Miss Mendon

- Cross posted from CC-Chapman.com -

I don't know if you can call me a "foodie" but I am a lover of food. I'm especially fond of the comfort foods that you can find in diners. The sounds, the smells, the people and of course the food all make me smile. If given a choice where to eat for any meal, a diner would win out over a five star restaurant every time. Maybe it has to do with growing up in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire, but at my heart I'm a simple food type of guy.

So last year while driving down the road, I saw an old diner sitting in the middle of a huge parking lot next to a car dealership. When I asked about it I was told that it was an old diner car that had been purchased and moved from Vermont and that it would be opening in the new year.

Fast forward to an article in the local paper announcing that it was open and I had to go. Of course the first night we went it was insanely busy and we were on a time table so we couldn't wait. As with any good diner, you seat yourself and you wait your turn and that night we didn't have the luxury of waiting.

Thankfully when we returned for lunch a few weeks later we DID have the time, but didn't need it as we beat the rush and sat down in a booth right away.

The Miss Mendon Diner is exactly what you'd expect. Little booths, a counter, jukeboxes and the clientele that you always find in a diner.

One other thing you need to know about me is that I'm a bit of a fanatic about homemade corned beef hash and if I go to any place that has it on the menu I have to try it. When I show up at a diner and their hash is out of a can I am instantly sad. Thankfully in this case it was highlighted on the menu and I didn't need to look any further. Of course I did look and they have a bunch of diner staples including pot roast, meatloaf and burgers. I can't wait to go back and try them all.

The kids were with us and Dylan got the chocolate chip pancakes. I snuck a bite before he drowned them in maple syrup and I've got to admit that they were awesome.

Emily opted for a bowl of clam chowder. It was the weirdest chowder I've ever seen. Not thick at all and full of veggies. That being said it was tasty and we all enjoyed it. If you are a traditionalist and need it thick and creamy then this is not for you. But, try a cup. You won't be disappointed.

So, how was the hash? While I'm more of a chopped rather then shredded guy when it comes to the corned beef, this was shredded to perfection. Plus, they cooked it right by leaving it on the griddle until a nice crunchy crust formed. The poached eggs that came with it were also perfect. It didn't beat out my favorite at Lou's in Hanover, NH but it certainly is in my top 5. I'm still trying to figure out what the mystery spice that was included. Maybe I'll have to go back a few more times to figure it out!

One final tip if you go is don't opt for the biscuits. The bread they use for toast is amazingly thick, yummy and much better then the biscuits I got. Thankfully Laura let me steal a piece of her toast!

We've already talked about going back and I can't wait for it. Awesome to have another great Diner in the area!!

The Miss Mendon Diner can be found at 16 Uxbridge Road in Mendon, MA.

Bode's Corned Beef House

Today, I had the opportunity to visit a nearby establishment that I've visited all too infrequently. Bode's Corned Beef House is an institution in Plymouth, MI. The last time I tried to visit was at 6:00 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, to partake of the traditional corned beef and cabbage of that holiday. There was one problem, however: they ran out of corned beef. It didn't help my situation, but it tipped me off that there was some damned fine corned beef at the place.

And as it's been around since 1959, they've had time to perfect their recipe. Situated right next to a set of train tracks that were serviced by the Bode Hotel, the Bode House was once a boarding house that served up craftsmen from the adjacent Daisy Manufacturing Company (yes, the same Daisy that produced the Red Ryder BB gun featured so prominently in A Christmas Story). In 1959, it was turned into a restaurant and the same couple has been running it for the last 40 years.

Inside, it's a throwback to middle America of the 1960s - formica countertops and vinyl-covered stools front the kitchen. The 50th anniversary mugs hang proudly on the wall and are taken down for each customer. And in the back room where you'll find more tables and booths, there are nature shots - hunting & fishing, mostly - as well as vintage and antique toasters to remind you of the establishment's serious commitment to breakfast. It's a busy and bustling place, with little room for patrons to wait for a table - which is a good thing, as every last bit of available real estate gives priority to diners.

Today, I had the opportunity to visit Bode's but was more successful in my efforts. Their special on the weekends is eggs & hash, so I had to partake (aside from it being one of my favorites and, quite frankly, one of the standards by which I judge diner fare). I ordered my eggs over easy and the meal came as you see pictured to the left. In short, it was perfect.

