stevez wrote:

Bruce wrote:I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas .

Isn't Lawrence KS the home of Cozy Inn? I have a friend in Kansas City that never tires of telling me how good the burgers are there. He even has a Cozy Inn decal on his tool box.

I haven't lived in Lawrence for 38 years and have only been back 4-5x since then. A lot has changed over the years.

David Hammond wrote:My Neapolitan grandfather always took us out to eat, and a favorite place of his, and the first restaurant I ever remember going to, was Petticone's. This old school Italian joint, allegedly torched in the early sixties, had this kid-pleasing apres dinner grande finale: a cart that came around, filled with pastries and anise candy and strange little seed pods (tamarind? seems unlikely for an Italian place) -- and you could eat all you wanted.

I think you're talking about Pedicone's, formerly at 7729 W 43rd St (Route 66) in Lyons. Here's a postcardthat might jog your memory. And here's a mention of the arson in the early 1960s.

The pods you mention sound likecarob, also known as St John's bread. Among my earliest food memories is going to an Italian deli after church and being allowed to buy all sorts of great things. For some reason carob pods and tiny pickled eggplants stand out in my mind.

Cozy Inn is in Salina, an hour or so away to the SW (he says without doublechecking on a map). Allegedly invented the hamburger that was ripped off by White Castle to eternal profit; the only problem with that story is that White Castle predates Cozy Inn by a year.

Mike G wrote:Cozy Inn is in Salina, an hour or so away to the SW (he says without doublechecking on a map). .

Salina is about 2 hours west of Lawrence (via checking a map ) via I-70.

Carol: my Thanksgiving career began at 13 or 14 with the reasons stated here.

AnnieB: your childhood tracing your Father's travels across the globe has parallels with my youth. My Dad would return from Europe and we already knew when he was returning.

I lived in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. from 65-69 and clearly remember going to Hot Shoppe. I didn't know there was a Marriott connection.

Cathy2: Loved the story! Yes, it's all about control :). I soon realized I no longer had to cook anything I didn't like, or I learned to cook it the way I liked it. Mom didn't care as long as she wasn't cooking. It was great.

C2-

Hot Shoppe was where the Marriott family began their fortune, before anyone knew their name.

I remember another really funny story. I already mentioned my first one earlier, but this one still haunts me to this day.

My grandparents lived on Clark St. just south of Ridge. At the time there was a restaurant there called Town & Country. The last time I was in the area it was still a Carson's, but I don't know if it still is. Anyway it was way too expensive a place for my family to ever consider going to, except for one night.

That night was a special occasion. My grandfarther's brother was coming in from out of town. Compared to us, he was supposedly rich. I happened to be visiting there the night he showed up and took us to the T&C. It was he and his wife, my grandparents and myself.

So what does a typical 7 year old order in the fanciest restaurant he's ever been to in his life? Yep, a hamburger. My mother was so mad at me. She said I embarassed the whole family. I don't know if I did or I didn't. But I sure wish I knew about lobster back then

midas wrote:I remember another really funny story. I already mentioned my first one earlier, but this one still haunts me to this day.

My grandparents lived on Clark St. just south of Ridge. At the time there was a restaurant there called Town & Country. The last time I was in the area it was still a Carson's, but I don't know if it still is. Anyway it was way too expensive a place for my family to ever consider going to, except for one night.

That night was a special occasion. My grandfarther's brother was coming in from out of town. Compared to us, he was supposedly rich. I happened to be visiting there the night he showed up and took us to the T&C. It was he and his wife, my grandparents and myself.

So what does a typical 7 year old order in the fanciest restaurant he's ever been to in his life? Yep, a hamburger. My mother was so mad at me. She said I embarassed the whole family. I don't know if I did or I didn't. But I sure wish I knew about lobster back then

Funny, I remember T&C (very well) as more of a glorified Greek coffee shop type place rather than fine dining. I guess it all depends on your point of reference. That was the place I mentiond once before as having the best Monte Cristo sandwich I ever had. I don't think a burger order was out of place at all. In fact, as a kid, my usual order when going to T&C with my parents was a francheezie. Still, if you're not used to going there, the white table cloths might have been intimidating. (did they even have lobster on the menu?)

