bird. Early on, we'd enjoyed sipping our drinks, to the Faux-Polynesian Exotica tunes of Arthur Lyman. There is no better music for Tiki! Suddenly at 9 pm, the volume was cranked up and sounds of Metallica, replaced marimba and bird sounds. Ugh. Our little escape to paradise, lost its magic. We finished up and ordered an Uber.

Inquiring Minds...

The next day I called up Jungle Bird. I had to find out what the deal was. Maybe they turned on that music to get the Oldsters out. It turns out, we were experiencing Savage Sunday. Every Sunday at 9 pm, the tropical music haters get to enjoy a little heavy metal. Good to know.

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Taylor's in Springfield, MO

6/6/2018

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Good Memories

When I was a little girl, Springfield felt like the big city, when we visited from Iowa. We didn't even have a McDonald's in Grinnell, so it was a thrill when our Grandma Daw took us to Taylor's.

Burger Adventure in April

When my sister and I stayed in Springfield last April, we rewarded ourselves with lunch at Taylor's. We were in town, sorting through our Dad's apartment after his move. After 5 days of working and reminiscing over Springfield memories, Jennifer and I worked up a good appetite for burgers.

No So Easy

Eating at Taylor's is not as easy as grabbing a bite at Mc Donald's. When I was last in Springfield, two years before, my hubby and I did not luck out. We arrived at 2:01 and hoped we could still get lunch.

April 2016

There were a few people finishing up that day and I pleaded with the owner Darlene, to let us have a quick bite. She assured me the kitchen was closed. Darlene was sitting in a booth, checking a few people out with her adding machine. I could see staff peering through the kitchen window. They looked relieved that I wasn't able to convince Darlene to re-open the kitchen.

Last Taylor's Meal in 1969?

I remember practically sulking that day, when I realized I was not going to be able to give Don the Taylor's Experience. Actually I needed the experience as much as he did. It had been over 45 years since I'd eaten at Taylor's, so my memories were pretty vague. In fact, I don't even remember the very odd drive-up-order-area in back. I wonder if that still works?

Open 15 Hours a Week!

On April 23rd, Jennifer and I were lucky that we happened to be driving near Taylor's during their 3-hour open period... on a weekday. It took luck, because we were far too busy working dawn to midnight, to schedule in a burger adventure. We just happened to be doing an errand at the right time!

So Happy!

The cozy square-shaped diner was packed. I recognized Darlene bustling about in a pink "70th Anniversary" tee shirt. She pointed towards an open booth and tossed a couple menus our way.

I chuckled over the abrupt greeting and reminded Jennifer how Darlene had refused to budge with their closing time, 2 years earlier. We took a quick glance at our menus and made sure we were prepared to order when Darlene came with her pad and pen.

Sharing the Booth

What I wasn't prepared for, was the surprise of sharing my side of the booth with Darlene. Without hesitation, she plopped herself right down to take our order. "I'm too old for this!" Darlene shook her head. She told us that one of her girls had quit and she was having to wait tables. I'm sure she was extra glad that Taylor's is only open from 11 to 2.

Grinnell Girls!

Darlene didn't have to be told that Jennifer and I were out-of-towners. As Darlene scribbled our order, we told her that we sisters had lived with our family in Grinnell, Iowa in the 1960's. "We used to come to Springfield to see our grandmother and she would bring us here!" I had expected to see Darlene's jaw drop, because we'd read in the menu how she and her husband moved from Grinnell to buy Taylor's in 1978! But the news hardly phased Darlene. I guess lots of people come from Iowa to Missouri.

But she did seem pretty relaxed and rejuvenated after being off her feet for 3 minutes. Suddenly she got up and hurried off to turn in our order.

Steak Burgers!

Between the 2 of us, we had a couple steak burgers, fries, salad and an extra thick chocolate shake.

It was absolutely what the doctor ordered!

The burgers were flat and crispy around the edges, like Steak-N-Shake, which was another Springfield favorite when we were kids. I ate way more than I should have!

Darlene's Desk

We finished up and headed to the back corner, where Darlene was winding down in her special booth. Luckily we had cash, since Taylor's will remind you they do things the old fashioned way. We thanked Darlene with smiles and food compliments. I told her I hoped she could find a new server soon. She laughed that it wasn't easy finding someone who wanted to work just 3 hours a day.

Nostalgia

As we headed out, I glanced at the news clippings and wondered about Coach Taylor, who opened the burger joint in 1947. It was quite the popular teen hangout when it first opened. My Dad would have been attending Drury College, just a few miles away during those first years. Jennifer and I regretted not having Dad with us, on our errand that lead to Taylor's. What would my dad have remembered about the burgers and the coach... and all the cars that evidently circled the lot, American Graffiti style.

Next Time

I'm so glad I got to enjoy a little nostalgia-dining-adventure with my sister! I'm so relieved that Darlene is still running the place after 40 years. I'm sure she's ready to have more than a 3 minute break, in a booth!

However, I hope she hangs in there a while longer, so I can get back with Don... and get my Dad over to Taylor's for a burger and shake!

