Chow Time: Southern Kitchen Restaurant

Southern Kitchen Restaurant in New Market, VA is a veritable time capsule.  If one was so inclined, one could quickly dispose of the few and easily-removed modern adornments, making patrons feel like they have been transported to 1958, the year that Southern Kitchen first opened its doors.

We were led to Southern Kitchen by our good pal, Mod Betty at Retro Roadmap.  It was her review, and Southern Kitchen's location (directly en route to Washington, D.C.), that made it a must-see destination on our adventure.  From the stacked-stone exterior with its angled picture windows and gloriously-aged neon signage to the hearty portions and exceptional service, Southern Kitchen definitely gets the wacky tacky seal of approval!

I don't know what "ABC-ON-OFF" means, but there was plenty of on site parking.

I think if I had to choose a fraternal order to join,
it would definitely be the Knights of Pythias.
It's a funny name...and who doesn't want to be knight?!

Lately, I've had to reexamine what wacky tacky actually means.  Is it enough that a place is just "old?"  Is it enough just to have a cool, neon sign?  Is it enough to just have an unusual menu item?  Walking into Southern Kitchen I wasn't sure if one of these things was enough to qualify for wacky tacky status...but three out of three ain't bad!  More than just the age, the sign, and the menu, it is the spirit with which Southern Kitchen maintains its spotless dining rooms and serves its soulful menu that makes it a mandatory stop on the wacky tacky highway.

The formica front counter
Don't you love the display case of candies and the plant nook?

The beautiful, counter seating was a very tempting option
 especially with the two-tone, banded formica!

Y'all can keep your chrome dinette sets!  I would be more than happy to
take off with these bent wood, upholstered chairs with nailhead trim!

YES!

A trio of materials to love

Neatly tucked into our turquoise booth, I was taken with how pristine the entire restaurant looked.  The chrome was shiny, the furniture polished, and the formica was spic-and-span.  Even the faux foliage (faux-liage?) in the planters was dusted and well-chosen.  It is obvious that the folks in charge put a lot of love into their restaurant.  I could wax poetic over the well-waxed linoleum for days but we were there with a real purpose - to EAT!

It was high time to explore the menu.
My sister likes to maintain a certain level of ordering privacy.

Don't look at me like that!
Venison is NOT on the menu!!!
Taxidermy always seals the deal for Mr. Tiny.

One of Southern Kitchen's signature dishes is their "Peanut Soup," of which
our server was kind enough to bring us some samples.  More than the
soup, I wanted those dishes!

The soup, a Thai-like combination of peanut butter,
onions, and milk, was tasty but the sample was plenty.

Based on our charming server's recommendations, we made our selections and waited.  I used the opportunity to take some pictures.  Springing up from the table every few moments when I noticed something else that was in need of photo documentation, I got the feeling that the staff probably thought I was insane.  They were far too polite, however, to make comment.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich with Potato Wedges
I wanted to keep the plastic sword that speared pickles to bun!

The Open-Faced Pot Roast Sandwich

Southern Kitchen's famous Fried Chicken
I was assured that the taste was far superior to the presentation!!!

For all of its 55 years of service, Southern Kitchen seems to have aged not a single day.  In Southern California it is a regular sight to see a 55-year-old fighting to combat age by any means and at any cost.  With Southern Kitchen, its youthfulness is refreshingly effortless.  I'm thinking that the fountain of youth just might be fried chicken!!!

Thanks Mod Betty for sending us in the right direction!  If ever I am in the area again, I will absolutely make my way back to Southern Kitchen.

Southern Kitchen Restaurant
9576 S Congress St
New Market, VA
(540)740-3514


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Chili John's

I have always dreamed about owning my own cafe.  I will freely admit that it has as much to do with The Whistle Stop Cafe of Fried Green Tomatoes fame as it does with the joy I find in preparing simple, tasty food.  I would LOVE to do some old-fashioned cooking for a manageable crowd in an old-fashioned setting.  For not really being an outgoing, people-person type, I really enjoy interacting with folks on a level that is afforded by a more intimately-scaled establishment.  Much like the best kind of grandmother, I truly love feeding people.  Fortunately there are still places that show me that my dreams are more than just the stuff of literary and movie land magic.  Chili John's in Burbank, CA is proof that a little bowl of heaven can still be had - even in Los Angeles. 

"As you like it"

The original Chili John's is in Greenbay, WI and has been serving
 hungry chili-philes at various locations for over 100 years!