Well I don't know if they have lobster, but I do know they had steaks, lots of steaks. All I remember is how excited my grandfather was that he was going to be able to go there. He lived within walking distance of the place for 20 years and never was there. So I thought it was a pretty special place.

midas wrote:Well I don't know if they have lobster, but I do know they had steaks, lots of steaks. All I remember is how excited my grandfather was that he was going to be able to go there. He lived within walking distance of the place for 20 years and never was there. So I thought it was a pretty special place.

It was a special place to you at that time and place. I didn't mean to minimize the experience.

Oh don't feel bad Steve, I didn't take any offense by it at all. Besides, I remember it being special for them, not for me.

The earliest restaurant visit I remember is going to The Arc in Glenview, must have been around 1960. Our family went there often. Two things I remember best: the focal point of the dining room was a huge bare tree covered with Christmas lights, colors changed seasonally. And my other memory is of having the stiff white cloth napkin placed around my neck, held by a chain whose ends were little silver clips shaped like rabbits. And to end the meal, my mother would dunk the napkin in her leftover ice water and wash my face. BRRRR!

I think we always ordered steak, but I liked the relish tray the best, plus I begged for the olives from my parents' martinis.

Does anyone else remember The Ark? I wish I had a picture of it.

early dining memories also at pekin house on Devon avenue. waiting for a table sitting on the naugehyde bench on a sunday night. I was the youngest of three kids--refusing to eat such unusual food--my mother always eating shrimp and lobster sauce. For years the older chinese gentlemen waiters (I can still see their faces perfectly) served me deep fried chicken and french fries. After much cajoling I first tried egg foo yong and soon became addicted to their egg rolls (did they ever really put peanut butter in them?). years later got a speeding ticket after picking up some egg rolls and trying to get them back to my apartment in lakeview before they were cold. It is dificult to relive the memories or the food from so many years ago. Somehow not as tasty. Then there was Miller's on western near lunt where I first had creamy garlic dressing--I'm going to take a nap now and maybe dream about Elliots Pine Log restaurant.

rldeitch wrote:... and soon became addicted to their egg rolls (did they ever really put peanut butter in them?)

About 20 years ago I took a cooking class at a chinese grocery at howard and california (is it still there?) and the next session afterward was to be "American Chinese" including egg rolls with peanut butter, sweet and sour chicken and at least one other dish. (The lesson I took was hot and sour soup and mu shu pork -- easy dishes with big ingredient lists)

I miss peanut-flavored egg rolls, nobody seems to do them anymore.

JoelF wrote:

rldeitch wrote:... and soon became addicted to their egg rolls (did they ever really put peanut butter in them?)

About 20 years ago I took a cooking class at a chinese grocery at howard and california (is it still there?) and the next session afterward was to be "American Chinese" including egg rolls with peanut butter, sweet and sour chicken and at least one other dish. (The lesson I took was hot and sour soup and mu shu pork -- easy dishes with big ingredient lists)

I miss peanut-flavored egg rolls, nobody seems to do them anymore.

Pekikn House is still open on Devon serving their traditional peanut butter and grease flavored egg rolls. They are a guilty pleasure of mine every once in a while.

The owners retired. After trying to sell the business and real estate for at least a year, they sold to a condo builder. The store and school closed at least a couple of years ago.

My first memorable dining experience was when I was about seven or eight. I was with my mother and father and friends of theirs. The restaurant, Tally-Ho, was far west of the city on North Avenue and had white table cloths, ornate chairs, and heavy water goblets. I remember they served Ye Olde Tavern cheese spread with crackers. And I had my first lobster tail, which I had on each subsequent visit to Tally-Ho.

Throughout my childhood, my family always went to "American" restaurants, and it wasn't until I was away at college in Cincinnati that I went to my first "ethnic" restaurant -- a mom and pop Italian, where the patrons heard the mom and pop yelling at each other in the kitchen and often in the dining room.

