On Saturday, I decided to go to a festival right on Route 66 in downtown Bristow, Okla. At first glance, it looked like many small-town festivals in Oklahoma. I saw a store offering cowboy hats. I saw a Cowboys booth -- the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, that is. I saw a barbecue stand among the … Continue reading Not just any festival
Category: Food
Competitive eaters rejoice
Tucked into this feature story from The Ranger, based in Amarillo College, about the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo is this item: Next summer, the meat mecca will have its biggest event ever. In 2010, the Big Texan will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The International Competitive Eaters Association will join in the fun. "There … Continue reading Competitive eaters rejoice
Book review: “The Route 66 St. Louis Cookbook”
First-time author Norma Maret Bolin's "The Route 66 St. Louis Cookbook" has the words "St. Louis" in slightly larger type than the rest of the title of the book's cover. This is telling. Her book (paperback, 174 pages, $19.95) is considerably more focused on famed restaurants of the entire St. Louis area than just those … Continue reading Book review: “The Route 66 St. Louis Cookbook”
Notes from the road
It's a busy weekend for many roadies. First, the Arizona Route 66 Association's 22nd annual Fun Run begins Friday. The Kingman Daily Miner has a schedule and a preview. Second, the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor celebration in northern Illinois is Saturday and Sunday. The Pontiac Daily Leader also has a preview. The Bloomington … Continue reading Notes from the road
Like coffee with chocolate
Longtime readers probably remember the opening of Marcia Wilson's Route 66 Fudge Shop in Cuba, Mo. This was a store that sold a line of candy bars to help maintain the town's famous murals. There's good news and bad news about the fudge shop. The bad news is Wilson had to close her storefront and … Continue reading Like coffee with chocolate
Artist to publish drawings, recipes from Route 66
Artist David Alan Badger of Havana, Ill., plans to publish seven books of his drawings, history and recipes from scenic byways in Illinois, including Route 66, reported the Peoria Journal Star. Badger, who has been drawing for more than 20 years, said the books will help bring attention and tourism to the towns along the … Continue reading Artist to publish drawings, recipes from Route 66
Frozen yogurt served by Marky Mark
The Pasadena Star-News reported on the opening of a new Blizzberry frozen-yogurt stand on Route 66 in Glendora, Calif. Blizzberry is a regional but rapidly expanding chain in Southern California. Route 66 News is always happy to plug good desserts along the Mother Road, such as Ted Drewes frozen custard to the Midpoint Cafe's ugly-crust … Continue reading Frozen yogurt served by Marky Mark
It’s maple sirup time
Funks Grove Maple Sirup (yes, the spelling is correct) in the Route 66 hamlet of Funks Grove, Ill., has begun harvesting maple sap from its ancient stand of trees, reports the Kankakee Daily Journal. Late February and early March are the times in which the sap rises in the trees. Production began in 1824 when … Continue reading It’s maple sirup time
Three more Route 66 restaurants featured on Food Network
The Salsa Brava restaurant on Route 66 in Flagstaff, Ariz., was featured on the Food Network's popular "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" program on Monday night, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. According to the Food Network Web site, the segment, "Return to Route 66," is an eastward tour of Route 66, with stops at Salsa Brava, … Continue reading Three more Route 66 restaurants featured on Food Network
Book of top 100 hamburgers includes Route 66 restaurants
Longtime readers may remember George Motz and his 2005 documentary, "Hamburger America," where he searched for the eight best hamburger joints in the United States. Motz now has a book by the same title, except he's expanded his "best-of" list to 100 restaurants. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the Bobcat Bite and its … Continue reading Book of top 100 hamburgers includes Route 66 restaurants