The eggs were done exactly as expected, the toast was complimented with an usual assortment of Smucker's jams at the table: in addition to the typical mixed fruit, orange marmalade, Concord grape, and strawberry, there was also apple butter, seedless blackberry and apple cinnamon. And the hash? It was no-nonsense stuff. Just corned beef and potatoes - just like I like it. It was fresh and it held together nicely. As I combined it with my eggs, it was a simple yet mouthwatering mashup.

Certainly, they do more than breakfast, but you can be sure that corned beef figures heavily in their other menu items. The corned beef sandwich is not to be missed, and Al's Caboose sandwich is a local favorite - corned beef, Swiss cheese, slaw, lettuce and tomato on rye. You can even take home corned beef by the pound, rye bread by the loaf and cole slaw by the quart. And at dinner, they're known for their fish & chips, which is also a weekend special.

Be sure to check out the menu - nothing fancy, but really, really good stuff. And if you're in the southeastern Michigan area, stop by and have a bite.

You can see the entire set of photos over on Flickr.

Keep On Truckin'

One of the joys of authentic food is that you can find it just about anywhere. Whether you're in the midst of a city and you find an old diner car wedged into the other buildings, or you're on a roadtrip and come across a drive-in on a dusty road, you're likely to find a place that does simple yet tasty food.

And while the pushcarts of New York City may get an upturn of the nose, they're a hot commodity. Of course, there are also trucks - which reminds me of a visit C.C. and I made long ago to the Hot Dog Trolley in Framingham, MA (still needs a writeup, C.C.!). Some trucks can really serve up the goods.

MSNBC took a look at some gourmet NYC food trucks. Well, I suppose "gourmet" is a relative term when juxtaposed to the push carts. ;-) My favorites: CupcakeStop, Wafels & Dinges, and the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck.

For those of you who have an entrepreneurial streak, you might want to check out a couple of examples on how to start your own food truck - one from New York Magazine, the other from the Wall Street Journal. I'm not sure which one is the decided expert on the subject.

Been to any good food trucks? Drop a comment and let us know.

Inspiration for this post: Newmark's Door

Photo credit: striatic (Flickr)

A Sandwich is Just a Sandwich...

Nothing too terribly philosophical or earth-shattering here; just a few key links on everyone's favorite lunch item: the sandwich.

From the L.A. Times: L.A.'s global sandwich offerings. Got a favorite not included here? Let us know.

The Chicago Tribune tells us that Your sandwich choices may reveal personality, compatibility

And find out where you can get the 'Greatest Sandwich in America.' Got a contender? Drop a comment.

Be Careful Out There

The thing about comfort food is, it makes you feel good when you eat it. Whether it's a warm bowl of macaroni & cheese (I'm not talking about the boxed variety here, folks) or a the meatloaf on the blue plate special, or a great burger - there's a certain feeling about sitting down and digging in. Aside from the authentic taste and even the feel of the food as you eat it, there are even emotions and memories that are dredged up from childhood experiences or home-cooked meals from long ago.

And while we're aware of the potential dangers of indulging from too much fast food (personally I believe that the issues in "Super Size Me" lay at the feet of the consumers, not the company), it can be easy to forget our health when we're enjoying some unique and down-home cooking. Especially since diners and independent restaurants aren't required to list nutritional information of their menu items.

So, today's post is a bit of a public service announcement to remind you that anything you consume should be done in moderation. Especially if you happen to visit the establishments listed in this article about the Seven Fattiest Sandwiches in the U.S. I'm horrified to discover that I've had the pastrami sandwich at the Carnegie Deli (a place that will have a future review here on the site).

Enjoy your meal. Just don't enjoy too much of it. :-)

Flickr image courtesy of: bunchofpants

Lloyd's Diner

Earlier this year, C.C. Chapman and I had breakfast at the well-hidden Lloyd's diner in Framingham, MA. Thought I'd provide an update based on my memories of the outing.

If I recall, it was late winter/early spring, on a raw morning when the rain was pelting down in the gravel parking lot. I waited in the car for a while before C.C. arrived, and I saw a variety of people entering: police officers, businessmen, bus drivers - clearly all locals. This place evidently was a hidden gem. One of the reasons I knew about it was from the Roadside Architecture site.

The booths were tight, as you'd expect from a vintage Worcester Lunch Car (this was #783, made in 1942), and the draft from the busy door being opened & closed as cold. But the coffee was hot and the butter on the toast was thickly spread, so all was good.

