Not Again....

It's been months since I've posted, and I'm sad to say this latest post is reminiscent of my last.

Another diner has closed.

I read with dismay that Al Macs, an iconic fixture of Fall River, had closed on Monday. How did I miss this? Why did I not know that this really cool place was going to shut its doors?

There's a lot of coverage in the news, as it seems that Al Macs is yet one of many in a growing list of diners closing.

http://www.roadsideonline.com/
http://dinerhotline.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/news-flash-al-macs-diner-of-fall-river-mass-closes/
http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x915676806/Al-Macs-diner-closes
http://www2.turnto10.com/business/2012/jul/24/historic-diner-serves-last-meal-ar-1114184/

So, support your local business - that diner downtown, the non-chain restaurant (although, to be fair, most chains are run by local business people and are paying sizable franchise fees) the farmer's market, the local hardware store, the drive-in. Yes, most times these places are more expensive. They are your neighbors who are trying to make a go of it.

On The Menu: Humble Pie ....

Stories have been handed down for generations as a way of capturing history. First-hand accounts of events were then recorded in print, followed by radio, movies and television as a way of sharing the news.


In our tech savvy times, we have the intranet to combine both official news stations and individual accounts or 'story' sites (such this one), putting the world at our fingertips creating an instantaneous resource for information. And, sometimes we use unknowingly use inaccurate sources as a resource ... as was the case with last Monday's blog.  


When brainstorming for last week's post, I wanted to tie in the 1982 movie, Diner, with the Academy Awards. I checked IMDb, and sure enough, it had been nominated for an Oscar in 1983 for Best Screenplay. Bingo! There was my tie-in. 


I "Googled" to find out which diner had been used for the interior movie scenes. The first search result list came back with the Bendix. I'd been to the Bendix, so I considered the topic for the week's blogs done. 


While the Bendix has had supporting roles in many commercials and a couple of movies, thanks to Larry at Diner Hotline for providing the correct info. It was actually Baltimore's Hollywood Diner. (I know for sure because I Googled it ... again!) 


The Hollywood is now run by the Crema Coffee Company. They list the Hollywood's other movie credits (Sleepless in Seattle, Enemy of the State and more) and cite the book 'Hometown Diners' as its source. It is a beautifully photographed book by Robert O'Dell that I have in my personal library.


So, note to self:

• double check sources 
• brush up on my diner traits.

After all, are a Masters diner and a Mountain View even similar?  I see a good old-fashion term paper in my future! Hmm, I wonder ... maybe there's a diner app for that??!

Blanchard's 101, Worcester No. 852

Every diner has a story.  

Blanchard's 101 Diner on Cambridge Street in Worcester is unique in that opened for business for the first time in 2008.  

Larry Cultrera's Dinerhotline had a great post about the history.

Basically, in 1961 the diner was on the production floor when all of the Worcester Lunch Car Company's assets were sold at auction. The new owners hoped to continue in the diner business, but things didn't work out as planned. 

Amazingly, the frame of this 'last' Worcester diner remained enough intact for someone to realize its historic value and built a diner around it, creating Blanchard's 101.

So, are Worcester Diners my favorite style?

Yes ... until I see a shiny Fodero, a 'space age' DeRaffele, a cozy Valentine or have lunch in a Sterling Streamliner or .... 

What's great about the Worcester diners is that they were able to adapt over the years, updating their style to include monitor roofs, a more streamlined appearance and as a result, were in business for over half of a century.

Pretty cool. 

Road Trip
L-R: Kim Smith, Paula Walsh, Richard Gutman
Denise Bass, Larry Cultrera
Blanchard's, 2009

Worcester Wednesday





95 Prescott Street

Worcester No. 660

Night Photo by Denise JR Bass
155 Shrewsbury Street
Worcester No. 730





A Week of Worcesters

There are some things that are quintessentially New England ... a spired church, the brilliant colors of Fall, the ocean, a covered bridge ... a Worcester Diner.

The Worcester Lunch Car Company may have been founded in 1906 by Philip Duprey, but it is carpenter Charlie Gemme's name that is tied to the Worcester Diner.

Between 1907 and1961, the company built over six hundred and fifty diners.  Over the years, the style of the diners changed with the times ... from  a barrel roof, beautiful woodwork to a more streamlined, modern look. Worcester diners are always numbered and in many cases, a Worcester had porcelain enamel panels on the outside which featured the diner's name, often starting with "Miss" ... an early marketing ploy to attract women to the diners? Hmmm.

Miss Worcester Diner in the early 1990s
photo by Paula J. Walsh

In a 'Week of Worcesters' it seems obvious to start with the Miss Worcester Diner, Worcester, MA.  No. 812, the diner didn't have far to go.  It rolled off the production line in 1948 and went right across the street.

Still located at 300 Southbridge Street, the Miss Worcester is owned by Kim Kniskern.

Phone: (508) 753-5600

Two People Who Have Probably Never Been In A Diner....

.......England's Prince William and his fiancee, Kate.

Obviously, I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing they haven't made a late night trip to Fat Boys Diner, the 1953 Worcester diner located at Trinity Buoy Wharf.