It was my father who introduced me to fine dining. He and an associate were passing through Cincinnati on business and treated me, the college sophomore, to dinner at the Gourmet Room, a French restauratnt atop a downtown hotel. At the time, it was the most elegant and celebrated restaurant in Cincinnati. The room was small, beautifully appointed, glass walls with great city views, and one expanse of wall holding a brilliant Miro mural. That was many, many decades ago and I still remember the sensuality of the food, the perfection of the service, the awakening of my interest in dining as something more than just eating.

Rene G wrote:I think you're talking about Pedicone's, formerly at 7729 W 43rd St (Route 66) in Lyons. Here's a postcardthat might jog your memory. And here'sa mention of the arson in the early 1960s.

ReneG, thanks for locating this place and correcting my spelling of it (as I mentioned, the last time I went was probably when I was five or six, before I could read very well).

My cousins and I have reminisced about this place often; they will be thrilled to have a visual reference.

Hammond

Does anyone remember a mid 1960's "French" restaurant in Chicago called Jacques' or Chez Jacques? I remember having a ladies' lunch there in a garden-room setting: artichoke hearts stuffed with crabmeat.
Seems like they had a sherry-shallot flavor in the crabmeat. I felt very grown up sitting there ordering what my mother and aunt had ordered, and very superior to my younger cousin with her Chicken a la King on mashed potatoes. Funny, but I don't remember the dessert, but then WASP-y ladies never ate dessert at lunch. . .

Hi,

I remember eating at the Deerpath Inn in Lake Forest a divine sherry flavored crab meat au gratin. I was maybe 10 and remember like it was yesterday.

Funny, but I don't remember the dessert, but then WASP-y ladies never ate dessert at lunch. . .

Culinary Historians once had a guest speaker whose family owned a tea room in Atlanta. The women may not drink, however they loved their brandy flavored whipped creams and cakes; which were of a rather high alcohol content. They were sometimes tipsy from this indirect method of imbibing.

Drunk on brandy flavored whipping cream? My Oma recalled how the neighbor's young daughter got quietly drunk at my Great Aunt's wedding. The whipping cream was laced with liquor, which the child ate a very substantial portion. Nobody thought anything of it until they discovered she was tipsy. I know nothing more about that wedding than that story.

Jacques was part of the Edison Dick and Ray Castro group of mostly "French" restaurants. The quotation marks are used advisedly as these two dressed up basically meat and potatoes restaurants with French overtones: style over substance. Service was consistently good. This restaurant group was a big part of the reason Chicago had a poor reputation for French food. There were some good country French restaurants back then. L'Escargot (where Erwin is now) and L'Auberge on Clark Street come to mind.

Jacques was at 900 North Michigan in what was then a beautiful, charming old building in contrast to the behemoth on the site now.

I am told by my mother that she and her aunt took me to the Red Lion Inn in Great Barrington, MA as a 2 year old and I had to be forcibly removed. I have no memory of this event, but I am trying to keep this in mind as my son gets closer to that fateful age. The first nice restaurant I spent a lot of time in was the place I lived across the street from as a grade schooler, Miss Crabtree's. The owner, Yanni, was from Greece, although the menu was more of a broad Mediterranean survey, the kind of place that was rather hip in the late 80s. My food memories of the place are limited to the sesame breaded chicken appetizer that my sister and I would share every time we went. Also the saganaki, which, as a ten year old pyromaniac was my idea of brilliant presentation. The saltiness of cheese was an added bonus. We would have dinner there every Thursday, and my sister and I would leave my parents with their dessert and coffee so we could rush home to catch the Simpsons, our favorite show. My parents would chide us for living our lives around the TV schedule, a valid criticism. Only recently have my parents been able to admit that the Simpsons was a cut above the rest of the junk on TV and that it was not totally unreasonable for us to run home to watch it. This was a time before ubiquitous Simpsons reruns (because here at Fox, we got nothing else.)

"California Twinburgers" on Stony Island in the 50s. I was stunned by the application of Russan or Thousand Isalnd Dressing, if I recall correctly. I loved it.

Okay, it's fast food, but it confounded my uneducated palate.

AlanHenry wrote:"California Twinburgers" on Stony Island in the 50s.

