Back in the 1980's a chef from New Orleans started a culinary sensation by taking Cajun cooking out of Louisiana and sharing his mouth watering recipes with the rest of the nation. His style of cooking by using a super hot iron skillet to "Blacken" fish and meat would soon be attempted by many of us as Cajun recipes became the rage. This style of cooking actually caused a shortage of red snapper in the U.S. and most restaurants had to stop selling that type fish for a while due to supply shortages. During the early stages of this craze a local chef named Steve Cupp opened a little restaurant on the Southwest end of Business Loop 70 offering Cajun dishes and some of his own creations. I don't know where the name of Glenn's Cafe came from, I guess it was there before Mr. Cupp opened his restaurant, but that name is still famous today in its latest incarnation located in Boonville.
Glenn's Cafe was small compared to most restaurants and you had to arrive early to get a good seat. Sometimes you would find yourself sharing a table with a stranger as they tried to seat as many customers as they could. My friends and I always to get there before the lunch or supper ush and would watch as the place filled up around us. We tried almost every item on the menu during our many visits there and found it all wonderful, except for this stuff called "pot liquor" which I guess was a broth made from boiled vegetables for stock. (It had a weird taste, almost like dishwater mixed with vegetable soup.) The owner watched all of us as we bought a round and drank it down. He and the waitress just smiled and moved on while we all tried to put on brave faces after drinking that muck. But the food was heaven; I loved the corn bread which was sweet and almost creamy when biting into it. The shrimp creole was awesomely spiced and the blackened pork chop was my favorite, but everyone loved the seafood gumbo and the bread pudding. At this time in history we were able to eat fresh, raw oysters from the Gulf Coast without catching some life threatening disease so we ate our fill.
Glenn's Cafe moved to a larger location on 9th St. with a varied menu mixed with Cajun and Southwestern dishes. The food was still awesome but more expensive. The place was always filled but did not have the same feeling as the older location as it looked so new and all. Since it grew out of our price range we ate there less, except for special occasions. Eventually it closed for reasons unknown to me and finally opened up recently at a hotel in downtown Boonville. I wish I could remember the time line but the dates are vague. I do plan on trying Steve Cupp's new location sometime in the future and who knows, if they are available I might slide a few raw oysters down for old times sake.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Memories of the 63 Diner
I really regret not eating at the 63 Diner as much as I should have. The food was great and it was always an experience since I never seemed to have enough room for my elbows. I always went with small groups and the waitress would stuff us together in a small booth. Every one's food would be delivered covering the small tabletop enticing you to grab a bite from someones plate. And the joy of eating shoulder to shoulder reminded me of a Army Mess Hall where you had little room to spread out.
One of the charms of the Diner was the size, it was small which meant you had to wait in a line for a table. I remember going there at 3PM and having to wait for a table. But if the restaurant had been any larger it would have lost it's charm. It was full of 1950's decor and was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. I would notice something different each time I ate there, a poster or hub cap or an advertisement sign from the past. My main regret is not trying something different from the menu. I always ordered a cheeseburger and fries which I thought was excellent so why should I change. To this day when I go to a restaurant I will order something different from the menu because you never know how long they will be in business.
The 63 Diner closed recently making the local news. The new owners could not get out of debt even with all the business they had. It was said by those in the know the group of people who bought the place paid way too much for it and partner after partner tried to get out of their share of the business. There is still hope that the 63 Diner may reopen with new owners but I think that may be too late. If it does reopen I will definitely order something other than the classic cheeseburger and fries.
One of the charms of the Diner was the size, it was small which meant you had to wait in a line for a table. I remember going there at 3PM and having to wait for a table. But if the restaurant had been any larger it would have lost it's charm. It was full of 1950's decor and was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. I would notice something different each time I ate there, a poster or hub cap or an advertisement sign from the past. My main regret is not trying something different from the menu. I always ordered a cheeseburger and fries which I thought was excellent so why should I change. To this day when I go to a restaurant I will order something different from the menu because you never know how long they will be in business.
The 63 Diner closed recently making the local news. The new owners could not get out of debt even with all the business they had. It was said by those in the know the group of people who bought the place paid way too much for it and partner after partner tried to get out of their share of the business. There is still hope that the 63 Diner may reopen with new owners but I think that may be too late. If it does reopen I will definitely order something other than the classic cheeseburger and fries.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Memories of Perkin's
Next to Ryan's was a nice, little chain restaurant called Perkin's which specialised in bakery items and a standard sit down restaurant menu. It started out great with baked chicken, roast beef and roast turkey entrees that were all first rate and you could get a selection of vegetable sides with your meal which made it more popular with us than the burger joints. The kids loved Perkin's creamed spinach and wanted to go there just for that. We went there several times and then just quit going to Perkin's for a while for reasons I can't remember at this time. What a surprise we had the next time we ate their.