Perhaps they've 'popped round' to an Ed's Easy Diner. While technically not a diner, the restaurant chain has been a fixture in the city close to 25 years. I was at the one in Covent Garden in 1989, before diners ... or Ed!


England certainly has it fair share of American style restaurants ... and a fascination with Americana that dates back to Elvis.

So, if the upcoming Royal Wedding wasn't enough of a reason to make the trip, add checking out Starvin Marvins,  a 1997 DinerMite diner in Greenford and the Riverview Diner,  a 1940s O'Mahoney in Kent to your itinerary.

Exercise, eating right ...

Today's the day when most people put their resolutions to the test and head back to work.

If exercising more and eating better weren't on your resolution list, the barrage of commercials from gyms and weight loss systems over the weekend most likely have you thinking twice.

And the first thing your probably thinking is ... a diner, no way can I eat there.  Well, no, not every day - but most likely you weren't going every day to begin with.I'm sure whatever diner you stop at will make an egg white veggie omelet.

I'm also pretty sure if you get a short stack of pancakes instead of the regular order, and choose either butter or syrup, you'll still leave full and have had a tasty breakfast.

And let's hope whatever diner you go to is busy ... so you're taking parking spot farthest away from the door, and adding a few extra steps on that pedometer!

2011 New Year Resolution ... Eat in more diners.

Tonight,we're ringing in the New Year in .... comfort....at home with good friends and a Family Game Night!  On the menus:

Food:  family fav - Nana's Italian Cookies (always lead with dessert) and Denise's Eclairs, Eveready Diner's Mac 'n Cheese and trying out MoGridder's Dry Rub on ribs.

Games: Left-Right-Center, Texas Hold 'Em, Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It,  Funglish, Scribblish or and Catchphrase (I'm a Hasbro girl, after all!)

Style: Slippers or cozy socks, pajama's or stretchy pants for all that food. Of course, no comfy New Year's is complete with out paper tiaras and glasses to view 2011 in style.

Drinks: In addition to the bubbly and beer, we're trying out Hot Buttered Rum and Winter White Sangria.

Need a resolution that you can keep? Support your local community - visit a diner, farmer's market, hardware store or library. (Mine is to do all that ... and blog about it!)

Happy and healthy New Year wishes to everyone.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Savannah, GA 2009

 



Is It A Diner - Nantucket, Massachusetts?

On the heels of Friday's post, I have a question .... does anyone know if this building is a diner or a dining car?

We were in Nantucket for the weekend for their Christmas Stroll. The Island has hosted it for the past 37 years, but this was my first 'Stroll'. Lots of fun!

The Coast Guard helps Santa out by giving him a ride to the Island on one of their boats. (Evidently reindeers can't swim.)

The restaurant was closed for the winter, so I guess I'll have to head back for Daffy Days in April. A weekend dedicated to yellow. Anyone interested?

Bruce Springsteen ...

(Apologies, I'm not sure who took
 this photo. Sadly, it wasn't me!)

Before you raise an eyebrow, this really is a diner post!

 

Without gushing too much, Bruce Springsteen is one of my all time fav musicians.



I was researching an idea for a post when I came across this black & white photo of Springsteen.  It reminded me roadside landmarks often show up in his videos.

Image taken from The Roadside Diner
website

Most recently, the music video for "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" was partially filmed in The Roadside Diner, Wall, NJ. The Roadside was manufactured by the Silk City company in either the 40s or the 50s. Does anyone know for sure?

Either way, it looks to be a "must stop at" the next time you're in Jersey.

Eveready's Mac 'n Cheese

There's no way around it a diner must have good food at a good value.  Although I do love a good neon sign or a nice porcelain exterior ... and a friendly waitress will help compensate for a not so "over easy" egg ...  but, back to the food.  There are a lot of diners serving up yummy, trendy and in some cases even gourmet food. 

I recently made the Eveready Diner’s Three Cheese Mac and Cheese. Built in 1995 by Paramount (currently known as Modular Concepts, Inc.) the Eveready is a "newer" diner located in New York's Hudson Valley.

1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water

1 pound elbow macaroni

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

6 tablespoons flour

3 cups cold milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 pound white cheddar cheese – shredded

4 ounces Romano cheese – shredded

4 ounces Asiago cheese – shredded

1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper (suggest cutting that in half)

2 cups panko

2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish

1)       Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

2)       Bring a large pot of water to a boil to for the macaroni. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.

3)       Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and cook, whisking to make a paste/roux about 2 minutes. Add the milk and whisk vigorously until smooth. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce is thick and bubbly. Add a heavy cream, all three cheeses, the 1 tablespoon salt, and the pepper. Cook, stirring, until the cheeses are fully melted.

4)       Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix thoroughly. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish and to with the panko crumbs. Bake until hot and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Top with the fresh parsley.

4 to 6 servings (Yeah, right – try 8! This is a hearty dish.) This recipe can be found in the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives cookbook.

Wordless Wednesday



Eveready Diner, Hyde Park, NY, 1997
Denise and I .. and  "Ed" at the diner!
More about the Eveready on Friday.