A rainy day in Oklahoma
Your restaurant critic, always on the alert for new places to tell you about, had lunch in the Vega, Tex. (pop.: 936) Dairy Queen yesterday.
We had foolishly passed up two Stuckey's and a Subway, and it was getting onto 3 p.m.
I don't eat in a lot of DQs (I thought they still only sold ice cream) so I wasn't prepared for the Hungr Buster [note to editor: do not insert an e here], which was the smallest burger choice.
Is it only because we were in Texas that...
...it was the size of a salad plate? Anyway, normally this baby is $2.39; but Wednesday in Vega is 99 cent burger day! The place was packed. Our total check was $3.60.
Yesterday was also a three-state day, and when we hit Oklahoma it started to rain. Unfortunately my daughter, a reluctant meat eater at best, spent the rest of her afternoon seeing her lunch gamboling on the lush green fields. She had a vegetable platter at the Texas Roadhouse (I wonder why they don't call it the Oklahoma Roadhouse) outside of Oklahoma City last night.
The road trip has taken a startling turn. I was wrong about what it was going to be like. This is the first day I'm able to walk, and my daughter still hasn't shaken her cold, so we're happiest just getting the miles under our belts and then falling into bed at night. I think we may cut out a couple of hundred miles today by heading to St. Louis, Mo., rather than continuing on to Tennessee. We're having more fun than I thought we would, but also we want to be home.
I brought all the wrong things, which is saying something considering I brought almost nothing. I haven't opened a book, don't need the headphones, never consider playing the DVD. The black pants that roll up in a ball and ballet slippers for one nice dinner at a good restaurant are untouched: If it involves getting back in the car, even for the most fabulous meal in the universe, we aren't interested after the all-day drive.
However, Hal, we are doing the Spanish tapes every day.
Sign on entering Texas: Drive Friendly -- the Texas Way
Gailor: Drive Slowly and Shoot People -- the California Way
Comments
Missouri, Tennessee - somewhere in the Midwest (not!!!). If I had been your designated driver, you gals would have been in Bmore by now.
I love DQ burgers - they are flame broiled, aren't they?
Big Ace - ballet slippers???
I misspoke. Ballet flats. Very trendy. EL
Posted by: Piano Rob | April 3, 2008 9:14 AM
I am shocked and dismayed that you passed up that All-American icon: Stuckey's!
Are you a Communist or something?
Posted by: Susan | April 3, 2008 11:01 AM
I know you didn't have time to explore, but am I the only one wondering about historic sites/sights (take your choice) in a Texas town named Vega, with a population of 936? The town traffic light? Shooting location wouldn't qualify, its Texas. Oh, maybe its the house of the one person who owns and READS books (its Texas.)
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | April 3, 2008 11:14 AM
I am looking for a place that my family (6 of us total) can go for a birthday celebration on this saturday evening. We are looking for something semi-casual. Reasonably priced, good food and cocktails for six adults. We're thinking of the downtown area, federal hill or canton, but open to other suggestions. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Posted by: MCG | April 3, 2008 11:52 AM
Now, be nice, RtSO. I know someone who actually writes books in Texas.
Posted by: Rosebud | April 3, 2008 12:18 PM
We stayed in the most forlorn little place in OK, called Clinton. It was off the original Route 66 and had the most bizarre architecture I've ever seen. Quite hideous. They did have a domino parlour, which we were tempted by, but passed up in the end.
Safe driving!
Posted by: Fairfax | April 3, 2008 1:34 PM
MCG:
Regi's on 1000 block Light Street or Junior's on 1100 block South Charles. Reservation advisable.
Posted by: Federal Hill Jim | April 3, 2008 1:52 PM
MCG, You might consider Meli, good prices, or John Steven in Fells Point; Sobo Cafe (wine & beer only), Junior's, or The Wine Market in Federal Hill; and Helen's Garden, Jack's Bistro or Saute in Canton.
Posted by: Dave | April 3, 2008 2:10 PM
Are they science fiction books??
Actually, yes. EL
Posted by: Dave the wave | April 3, 2008 3:47 PM
Drive 20 mph either above or below the speed limit and never use a turn signal -- the Maryland Way.
I have heard from various sources that Texas' reputation for ridiculously oversized portions is not exaggerated. There was an interesting documentary on the Trio channel (DirecTV stopped carrying this - does anyone in cableland get it?) a few years back on the subject. They followed a gentleman decked out in a Stetson and cowboy boots to a family-style restaurant. He ordered some sort of special, I think involving barbecue, that when delivered took up the entire surface area of the booth that he alone occupied. He ate it all, if I recall correctly.
Do try to squeeze in a vegetable or two - we don't want you waylaid with the gout!
Posted by: Dr. Erlenmeyer Cantaloupe | April 3, 2008 4:20 PM
Rosebud: what, all the pictures are already coloured?
(Seriously, other than Idi Amin's Uganda, I can't think of a place to live worse than Texas.)
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | April 3, 2008 5:02 PM
Texas....It's like a whole nother country.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | April 3, 2008 10:59 PM
Many members of my family originally hailed from Texas, Fortunately for me, they had the good sense to leave!
Posted by: Dahlink | April 4, 2008 6:37 AM
My brother lives in Oklahoma so I've been out there probably a dozen or more times over the years. There are several great BBQ places near where he lives, including Bad Brad's, Dugan's and Head Country (the latter two located in the same town). Head Country also makes a fantastic array of BBQ sauces and an all-purpose seasoning rub that I order by the industrial-sized container.
Posted by: Dan Taylor | April 4, 2008 7:04 AM
You guys really need to be nice. The Texas writer I was speaking of is Rick Riordan. His Tres Navarre series has the fell for San Antonio that Laura Lippman's books have for Baltimore.
My grandchildren also love his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series for kids of about middle school age. The series is really good with the added benefit that a lot of kids who read the series develop an interest in mythology.
I've known Rick's mother for somewhere between 15 and 20 years as members of a very early listserv email group. I think it was set up around 1990 and is still going strong.
Posted by: Rosebud | April 4, 2008 7:28 AM
Right on Big Ace! I love sci-fi books but don't blame you for not opening one on the trip - reading in the car gives me headaches so i rarely do it. If you're still in the bread basket (of the US, not the Texas Roadhouse) keep an eye out for strange lights in the sky
Posted by: Dave the wave | April 4, 2008 9:49 AM
All my ex's live in Texas...
Posted by: Rosebud | April 4, 2008 12:59 PM
All my ex's live in Texas...
Rosebud, were you quoting a song lyric there or telling the absolute truth? If the latter, here's where we part ways--I don't have any ex's (unless you count old boyfriends ...)
Posted by: Dahlink | April 4, 2008 6:25 PM
I'm from Oklahoma City. PLEASE don't judge us by Texas Roadhouse. I hate that restaurant!
Posted by: BPD in OKC | April 4, 2008 11:09 PM
Dang, I'm glad I wasn't on comment duty when my home state was taking all these hits!
Posted by: sarahkk | April 6, 2008 1:17 PM
Just quoting the song, Dahlink.
Posted by: Rosebud | April 7, 2008 7:44 AM