The last time we went to Perkin's was a fiasco. There were few customers there and I guess the restaurant was training a new waiter who had no idea what he was doing. I had to get up and remind him we were waiting to order. All the time we were there we smelled a sewer odor which came from the back. I noticed that the manager and cashier were joking around and did not seem to help the poor guy trying to wait on us. Of course they did not have the creamed spinach the kids wanted so we substituted with some tasteless carrots. The food took a long time to come out and it was almost cold but the waiter did not have a clue what was going on so we went ahead and ate. When I paid for the meal the manager didn't even ask how the food was, probably noticing my demeanor at the register. It was one of the few times I did not leave a tip because we did not plan on coming back.
Some time later I read in the Tribune that the Health Department closed Perkin's for seventeen violations, one being sewer problems that backed up in the kitchen. The manager was quoted in saying they were going to get everything fixed and reopen as soon as possible. I do not know if they ever did. Soon after that we were visiting Disney World in Florida and needed to eat. We were tired of double cheeseburgers from McDonalds so we decide to take a chance on the local Perkin's. We were seated promptly in a very clean dining room. The food came out hot and the kids had their creamed spinach. It was a good experience from and old, lost friend. I have heard good things about the Jefferson City Perkin's but never wanted to drive up there to check it out, even for there creamed spinach.
The last time we went to Perkin's was a fiasco. There were few customers there and I guess the restaurant was training a new waiter who had no idea what he was doing. I had to get up and remind him we were waiting to order. All the time we were there we smelled a sewer odor which came from the back. I noticed that the manager and cashier were joking around and did not seem to help the poor guy trying to wait on us. Of course they did not have the creamed spinach the kids wanted so we substituted with some tasteless carrots. The food took a long time to come out and it was almost cold but the waiter did not have a clue what was going on so we went ahead and ate. When I paid for the meal the manager didn't even ask how the food was, probably noticing my demeanor at the register. It was one of the few times I did not leave a tip because we did not plan on coming back.
Some time later I read in the Tribune that the Health Department closed Perkin's for seventeen violations, one being sewer problems that backed up in the kitchen. The manager was quoted in saying they were going to get everything fixed and reopen as soon as possible. I do not know if they ever did. Soon after that we were visiting Disney World in Florida and needed to eat. We were tired of double cheeseburgers from McDonalds so we decide to take a chance on the local Perkin's. We were seated promptly in a very clean dining room. The food came out hot and the kids had their creamed spinach. It was a good experience from and old, lost friend. I have heard good things about the Jefferson City Perkin's but never wanted to drive up there to check it out, even for there creamed spinach.
Memories of Ryan's
After several weeks dealing with repairs on my computer I thought I would write about several broken restaurants that started off good then went bust. Ryan's was a steakhouse/buffet on West I-70 Drive which was one of those restaurants with a good start. Their buffet was large and the quality was better than most with their hot rolls taking center stage. I guess if you ate a lot of these good tasting rolls you would eat less food, thus Ryan's would make more profit. Our family went there several times a month through the few years Ryan's was opened and we noticed it going down hill towards the end. First the quality of the food went down such as more inedible stems in the green beans, the rolls became tasteless and dried out food was served that seemed to be too old for serving. There were staffing changes where they were less attentive to your needs and fewer wait staff in number. And the cleanliness of the restaurant changed drastically towards the end with dirty floors and piled up dishes sharing some empty tables. We just quit going because the quality was not there for the price of four people eating from the buffet.
Several interesting things happened at Ryan's worth noting. There was a Harley Davidson convention somewhere, it might of been in that town in South Dakota, but when we arrived the restaurant was full of rough and rowdy looking bikers dressed in their leather and tie dyed garb. I liked it because compared to them I was the skinniest guy there. These guys were huge, not just fat but huge, like from a bad biker movie of the 1960's. Even their women were large. All of them were well behaved and noticeably courteous so there were not any fights or other things expected of Hell's Angels. And on our last visit to Ryan's we had the pleasure of sitting next to a family who had a sick child. This kid whined and the parents talked loudly trying to please him. This kid finally threw up all over the table with the parents once again talking loudly to him. The wait staff did not seem to know what needed to be done and the parents did clean up the table. We were lucky because there was little odor, because the putrid food smell was coming from the buffet table, I believe it was a steamed fish dish. After throwing up the kid was fine and started eating. The parents, except for the little time it took to clean up the vomit, quieted down and continued eating. It was a fitting end for us and we never came back.