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Lorenzillo's Live Lobster House

5/27/2018

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Our Last Night in Cancun

Don and I usually avoid Touristy Mexico, but we got a good deal for a "resort" in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. Why not?

On our last night we chose a restaurant with good reviews, within walking distance. We put on comfy shoes and headed off. When we arrived, I had to grin at the sign. First of all, there was a giant lobster, which meant we could say, We dined, 2 times in one day, at a restaurant with a giant lobster on the roof. (see previous post)

I also had to grin at the words, under the name. "Since 1683" Hmmm? Is that a joke?

Built Over Water

To the left of the sign was the giant palapa restaurant, sitting over the water. Lorenzillo's brags that their palapa is the largest in the Americas. Of course they also claim a history going back to 1683. I was ready to find out.

First Things First

Before entering the main dining area, we paused to peek into the open air bar. It was on the early side, but still... How could this breezy bar with fabulous wood & canvas chairs and curious, striped wood floors, not be filled with people?

We didn't need an answer. We just took a seat by the water and sighed.

Martinis and Sunset

We sat at our little barrel table and watched the sun sink. The April temps were balmy, not sticky.

While sipping, I studied the words on the side of the building. I assumed Lorenzillo was the name of the owner. But later I learned that a man named Salvador, opened this restaurant and then others.

He even opened a furniture factory, to make the tables and chairs that fill his restaurants.

Main Dining Room

After our drinks we headed inside. The interior wasn't full, but it was still bustling and festive. The blue and white, nautical theme was inviting.

The Wine Vault

We took a moment to take it all in, before we were seated. The thick blue door leading to the wine vault, looked like something out of a James Bond movie.

Lobster Boat

Lorenzillo's has its own lobster and crab farm. They're known for their lobster, so we probably should have thought about ordering some.

But the boat filled with Lorenzillo's Girls, made me think twice. I've always been a wimp about seeing live food before eating it. So, how could I eat one of the Girls? That's like naming your pet chicken, that you plan on eventually eating.

On View

The display case made the fresh fish tempting, even to someone who doesn't adore seafood. I loved the artistically carved veggies, making pretty designs with the seafood.

Bar Boat

I love a theme and this place did a mighty fine job. Even the bar looked like a boat. The waiters wore blue and white shirts, accented with red lobsters. One of the men wearing a lobster shirt, welcomed us and had us follow him to our table.

Nautical Plates

We passed beautifully set tables. The white over blue tablecloths, plus blue & white china with a golden ships, looked very classy!

He took us to a perfectly fine table, except for one thing. It was not by a window and there seemed to be quite a few available.

New Table

It never hurts to ask and sure enough, we were moved to a better table, beside a window. I tried not to wonder why they didn't take us to a better table first. Better to not over-think it.

Our new table was lovely. A purse stand suddenly appeared next to me. My unworthy travel bag really wanted to hide under the table, but I used the stand anyway. Then a standing ice bucket arrived to hold our wine and then a basket with an amazing assortment of fresh breads and garlic butter.

Yum

Complimentary empanadas came next, with two kinds of sauce.

I was happy.

Curious View

There was a door nearby, that lead to the deck tables. After a couple sips of winel, I took a quick step outside to catch the sunset. There was one more giant lobster that needed to be photographed! In my picture, it looks like he's keeping an eye on Don, who can be spotted in the first window.

Sinking Sun

Then, I took a photo of the sun just before it slipped behind low clouds. If we had been vacationing during peak season, then we could have enjoyed lots of people watching, along with our sunset. The palapa and decks were mostly empty.

Feast

It was silly to order chicken at a place known for seafood, but I was in heaven with my crispy coated chicken, oozing with spinach and goat cheese. I enjoyed bites of pasta and asparagus between decadent mouthfuls of cheesy meat.

Don loves his seafood and he was more than pleased with the Veracruz-style Grouper, serves with onions, peppers and olives. He can be picky, but he raved.

Dessert?

We had no room for dessert, but we worked off a couple calories by hiking the stairs to the second level, for a view of the wonderful "striped" floors. I think there's a story about those floors...?

Flags and a View

The upstairs dining was closed for the evening, but our waiter invited us to go up and peek around. Instead of a window view, these tables could look down on the diners below, or up at the international flags hanging from the beams.

Best of all the upper level walls were covered with framed clippings and photos. We learned about past famous diners, like Jacques Cousteau and Omar Sharif. We learned about the two hurricanes that nearly destroyed the restaurant. I also finally learned the real age of Lorenzillo's.

The Legend

It was no surprise to learn that our restaurant had not been around since 1693. Lorenzillo's really opened in 1979 and was named for a legendary pirate.

The story claims that in 1693, Lorenzillo was a hungry pirate when his ship arrived at the port in Veracruz, Mexico. He became enraged to find no good food available. That pirate story inspired Salvador Vidal, when he opened his restaurant in 1979.

He could have just named the Lobster House after himself, since he has a pretty good name. Instead he used the legend and a little humor to create a restaurant with a reputation for delicious food, that could please a fierce and picky pirate, like Lorenzillo. Luckily all customers seemed content on the night we dined. I saw no outraged pirates or diners yelling and smashing the beautiful blue plates.

Happy Tourists and Happy Pirates!

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