 |
| The Marco Lodge still exists, but I suspect it has changed. |
It’s important to have culinary adventures when on the
road.
This is only a recent declaration for me. Previously,
boldly dining abroad meant finding a Panera Bread eatery and having a different
kind of cookie for desert. I can find Panera Bread in just about any town, even
in St. Louis, where they are disguised by calling them St. Louis Bread Co.
And I was tempted when I was in Louisville this week,
because I found one a few blocks from the hotel.
But first, you’ve no doubt guessed that this week’s bad
postcard is about a restaurant.
We’re heading to Florida for the Marco Lodge! The back
reads: MARCO LODGE Dining Room. Goodland, on Marco Island, Florida. Home cooked
foods – pies – cakes – overlooking The Island Waterways.”
It still exists today, but it’s known as The Old MarcoLodge.
I’m sure it’s fancier today. But back in the days of our
postcard, well, it’s not a good sign with the drop ceiling gets such prominent display.
But it’s the stuff on the floor that caught my eye. Note
the plant growing from the coconut? Very Florida, and very cool. There are at
least two on the floor, which means they get touched by every kid and knocked
over all the time.
But what’s over there by the register? Is that a giant
bottle of booze? Why is it on the floor? Did someone set it there while paying
the bill, then walked away? Actually, where are customers or staff?
There’s just a lot we don’t know.
Just like I didn’t know something on my plate in
Louisville. We were in town for a conference and were treated to a buffet by
our hosts. It was pretty yummy, with plenty of the things you expect at a
buffet: pasta, meatballs, cheese and veggies.
But there was something I didn’t recognize. It was a
small white meatball, covered in a white cheese sauce with a slice of a small
tomato on top. The whole thing was on a small piece of toast.
I tried to cut it with my fork, and half of the sphere
jumped from my plate to my shirt then my lap. This is why we pack multiple outfits for a
short trip.
The bite that actually made it to my mouth was good --
really good! But I couldn’t quite identify the flavor. I asked the others at
the table, all from out of state as well, and no one could figure out what this
delicacy was.
So I boldly approached the staff, inquiring about the
delicious but difficult to cut food item.
We learned some history. The Top Brown is a Louisville
treat created back in in 1926 by Fred Schmidt at The Brown Hotel.
The hotel still exists, and its website tells the story: “In the 1920's,
the Brown Hotel drew over 1,200 guests each evening for its dinner dance. By
the wee hours of the morning, guests would grow weary of dancing and make their
way to the restaurant for a bite to eat. Sensing their desire for something
more glamorous than traditional ham and eggs, Chef Fred Schmidt set out to
create something new to tempt his guests' palates. His unique dish? An
open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce. The Hot Brown
was born!”
Our version mixed the turkey with
sausage. Happily educated and ready to embrace a local tradition, most of the
table went back to sample some more, careful to use a knife to cut it instead
of just the fork.
Bad postcards of the past:
April 26, 2015: Clinton, Ind. and its immigration tribute is an instant classic!
April 19, 2015: Fort Riley, tragedy and baseball 20 years ago today
April 19, 2015: Fort Riley, tragedy and baseball 20 years ago today
April 12, 2015: The Canopy restaurant had a nice lobby
Jan. 31, 2015: Mysteries of The Beef Room and the original KFC
Jan. 24, 2015: Waffle House highlights road trip culinary adventures
Aug. 17, 2014: Insensitive Hiawatha and the Upper Peninsula bucket list
June 29, 2014: Mysteries of art and hockey in Southern California
June 15, 2014: Sweden needs a tutorial on glorious bad postcards
June 8, 2014: The secret lives of French poodles
May 18, 2014: Disgraced Fifi and talented Twiggy
May 4, 2014: Albion, Sigma Chi and fraternity shenanigans
April 20, 2014: The mystery of the disappearing Wawa goose
April 13, 2014: Newsflash -- water is wet!
April 6, 2014: Guys like to stay in risky motels
March 30, 2014: Boldly dining in forbidden food places
March 23, 2014: Plenty of parking in St. Simons Island, Ga.
March 16, 2014: 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' and Rally Day risk-taking
Feb. 23, 2014: As Sochi Olympics come to a close, we look at mysteries of Russian construction projects and Star Trek
Feb. 9, 2014: Mystery spots at Central Michigan University
Feb. 2, 2014: No one monkeys around at the music competition
Jan. 19: 2014: Life and death of Grindstone City, a one-industry town
Jan. 6, 2014: Life, death, skiing and broken snow blowers
Dec. 1, 2013: Selecting a Christmas tree and other holiday hazards.
Nov. 24, 2013: Mystery bean stalk in Muskegon
Nov. 17, 2013: Parking in California must be difficult
Oct. 27, 2013: Pistols, petticoats and mysteries at Stagecoach Stop
Oct. 6, 2013: Obstacles of Mackinac Island
Sept. 15, 2013: Maritime mayhem in Frankenmuth
Sept. 8, 2013: Elmer, Elsie and bovine hell
Aug. 31, 2013: Escanaba's band shell, awaiting Miley Cyrus, or anyone else
Aug. 25, 2013: 'Big Tex,' the rather awkward symbol of the Texas State Fair
Aug. 18, 2013: Musical fountain and other dangers of Grand Haven
Aug. 9, 2013: Frustrated deer and emergency elk in Atlanta, Mich.
Aug. 3, 2013: 'Gray Shirts' keep the band rolling
July 26, 2013: What happens in a creepy pool in Vegas....
1 comment:
St. Louis Bread Co. was the original name of Panera. When Panera went nationwide, it didn't want to use St. Louis Bread because of the local name. (Why didn't California Pizza Kitchen think of that?)
Post a Comment