More than the food though, what I remember was having a great conversation with a good friend - in this case, C.C. We talked about work and family life and all of the kinds of things you'd expect two busy guys to discuss. But what stands out for me is how hard the place was to find and how worthwhile it was once I got there.

In this case, I was determined to (1) try a new place that I heard great things about; and (2) make sure I spent some time with a valued friend, whom I hadn't seen since our last diner outing some 3 months previous. While we may be connected digitally, it's the face-to-face that counts. And when it's difficult to make happen, it's this kind of commitment that differentiates an acquaintance from a friend.

I suppose this is a metaphor for life. Very seldom are the worthwhile things easy to achieve. Sure there's dumb luck sometimes, but if you don't prepare yourself to be ready, or if you don't keep persevering, you may find that your most fervent desires don't just show up on your doorstep.

So this year, make some time to do what's right, even though it may not be easy. You'll find yourself handsomely rewarded, even if it's just with a sense of satisfaction.


Photo credit: andyi

Gracie's Diner - Portsmouth, NH

Although I've blogged for over two years now, this is my virgin post on the "Nothing Could be Finer..." blog. Thanks to Mssrs. Scott Monty and CC Chapman for allowing me to jump in. As a big fan of diners, dives and greasy spoons, I'm hoping to add some value while learning a thing a two from the experts (Scott and CC).

For my first review, I'm tackling a new joint recommended to me by social media measurement guru, Katie Paine. The place of which I speak is Gracie's Diner, a new place in downtown Portsmouth, NH. I live just north of Boston so Portsmouth isn't "just down the street" but I happened to be heading up to Maine for the weekend with my family so I took the opportunity to give Gracie's a try.

I love Portsmouth (one of my favorite diners ever, Friendly Toast, is there) so I thought that it wouldn't hurt to have a back up plan for those days when the line at Friendly Toast exceeded an hour an a half -- a regular occurrence on weekends at FT. The good news is that I now have a backup plan. The bad news is that Friendly Toast is still my favorite place to eat in Portsmouth.

Here's the skinny based on my family's dining experience at Gracie's. I'm willing to give it a shot to make sure I'm providing a well-balanced portrait:

• The waitstaff was good, efficient but a little harried while we were there. We ate at Gracie's on Friday morning before Labor Day and my guess is that either a) someone didn't show up for their shift or b) they weren't expecting as many people pre-Labor Day.
• Nice atmosphere with tons of cool photos of 70's rockers like James Taylor, Tom Waits and David Bowie adorning the walls. The diner sits under the eve of the roof and has subsequently been closed in so it has somewhat of a "cottage" type feel to it.
  
• Food was tasty. Probably a 3.5 on a scale of 1-5. We got:
  
  - a cheese and mushroom omelet (me) - good portion and cooked so that it wasn't dry. the toast it came with was white (waitress didn't ask me for bread choice) and home fries were not browned but still tasted good. They were made from red bliss potatoes so they were not your traditional run of the mill. I liked my choice.
  
  - pancakes were obviously home made and were light. The portion was good (more than my wife could eat) and the syrup came in a pitcher which was also appreciated. One minor knock is that the butter came in packages on the side (we had to ask for butter).
  
  - my daughter had two fried eggs over easy w/ bacon, white toast and home fries. All were very good but the bacon was not very crispy (English style). Not a huge deal.
  
  - my son has a fruit dish which was semi-fresh fruit in plain yogurt (apparently we didn't see the "yogurt" part so that kind of spoiled it for my son. The fruit was good but not great.
  
  NOTE: one of my biggest tests of a diner/dive is the coffee (particularly how good the wait staff is about refills). In this case, the coffee was very good but I never got offered a refill. I may have to chalk this up to point no. 1 which was the fact that I think Gracie's was a little understaffed.

All in all, we had a good experience. One other minor knock (and it really is minor) is that at the end of the meal, you have to go up to the counter to pay vs. the waitress dropping the check at your table. I'm not sure why this bugged me but it just seems like it's table stakes for any good greasy spoon.

So a big "thank you" to Katie Paine for turning me onto a good new breakfast place. Like I said, I'll definitely be back!

If you want to visit:
165 Deer Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801


*Photo courtesy SHIR HABERMAN PHOTO - taken from http://seacoastonline.com