Several interesting things happened at Ryan's worth noting. There was a Harley Davidson convention somewhere, it might of been in that town in South Dakota, but when we arrived the restaurant was full of rough and rowdy looking bikers dressed in their leather and tie dyed garb. I liked it because compared to them I was the skinniest guy there. These guys were huge, not just fat but huge, like from a bad biker movie of the 1960's. Even their women were large. All of them were well behaved and noticeably courteous so there were not any fights or other things expected of Hell's Angels. And on our last visit to Ryan's we had the pleasure of sitting next to a family who had a sick child. This kid whined and the parents talked loudly trying to please him. This kid finally threw up all over the table with the parents once again talking loudly to him. The wait staff did not seem to know what needed to be done and the parents did clean up the table. We were lucky because there was little odor, because the putrid food smell was coming from the buffet table, I believe it was a steamed fish dish. After throwing up the kid was fine and started eating. The parents, except for the little time it took to clean up the vomit, quieted down and continued eating. It was a fitting end for us and we never came back.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Memories of Columbia's Past Part 3
Several people have asked why I haven't added any more restaurants to my list. Well The blasted hard drive on my computer went out and I just got the thing working again. During this hiatus I have been thinking of more restaurants to include on the list but my memory gets hazier as the number goes down. I still have a few places to write about but I am trying to collect my thoughts on the individual restaurants and why I found them interesting. In the mean time I am working on another blog which lists the old movie theaters that have been in Columbia and I am collecting information to create blogs on the old Biscayne Mall and Nowell's grocery stores.
Some people say I am wasting my time remembering stores that are no longer here, but I feel a sense of nostalgia when thinking and writing about these places. I as not satisfied with most of the stores in Columbia and feel the Columbia Mall is a wasteland for consumers. There are very few, if any locally owned stores in that mall and the chain stores located in this cesspool are the same stores located in malls all across the country. I talked to a business owner who's store had to leave the mall because a chain store was expanding. This gentleman said mall management tries to get rid of locally owned stores in favor of chain stores. That is his opinion but he was forced out. Unfortunately it is not just mall management but the nature of business. Think back when the Columbia Mall first opened and had such interesting shops: toy shops, book shops, music shops, arcades, etc. I realize the Internet and Wal-Mart have changed the way people shop but I also believe major stores and mall management tell us how to shop by charging the businesses extremely high rents limiting the types of stores that can open.
There is one good thing I must say about the Columbia Mall. They have done a wonderful job of controlling the gangs of kids that spread havoc on Friday and Saturday evenings. And with the increased security it does seem safer. Yes, I do have to shop at the mall but I try not to. I have made a better effort to shop at local stores whenever possible but there are so few offering so little. At this time my friend Mr. Ed is asking "What about the restaurants?" I will get to them in time but I must rant and rave a little. Coming up are memories of Katy Station, Haden House, Yen Ching and 63 Diner, but I will wait for another evening. A movie awaits to be watched. A person must have priorities.
Some people say I am wasting my time remembering stores that are no longer here, but I feel a sense of nostalgia when thinking and writing about these places. I as not satisfied with most of the stores in Columbia and feel the Columbia Mall is a wasteland for consumers. There are very few, if any locally owned stores in that mall and the chain stores located in this cesspool are the same stores located in malls all across the country. I talked to a business owner who's store had to leave the mall because a chain store was expanding. This gentleman said mall management tries to get rid of locally owned stores in favor of chain stores. That is his opinion but he was forced out. Unfortunately it is not just mall management but the nature of business. Think back when the Columbia Mall first opened and had such interesting shops: toy shops, book shops, music shops, arcades, etc. I realize the Internet and Wal-Mart have changed the way people shop but I also believe major stores and mall management tell us how to shop by charging the businesses extremely high rents limiting the types of stores that can open.
There is one good thing I must say about the Columbia Mall. They have done a wonderful job of controlling the gangs of kids that spread havoc on Friday and Saturday evenings. And with the increased security it does seem safer. Yes, I do have to shop at the mall but I try not to. I have made a better effort to shop at local stores whenever possible but there are so few offering so little. At this time my friend Mr. Ed is asking "What about the restaurants?" I will get to them in time but I must rant and rave a little. Coming up are memories of Katy Station, Haden House, Yen Ching and 63 Diner, but I will wait for another evening. A movie awaits to be watched. A person must have priorities.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Memories of Godfather's Pizza
Years ago Columbia had a Godfather's Pizza across the street from the police station. College students being the pizza addicts we were went there for some fairly good pizza, drinks and the video games. Actually the main thing I remember about Godfather's were the video game tables where you could sit and play things like PAC -Man and other early titles. The pizza did not inspire any great memories but I remember going there with friends and having a good time.