Sounds like you're talking about Richard's (later Art's) Drive In on Stony Island just north of 87th. Richard's was known for the California Twinburger, similar to (but earlier than) a Big Mac.

Rene G: 87th sounds about right. On th W side o' Stony Island, standing on its own mini-block?

My parents were the last of a generation. They came along in the late 40s and early 50s and graduated college in the late 50s. They clearly exhibited an old school mentality regarding many things as opposed to their counterparts who would attend colleges in the 60s.

One of my parents' rules that they observed without ceasing was that children were meant to be seen rather than heard. What that meant from the point of view of scoialization is that you didn't really take your children out into a public place such as nice restaurant or airplane until they knew how to act (a position that I have developed a great affinity for during my fifth consecutive hour of parentally indifferent seat kicking on a trans continental airline flight or second hour of thre year old temper tantrums during a dinner at a nice place).

For myself and my siblings, the point of our first introduction to society outside of the fast food and neighborhood playground society that we knew so well, was a much anticipated trip to join the tail end of my father's business trip to Los Angeles which would include a trip to Disneyland, then a drive up the coast to San Francisco. I was 8, my sister 10 and my brother 12 (my parents were so orderly).

One night in San Francisco, my father announced that we were going to have a Chinese banquet for dinner at Johnny Kan's, the San francisco Dim Sum institution which, in 1974, was probably considered one of the better Chinese restaurants in San Francisco.

Dad probably didn't understand at the time that dim sum was served at lunch time. So, we were the only people inn the dining room for dinner that night. What we were served was different than the sweet and sour pork type Chinese that I grew up eating as a boy in Georgia and South Carolina.

Instead of the dim sum feast that may father anticipated, we were served such delicacies bits of chicken marinated in soy sauce and baked in rice paper, steamed buns, and green tea ice cream for dessert. It wasn't bad at all and it made my dad very proud to be able introduce his family to such exotic and authentic cuisine as "real chin-es" as he would call it.

Thereafter, when finishing a meal in any Chinese American restaurant in the small town where he lived, my dad always made the point of calling over the owner to tell him "that's the finest Chinese meal I have eaten since Johnny Kan's." The owner always smiled and nodded his head somewhat embarrassed that he had no idea what dad was talking about. As far as dad was concerned, emulating Johnny Kan's was the model by which any "enterprsing chinaman" (dad's term) would base his own success on.

30 years later, I sought out Johnny Kan's for lunch during a reflective moment on a trip to San Francisco. The room was still as garishly ornate as it had been in the 70s and the dim sum wasn't at all bad.

In 1974, Johnny Kan's was as fine or exotic as restaurants got for a kid who thought KFC was the place that one went for a special meal.

Will,

My father heard of Kan's from a well traveled friend and Kan's was our family's special evening of the trip, and a special evening it was. As a teen from Milwaukee I was simply blown away by the sights, sounds, people of San Francisco's Chinatown, not to mention our dinner at Kan's.

I still have amazingly fond memories of Kan's and manage to walk past pretty much every time I'm in SF's Chinatown. Ellen and I were there, SF Chinatown, last month and I snapped a few pictures.




Thanks for jogging the pleasant memory.

Enjoy,
Gary

Thanks for the pictures, Gary. I always wonder how folks learned about places like Kan's before Al Gore invented the internet.

One of the earliest memories was of a place in Evanston, now occupied by the Davis St. Fish Market called the Dominion Room, it was a nice family restaurant that my family seemed to frequent about twice a month. I recall awsome pan fried chicken. They also served appetizers like sherbert in fruit juice and sherbert "intermezzos". They were big on plate dinners with several courses and gravy on everything. Alfie the manager, and Tarragon dressing, which was probably available at retail up until ten years ago.

Also, there was a place on Greenbay Road called Mary's Cupboard, just suth of Winnetka Blvd. They did a great broiled chicken with a weird bbq sauce that my whole family loved. I can still remember that sauce today. I think that placed ceased to exist around 1970.

There was also that really cool ice cream place across from the present day Plaza Del Lago. . . . "No Man's Land" maybe, I'm not sure. I mostly recall blackberry icecream.