The menu at Chili John's is small and at first glance, it seems like the options may be limited.  Tut, tut, given all of the possible combinations, variety abounds.  There are three kinds of chili - veggie, beef (spicy or mild), and chicken;  because we were newbies, they allowed us a sample of each kind.  Each tasty in its own right, I preferred the chicken.  Your choice of chili can be served over pink beans, spaghetti, rice, a tamale, a hot dog, or unadorned on a pillowy bun.  In fact, the menu boasts three different sandwich options but upon closer inspection, they are all exactly the same thing (chili on a bun) with the exception being the sandwich that offers additional "bean juice."  Mmmmmmm...bean juice.

Crackers, onions, peppers, and hot sauce are available to every diner

Chicken chili over beans and spaghetti with onions and oyster crackers.
DID YOU KNOW that John "Chili John" Issac, the Lithuanian immigrant behind the chili,
 was also integral in creating the oyster cracker?  Working with an executive at Nabisco,
he developed a spoon-size cracker to eat with his chili!  Since then, a carafe of oyster
 crackers has stood at the ready for every Chili John's diner.

Mary's monster mess!
Veggie chili with rice, cheese, and sour cream.
Be warned, Mary liked the veggie chili but she wasn't too fond of the rice;
it was filled with fennel seeds.  Sensing her dislike, they promptly
replaced the rice with beans and a chili refill!

Only twenty four seats in the whole place,
all of them stools around a horseshoe counter.

Chili John's is famous for it's pie too.
They have two kinds - lemon and pineapple; both are pudding-like with a graham
 cracker crumb base and whipped-cream topping.  Because I am supremely intolerant
of lactose (among other things), they brought Mary a mini slice for free!!! 

In the corner, they had a cool, succulent terrarium on a cracked ice dinette table.
Did they know we were coming?!!!

Perhaps this was the most poorly timed post considering all of the recent Thanksgiving indulging, but I think enough time has passed to where the leftovers are gone and you're ready to start thinking about food again.  Plus, they don't have turkey chili at Chili John's, so I figured it was safe.  If you're ever in the Burbank area, stop by for some chili "as you like it," or take some home!

Chili John's of California

2018 W Burbank Blvd

Burbank, CA

(818)846-3611

www.chilijohnsca.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

p.s. Don't forget to enter our AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!

Chow Time: Circus Do-Nuts

If you saw our recent post, Get Your FREAK On: Just Your Average Family Freak Show, you'll know that we are method party-givers.  We trained at The Party-Givers' Studio and we are dedicated to doing thorough research to hone our technique.  When it's party time, we live it, we breathe it, and we NEVER break character!  It was only obvious, necessary even, that we search out local haunts that would get us into a circus "headspace." 

Now that's a great sign!

The circus, as a theme, is rife with possibilities.  Imagine (sometimes it helps to close your eyes) a donut shop with a trapeze artist, a clown, a balloon-animal artist, an elephant, and a ferris wheel.  Now imagine a donut shop with a faux-mansard roof painted in the red & white stripes of a big-top circus tent and the complete and utter absence of a trapeze artist, clown, elephant, or ferris wheel.  The latter describes Circus Do-Nuts.  That might sound like a little bit of a dig, but given the exciting potential, the management at Circus Do-Nuts doesn't allow the theme become fully-realized. 

Don't you kind of want to paint the chef's hat with a rainbow
afro and turn the man wearing the striped pants and See's Candy
 dress into a clown?  A circus clown.

Let it be said that I actually think Circus Do-Nuts is cool.  While it is definitely not the greatest donut show on earth, we truly appreciate any outlet of fried delicacies that maintains a charm and character that is so lacking in contemporary establishments of its kind.

The good bones are there including molded fiberglass chairs,
sherbet-colored formica....

...and checkerboard linoleum.

And then there's the donuts!

Are you getting tired of hearing me say that donuts (and practically everything else worth eating) are not on Mr. Tiny's current eating plan?  You are?  Well, trust me, not nearly as tired as Mr. Tiny is of not eating this delicious stuff!

My favorite part was the novelty toy vending
machine in the back corner of the shop.

Don't make fun of her...it only took her about
fourteen tries to put the quarters in.
Sometimes working a machine that is intended
for children can be really hard.

"Poo!"

We decided on the gag set - two whoopie cushions and a rubber spider.

If you're ever out and about in Torrance, be sure to check out Circus Do-Nuts.  It may not be the only place to buy donuts, lottery tickets, ice cream bars, and whoopie cushions, but for our money, it is the best circus-themed establishment in Torrance, CA at which to do so!

Circus Do-Nuts
1500 W Carson St
Torrance, CA
(310)320-7604


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny