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La Floresta in Playa del Carmen

12/1/2018

Lunch, Away From Tourists

Don and I got to enjoy a lunch outing with a dear friend who lives not far from Playa del Carmen.

Brenda picked us up after we came across on the ferry, from Cozumel. She said she'd take us to one of her favorite places.

White and Red

We parked in a gravel lot and walked towards the white, cement block structure. There was a sink near the wall where we could wash up before eating.

Order Window

We headed for the order window and let Brenda order for us. The waiter recognized her and didn't need to be told that she wanted a Coke and a half avocado with her meal.

Open Air Dining

It was such an adventure dining in a restaurant where no tourists would think to go. There was no beach nearby. Just the sound of traffic on the road. Some would think we shouldn't have ventured away from the tourist areas. But I've always trusted Brenda. Not only was she a wonderful piano teacher to my children, but she happened to be a police officer as well.

Fried Shrimp

We followed Brenda's lead and ordered fried shrimp.

The fish came piping hot and super crispy!

Brenda chopped up the avocado and used a little mayo and lime. The tacos were perfect and just the right amount. Such a simple little meal and so good!

Catching Up

The combo of fish tacos and Coke and good conversation was wonderful. Back when Brenda taught our children piano, we always ended up lingering after lessons. The subject we talked most about was travel. Here we were in Mexico, where Brenda and her husband now has a home!

Smile For the Camera!

I tried to sneak one more photo before we left. This fun couple seemed pretty amused and gave me a big smile.

What a simple lunch with a sweet glimpse of real Mexico. Thanks Brenda!

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Union Hotel in Occidental, CA

11/29/2018

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Italian Feast at Noon

Don and I don't usually eat big lunches, especially when we're traveling. But when we saw Occidental on the roadmap, we knew we needed to add it to our route... and prepare for a little feasting.

As we headed into the 5-block town, we tried to remember the name of the place where we'd had an amazing Italian meal, about 38 years ago!

Since 1879

We spotted a couple of Italian restaurants in the small town. We weren't absolutely sure if the old Union Hotel was the place we remembered, but it was open and it looked pretty charming.

Quiet Patio

We parked and headed towards the gate with the Union Hotel clock. The patio area looked lovely on a September day, but it didn't seem to be open.

Lots of Doors

We headed towards the 2-story hotel. I loved the words up near the roof.

"1879... Union Hotel... Italian Dinners"

I liked everything about those words. I love old restaurants and I love old hotels. Sadly, I don't believe there are hotel rooms upstairs anymore.

The Saloon

I believe the saloon is the original structure from 1879. It began as a general store and meeting house. Then it became a saloon and eventually a hotel and restaurant. I was tempted to ask the bartender, since he had no customers. But he didn't look like he was up for a talking history. We moved on down the hall.

Hallway Entrance

It was an adventure searching for the dining room. I loved the stairway with the funny little "baby gate" thing. There must have been 50 coats of brown paint on the stairs and railing.

I later learned a little history about those brown stairs. A man named Carlo Pannizera, bought the building in 1925. He reopened the saloon as a rooming house and restaurant. One day he ran to the rescue when his waitress, Mary fell down the stairs.

Carlo carried Mary to the doctor and before long, they were married. Their descendants own and run the Union Hotel today!

Half-Door

I don't know if there's any history about this swinging half door, with a shelf.

It was doing a good job holding a wine glass, when we passed by.

I love stories about the families behind historic restaurants and hotels.

The Main Dining Room

I had to grin when I saw the red and white checked curtains and table cloths in the dining room.

Candlelight!

I grinned even bigger when I saw the classic, wax-covered Chianti bottles on all the tables.

Better yet, the candles were lit at the tables where there were diners.

I can't think of the last time I had lunch by candlelight. I know that breaks some kind of dining etiquette rule. I'm all for breaking that rule.

Family Style

Our server (Terry, I think) was wonderful. She seemed excited to know we were from Texas, since she'd lived there a while herself. She gave us some ordering suggestions and then the food started coming... family style!

Before the Main Course

The bread and oil arrived first. A plate of salami and cheese came next, with serving bowls of minestrone and salad and kidney beans.

Lasagna and Ravioli

We had to order a little Chianti to go along with our lasagna and ravioli. Don looks happy about that. But actually we were just happy about the fun of this cozy place, where the food kept coming.

Don and I love to eat, but neither of us can actually eat all that much. It's sort of embarrassing sometimes. But, Terry was happy to wrap up about all our leftovers. Usually that doesn't work well when we're traveling, but we actually microwaved them for dinner, in our hotel room that night.

My Kind of Cozy

I had a great view from my chair of the cozy dining room. There is just nothing better than comfort food in a comfy-cozy setting. Not all people love the red & white checked look, or even the dark wood paneling, but this is my idea of comfort dining.

From Doors to Barrels

I loved the kitchen door with its little square window, balancing on point. I loved the barrel supported shelf, holding pumpkins, flowers and the Virgin Mary.

Off to Explore

Don took care of the bill and I told him I was heading to the restroom. He knows those words actually mean, "I'm going exploring... with my camera."

The retro pink bathroom was worthy of a photo. I love pink tile.

Bocce Ballroom

I took a little peek into the Bocce Ballroom with its own bar and raised stage. Flowers and decorations told me a wedding had been celebrated recently.

The Dining Room

From the Bocce Ballroom, I looked back at the dining room. The dining room was actually built in the 1940's to connect the original Union Hotel and the Bocce Ballroom.

As I looked at the candles and lights strung from the ceiling, it made me hope to return sometime for a dinner, at night. I'd love to see the place filled with families and romantic couples... and maybe a little Italian music!

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The Bryant House in Vermont

11/24/2018

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Weston, Vermont

This cute little red house with curtains in the window, could have lured me to lunch anywhere. But, there was a lot more than food happening around The Bryant House Restaurant.

Vermont Country Store

Sitting about 50 feet from the restaurant, was the original Vermont Country Store. I've never known much about the business, but I've gotten plenty of those funny, little Vermont Store catalogues over the years.

Mildred and Vrest Orton opened their store in 1946, selling Vermont cheddar and real maple syrup. Customers came from far away and they started selling food. Today the store and Bryant House Restaurant, are owned and operated by 4th and 5th generation Ortons.

Floors in the Bryant House

After doing some fun browsing at the old store, Don and I got hungry and headed over to the restaurant.

Just looking down at the floors, made it easy to believe we were in a 190-year-old house. The home had belonged to the Bryant family until 1959, when the Ortons purchased the property.

Bar in the Back

The "Eating Rooms" in the front of the house were full, so we headed to the pub in the back. No, we didn't know the man with the broken arm, sitting at the old bar, but he posed nicely.

Curious Stuff

Don and I managed to get a table near the window. It took a while to get a menu, but there was lots to look at. The soda fountain from 1878 was pretty amazing.

The complicated looking thing was crafted with silver and Italian marble and ebony. But really the more interesting thing, was the wooden, label creation that listed the available flavors. I liked the soda flavor, "I Don't Care".

Lots to Read

We also had a lot of reading entertainment at our table. We had a store catalogue and lots of news clippings and photos and even a telegram, shellacked right onto the table top.

Cozy Table

We enjoyed our meal on our cushioned captain's chairs, using cloth napkins. I'm sure all can be purchased in the store.

We made sure to order some good Vermont foods. Don had a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich with Vermont cheese.

My Plate

I loved my plate of comfort foods. My salad was the healthy thing and my New England clam chowder (with homemade crackers) was the Vermont thing. My Johnnycake with butter, was the totally fun thing.

Why Hello There!

At one point we looked up and there was my sister Jennifer and her wife, Kate. They were sitting at the old bar. That would have been a mighty strange thing, since they live in Oregon. But we were actually traveling with them. We were just on slightly different shopping and eating schedules. So we finished up, while they started and we of course we snapped pics of each other.

Nap After Lunch

After we finished lunch, our waiter encouraged us to head up the stairs to see the Bryant's lovely bedroom. The couple's bedroom set (purchased at the Philidelphia World's Fair) was set up like a little museum. So I guess you can say we ate lunch in a museum. If it hadn't been roped off, I might have taken a nap after my lunch.

Gliding Time

Before leaving the grounds, my sister and I had to try out the glider & table creation! It was tempting to buy an ice cream sundae from Mildred's Dairy Bar, a few feet away. We could have really tested out the whole rocking/dining set up! Or we could have bought the whole creation for $1,512.00. Maybe next time.

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Lil Joes' & Sammy's - Sacramento

11/24/2018

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Two Diners in North Sacramento

Last winter, Don and I drove out to Sacramento since our son and daughter-in-law had just moved.

We spent time helping Scott and Chali try out some curious eating establishments, within walking distance.

Lil Joe's was our pick for breakfast one morning.

The brown building, with tile trim had a nice retro look. But it was the sign that lured us. "God Bless...Over a Million Steaks Sold... Dinner... Ham & Eggs... New York..."

Since 1953, on Del Paso Blvd

It was February and Scott and Chali were still trying to figure out what this whole area was about. The Del Paso Boulevard showed a couple good signs of beautification here and there. There were some new businesses, but some pretty sketchy stuff as well. We figured if Lil Joe's had lasted this long, then it must be worth trying.

Bold Menu and Stylin' Vinyl

We were greeted by a smiling waitress, who called everyone at our table "Sweetie". The pink counters, blue booths and original stools pleased me. The giant cow on the menu sort of scared me. I ordered oatmeal and coffee, so I can hardly comment on the steaks.

Banter at the Cash Register

Probably the best part of the dining experience was watching all the locals come and go. We seemed to be the only non-locals. I asked about the cash register and was told it had been there since 1953. The fellow in the kitchen was actually very friendly and was happy for me to take a photo.

Sammy's

On another day, we gave Sammy's a try. The family restaurant has been sitting on Del Paso Boulevard even longer than Lil Joe's.

Pink & Green

Although Sammy's has been on this corner since 1944, I believe the current building is much newer. There was a fire at some point and maybe that's why the pink and green, stone building has a 1960's look about it.

Welcoming Counter

It was tempting to have a seat right there at the pink counter. The swivel stools looked mighty comfy and the cups and utensils were just waiting for us.

I don't think those mugs (decorated with emojis) were around when Sammy's first opened!

The Back Room

We were greeted with smiles, but ushered to a table in the back. I'm pretty sure that was to prevent us from grabbing any of the tables that are usually claimed by regulars.

We placed our breakfast order with our waitress, who has probably worked at Sammy's for decades. She didn't blink at the notion of someone wanting a grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast. However she was pretty concerned about Don ordering the proper potatoes to go with his scrambled eggs and grilled ham.

"Do you want peppers and onions on them taters? Because if you don't, they're just gonna be naked taters." Naked was pronounced neck-ed.

Lots of Leftovers

Hopefully the cook and staff took it as a compliment that we wanted to take home what we couldn't eat. They seemed pretty pleased that we newcomers had enjoyed our eggs, pancakes and grilled cheese.

Past & Future

Before 1964, North Sacramento was its own town and Del Paso Boulevard was a thriving Main Street. I wish I could go back, 60 years in time and visit both diners and all that surrounded them.

Last February, we spent some time wandering up and down the Boulevard, imagining the past and seeing some signs of good things to come. I'm glad we got to step back in time, with our 2 breakfasts. I hope the diners can keep on doing what they do!

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Swiss Hotel in Sonoma, CA

11/24/2018

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Not Just Wine With Lunch

Don and I expected a little wine with our lunch when visiting the sweet town of Sonoma. But we ended up getting lots of history with our cozy meal, in this old building from the mid 1800's.

Originally, the adobe building was the home of Don Salvadore Vallejo. By the late 1800's it became a hotel. In 1923, a Swiss-Italian family bought the hotel. The same family still runs it!

Old Doors

It was just after noon when Don and I stepped through the beautiful old doors. They took us directly to the bar.

The Old Bar

The bar was charming. I'm guessing not much has changed since it opened in 1923.

Cozy Corner

The walls across from the bar were covered in old photographs. The checkered table cloths made me want to sit down with some Italian wine and pasta and read up on the family history.

Whiter and Brighter

The dining room also had a cozy corner or two, with a slightly formal feel. Each table had a rose and black napkins and of course more framed historic photos.

Another Cute Corner

This corner near the old fireplace had a little bench seating and some cocktail tables.

I wonder what that funny little window-sized door is for?

Tempting Stairs

I was tempted to head up the old staircase and see if I could get a peek at one of the 5 guest rooms. Oh how I wanted to stay a night and add to my 90-Notable Nights list! But we were only passing through.

Time For Lunch

We had wondered why the dining room was so empty, until we stepped out the back door. What a lovely patio with a fountain, umbrellas and fireplace, checkered cloths and grapevines!

A Sweet Little Feast

I was pretty delighted with the crusty bread and olive oil, for starts. Don had a pulled pork sandwich, with pepper Jack and onion strings... on the softest roll ever. My spinach salad with tons of bacon, beets and crumbled egg was just perfect. It was the perfect little feast before hitting the road.

Jasper and Friend

A dining adventure is always a little more memorable if you get to chat with a local.

As we headed out, I spotted this wonderful pair sitting together on the veranda. Jasper the pup, was seated on a pillow. I asked the gentleman in the purple shirt, if I could take his dog's photo. "Only if you take a picture of the two of us!" He laughed. "And send it to me." What a fun few minutes we had talking. The sweet fellow told me he was 80 and just didn't know what he'd do without Jasper. "Dogs teach us so much about living ...and about dying." He spoke those words in the most positive way.

What a great way to complete a dining adventure!

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Tail O' the Pup - Upstate New York

11/22/2018

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Roadside Dining in the Adirondacks!

In past years, Don and I have driven by this sign on NY 86 a few times. The name itself is something. "Lobster Clam Bake... Est. 1927... cabins - $75." Those words are enough to turn my head.

More than a Fun Sign!

Driving by, there are so many fine little buildings, nestled underneath the pines. The white and red dining room is the most obvious.

Cabins

The cabins are pretty adorable and still 75 dollars!

Making a Stop in July

In July we finally made a stop! Don and I were traveling in 3 cars, with my sibs and spouses. It wasn't exactly meal time, but we couldn't pass up a Tail O' the Pup adventure!

Where to Dine?

I was giddy over the retro red decor in the dining room. The 90-year-old roadside business recently got a makeover, with new ownership. I'm glad they kept the old charm.

Under the Tent

I do love a tent, so I was happy with the group's decision to enjoy a little outdoor dining. A few others were also celebrating the fact the rain had ended!

Our Gang (minus one)

I am in this photo, because my brother was playing photographer. Chris was taking photos of restaurants and food, long before the social media world made it a thing. I remember him snapping photos of our A&W server, placing a tray of root beers onto our car window, in the 1970's!

First

Before we placed our food order, a few of us made a quick trip to the Tap Room to get some beer. I was pretty much in love with the pup on the beer "jar".

Jess, the manager took our order. She admitted she was a little stressed, since they were expecting a group of 150, very soon. Yikes! I'm really glad we missed that. Although, I sort of wish we had been there to see the crowd arriving. Motorcycles, maybe?

Here we are with food (and Chris) looking pretty happy about our food. I had hoped to get a bite of Jennifer's "Michigan" dog, but it was gone too fast. I'm not sure why they call "Michigan" chili dog is popular in Upstate New York?

BBQ

If we had stopped for a meal, rather than a snack I would have insisted on having a lobster clam bake experience.

But BBQ was also spotlighted on the sign. Don and I split a pulled pork sandwich with fries and it was a yummy treat!

Eat and Wander!

Since I'm a fan of both dining and overnight adventures, I had to look around at the cabins. I even peeked in a window and I am totally game for staying over, on a future trip.

Fire Pit

If only I'd had this on my radar earlier. Our family road trip could have given up one of our nights at Hotel Saranac and stayed here, instead. There were just enough chairs around the fire pit for our traveling group of 6!

Lobster and Oysters?

I'm sure Captain Mel's Raw Bar and Barnacle Phil's Lobster Shanty would have been pretty darn fun at night.

Ice Cream

If we'd gotten a craving for ice cream, we could have stepped out of our cabin door and walked about 20 steps for ice cream!

Next Time

Who knows what it would really be like to stay at the cabins overnight. They evidently have live music and it could be totally fun or a huge headache.

But I love it, that a place like this still exists. There were so many of these cabin businesses 50 years ago.

I'm glad we got to stop and enjoy a little meal under the tent. Hopefully someday, we'll rent a cabin and I can pretend we've gone away to camp!

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Fairmont Chateau Laurier - Canada

11/20/2018

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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, 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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Timberline Lodge in Oregon

11/16/2018

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Unexpected Lunch Stop

Don and I made an unplanned stop at Timberline Lodge last August. We were on our way to Portland, when road issues took us on a different route. We saw signs for the lodge and suddenly decided it must be time for lunch... even though it was 10 am.

Mount Hood

It was pretty exciting to see Mount Hood as we approached the lodge. As we got closer, we could see skiers on those snowy patches. It was August first!

Not So Eerie

On a sunny, blue day, it was hard to imagine the creepy snow scenes from Stephen King's thriller movie,The Shining.

Evidently, Timberline Lodge has been a film location for numerous movies.

Breezy Terrace

It was early for lunch, so Don and I did some wandering first. We thought about eating on the sunny terrace... but, the wind was whipping those flags like crazy! Too bad I didn't get a video of the 750-pound "Snow Goose" weathervane, right above us!

Fireplace Column

The exterior of the hotel may get a lot of film focus, but the interior is where the lodge really shines. During the Great Depression, local workers and artisans spent a couple years, building and furnishing the lodge. The 6-sided, fireplace column in the head house, is the most impressive of all.

Fireplaces Below

We went down a level and found the area where I'm guessing many skiers have prepped for the slopes. I loved the photo of the injured men, lounging in front of the giant fireplace with crutches and cigarettes.

The fireplace was enormous. I could have used it as a stage. The fireplace screens were made of old tire chains and the andirons were made from old railroad rails.

Artists

Don and I explored the 4-story main building, while we worked up an appetite. We ran across numerous murals and mosaics. Some of the murals were made with pieces of glass.

Sweet Critters

In the stairwell, we found some perfect examples of how repurposed materials were used throughout the lodge.

We climbed the stairs using the sturdy, steel railings and discovered numerous carved critters. I learned later that there are 19 newel posts, made from discarded utility poles. Each had a unique little animal, native to the area.

Ram's Head Bar

We could have dined "lodge-style" in the Cascade Dining Room, but we were drawn to the view at the Ram's Head Bar.

Ram's Head

We were wandering up on the second floor's circular balcony at 10:30, when we spotted the cozy bar opening up for the day. That's a little early for a bar and kind of early for lunch.

View of Mount Hood

But when you can get a table with a view of the mountain, the time hardly matters. We took a seat!

Love it All

I loved the rustic little table set. I loved the leather menu. I loved the original patchwork curtains. I loved the Black Forest Ham Steak Sandwich with Pimento Cheese on a Cornmeal Bun AND the Carrot, Cranberry, Walnut Slaw!

More Wandering

After our tiny "brunch" we continued to explore. I wanted to stay for days. I could have hiked in the day and played pingpong on a handcrafted table, at night!

WPA Work

If I'd had a couple days, I could have studied every nook and cranny, created by the rotating workers, 80 years ago. There were about 100 working at a time.

It was amazing to see the craftsmanship of so many kinds of WPA workers. Who made the cozy writing desk and what stonecutter helped to create the wonderful arched windows?

Doors

I'm always delighted when I spot an unusual door and the Timberline had so many!

Don at 6'2", helped me show just how large and small, some of these doors were.

Next Time

We had a just enough time to hike up the trail a bit, before heading off to Portland. We'll have to return and give some time to those great wooden chairs. Better yet, we'll make sure to have time to book a room and see what the lodge is like at night. When it gets late and scenes from The Shining play in my head, I'll just have to keep reminding myself. "No scenes were filmed inside the lodge!"

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Pink Adobe in Santa Fe

11/16/2018

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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!

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Maddox Ranch House

11/15/2018

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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

Another large sign helped us decide what to order. Even though I usually like to order the food that is featured in the cookbook, chicken sounded like a good choice for eating later. Plus, it's the food that Maddox is known for!

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!

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