There's a neat restaurant about 3 miles from where I live. It's the Huddle House, and anyone driving anywhere in the south has seen one. There's Waffle House too, a rivalry like McDonald's vs. Burger King.
This Huddle House is clean, and since the town is small everyone knows everyone. I'm a stranger but won't be for long. They already recognize me, after having eaten there only three times.
The place is full of characters. This morning the short order cook stood in front of the griddle, order tickets fluttering above the in the air conditioning (yes we still need it), steaming plates lined up in front of her, hand on hip, other hand flipping hash browns (the shredded kind) and singing along to Shania Twain on the radio.
The District Manager came in, and the two got to talking. It's Halloween today, and around here that's a big deal. The cook noticed the Manager wore orange socks with pumpkins, and he said, "Oh yes, I have over 200 holiday socks. All kinds. A special three drawer chest to put them in. I love holiday socks." After a second he said, "I love the holidays. At Christmas, I put up 10,000 lights. My electric bill goes from $140 to about $400."
"So you really get into the spirit of it," said the cook.
"Oh, yes! Halloween is my second favorite holiday!"
"What's the first?"
"Christmas. And third is Easter."
An interesting holiday sandwich.
7 comments:
Dear Elizabeth,
I miss your presence here in the state of Maine and have tried so unsuccessfully to reach you. I finally checked your old blog and found you here in The Quiet Life. Great. I will now read all your entries. I hope you have my e-mail as I did want to keep in touch with you.
Your Old Pal from CLT
Elizabeth, at your Waffle House do they yell "GOOD MORNING" as you walk in? When Mom and I were in Pennsylvania, the first time we walked into a Waffle House they all yelled that at us and it scared us to death! After that we liked it.
Did you get any trick or treaters out there in the horse pastures? LOL.
Hi Jeanne!
Everyone is so friendly. Yes, they do say "Good morning" in a very hearty way. Do you liekt he hash browns 'smothered' or stacked and smashed'? :)
I was wondering about the trick or treaters. There are very few subdivisions, and the farms are spaced out as you can imagine with long driveways. So it turns out they go into town and trick or treat in all the stores. They came to the Huddle House, they came to the Dollar General, and they came to the library. The trio who visited the library this morning, a grandma as Nanny McPhee, Grandpa as Train Engineer, little 4 year old as Princess Isabel, were "treat or tricking". It's reverse, said Nanny McPhee, we handed out candy! Isabel gave me a homemade gingersnap with a candy corn embedded in the middle. Very gravely, too.
I like the reverse trick or treating. I didn't get any trick or treaters at all and I'm on Main Street. But Main Street isn't that walkable (yet) and everyone goes up to the high school Gray Recreation Party and over to Gray Park and Maplewood Trick or Treating. I missed going around my friend's neighborhood this year, out on Wildwood a woman does an amazing Halloween Haunted House set up. All the stuff!
I was working so I sent Alex and his friend in my stead to the Halloween Party at the High School with careful instructions to get permission to print the photo in the paper, name, age and town.
One of the people he photographed was the Assistant Rec Director, who dutifully gave his age - lol, the power of the press!
Al got some great photos, one got in.
The Rec Department does so much in town for the kids, not to forget Optimists, American Legion, Octagon Club, Lions and all the helpers! And a lot of the stuff happens at night or weekends, not so easy on their families. My kids have loved it every year.
And the pumpkin/skeleton bean bag toss game I painted about 15 years ago is still being used by Optimists. I like that.
I made biscuits and gravy for Sunday morning breakfast feast last week. Still some Ohio left in me I guess!
Okay, what is smothered and what is smashed and stacked and have you had biscuits and gravy yet?
Scattered, Smothered & Covered are Waffle House, not Huddle House standards. They are shredded hash browns, cooked with cheese, mushrooms, onions, peppers, etc.
Traditional Golden Brown
--Scattered & Smothered
--Scattered, Smothered & Covered
--Scattered, Smothered, Covered & Chunked
--Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Chunked & Topped
--Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Chunked, Topped, & Diced
--Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Chunked, Topped, Diced & Peppered
that's awesome. send photos!
MMM, now I'm hungry! I think I'll go to Huddle House for lunch...
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