I do remember the pizza toppings as the Canadian bacon was cut into small cubes or maybe it wasn't what I thought. The television commercials were a hoot with a gangster wearing a wide brim hat imploring you to go eat their pizza. I believe at the time there were some problems with the commercials because it portrayed Italians in a negative way. The ads were comical to say the least. If anyone else can add anything to this entry please let me know as my memory is vague at this time.
I do remember the pizza toppings as the Canadian bacon was cut into small cubes or maybe it wasn't what I thought. The television commercials were a hoot with a gangster wearing a wide brim hat imploring you to go eat their pizza. I believe at the time there were some problems with the commercials because it portrayed Italians in a negative way. The ads were comical to say the least. If anyone else can add anything to this entry please let me know as my memory is vague at this time.
Memories of Tina's Pizza and Steak
One day at work I was surprised by a maintenance man who said he visited a new restaurant and that the owner asked him to say hello to me. He could not remember her last name and the description he gave did not help so I felt obligated to find out who this person was. When I entered Tina's I recognised her right away as an old employee who worked for me years ago when she was in high school. I knew her mom and dad real well but I never kept up with what Tina was doing. I remember hearing she had gotten married to a Mexican gentleman and they had several kids but I never expected to see her running a restaurant.
Tina and her husband Saul rented the old Denny's location on Texas Ave. and completely renovated the seating area. I had learned from conversations from Saul that he had worked at George's for many years while it was on the Business Loop. The menu at Tina's was greatly influenced by George's as almost everything offered was the same. As the months went by I noticed that the menu was changing as Mexican dishes were added and I felt Tina's seemed to be breaking away from the Greek style pizza places it resembled when it first opened.
I found the food there first rate with the pizza being outstanding. I always ordered the House Special which was a traditional Greek style pizza but piled high with toppings. It was awesome!
My kids would always order the Chicken Alfredo dish and loved it. I also tried several of their Mexican dishes which I felt was excellent but the serving size was too big. The last time I went there the place was full and it took a long time to get my food. Poor Saul was cooking by himself and was having a hard time keeping up. The food was still good but it just took a long time to get it. Soon after my last visit I heard Tina's had closed and I felt sad because they tried really hard to make it a go. I had known that the old Denny's location was in bad shape before they opened their restaurant. People in the food industry share stories of old restaurants and problems they had. The Denny's location had multiple physical problems and even though Tina and her husband fixed the seating area there were other problems behind the scenes. High costs and taxes probably added to the problems.
In a conversation I had with Saul he told me of his life in Mexico and how hard it was to become successful there. He came to this country and worked hard for a long time but had faith in the American dream that so many immigrants before him shared. He eventually got his citizenship, married, had children and opened his own restaurant. I have not talked to Saul since the restaurant closed down but I believe he will be back. He helped revive my faith in this country and how good we have it. We sometimes forget how blessed we are until we talk to someone like him who appreciates those things we take for granted.
Tina and her husband Saul rented the old Denny's location on Texas Ave. and completely renovated the seating area. I had learned from conversations from Saul that he had worked at George's for many years while it was on the Business Loop. The menu at Tina's was greatly influenced by George's as almost everything offered was the same. As the months went by I noticed that the menu was changing as Mexican dishes were added and I felt Tina's seemed to be breaking away from the Greek style pizza places it resembled when it first opened.
I found the food there first rate with the pizza being outstanding. I always ordered the House Special which was a traditional Greek style pizza but piled high with toppings. It was awesome!
My kids would always order the Chicken Alfredo dish and loved it. I also tried several of their Mexican dishes which I felt was excellent but the serving size was too big. The last time I went there the place was full and it took a long time to get my food. Poor Saul was cooking by himself and was having a hard time keeping up. The food was still good but it just took a long time to get it. Soon after my last visit I heard Tina's had closed and I felt sad because they tried really hard to make it a go. I had known that the old Denny's location was in bad shape before they opened their restaurant. People in the food industry share stories of old restaurants and problems they had. The Denny's location had multiple physical problems and even though Tina and her husband fixed the seating area there were other problems behind the scenes. High costs and taxes probably added to the problems.
In a conversation I had with Saul he told me of his life in Mexico and how hard it was to become successful there. He came to this country and worked hard for a long time but had faith in the American dream that so many immigrants before him shared. He eventually got his citizenship, married, had children and opened his own restaurant. I have not talked to Saul since the restaurant closed down but I believe he will be back. He helped revive my faith in this country and how good we have it. We sometimes forget how blessed we are until we talk to someone like him who appreciates those things we take for granted.
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