As a child, I thought cafeterias were EVERYWHERE. I've since learned different. My granddaughter, who lives out of state, didn't eat in a cafeteria until she was about 12 while on one of her summer visits here. If there wasn't a cafeteria, where did all the people go eat after church on Sunday?
Actually, the first cafeteria I remember (and frequented with my family) was Wyatt's Cafeteria in my neighborhood in Dallas. I think it opened when I was about 5 years old, as I remember my Mom taking me the first week it opened. So.much.food. I remember thinking it all looked soooo good, and I wanted one of everything! Of course, Mom said no, not everything, and I settled for what became "my usual," fried fish with tartar sauce, english peas (baby peas, I called them) and mashed potatoes with gravy. I seldom deviated from that menu.
When we went as a family, Mom OK'd one dessert that would be shared with my older sister. We almost always went for the chocolate icebox pie. Occasionally, we would choose the fresh strawberry pie. Hmm.... so good.
As I got older (high school) I would sometimes branch out and try different entrees. You certainly couldn't go wrong with Chicken Fried Steak and macaroni and cheese! Then there was the delicious strawberry/banana fruit salad or the avocado/tomato salad. (My mouth is now watering.)
I don't exactly remember when the Wyatt's Cafeteria closed. I'm thinking it was probably while I was away at college. I also don't remember when Luby's Cafeteria (that started in San Antonio) came to our area.
I have recently picked up the above pictured cookbook. I think many of these recipes are similar to the Wyatt Cafeteria recipes. I'm anxious to try some of these comfort foods!
No sewing this week. As I mentioned in my previous post, company's coming this weekend, and I've been cleaning and generally getting ready for that visit. It's going to be fun! They plan to be here through mid-week so it will be the end of the week, if then, that I will be able to get back to the machine. I hope I'm still in the sewing frame of mind then!
Enjoy your weekend!
Looks like a great cookbook. I use to be a collector but had to make myself stop. I do love some good cafeteria comfort food though.
ReplyDeleteI sort of "collected" for a while a number of years back. Stopped, and gave some of the collection away. I don't think (hope) this doesn't get me started again!
ReplyDeleteI remember going to Wyatt's with my family too, while growing up in north Dallas. And I too loved their fried fish.
ReplyDeleteWow, my parents were winter Texans, and I loved going to Wyatt's and Luby's when I would visit them! I remember corn bread with jalapeños.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were winter Texans and I loved going to Wyatt's and Luby's when I visited them. I remember the corn bread with jalapeños.
ReplyDeleteOMG!! I'm from NJ but when I was little my parents and I traveled to a lot of places. In the south there was Morrison's Cafeteria and K&W in Myrtle Beach, SC. In NM and TX there was Luby's. We loved those places. In 2003 I went to MB on my own and was surprised to find Morrison's was gone! But K&W lives on (went back to MB in 2007, 2009 and 2010) and that food is SO good. Soft roll with butter, chocolate cake with chocolate icing, fried spaghetti, chopped steak, watermelon, mac & cheese, stuffed pepper, I could go on and on....YUM. The closest K&W is in VA so it's too far, but if there was one say, one state over I think I'd make the trip. Also they used to have "red soda" but they didn't in 2003. That was quite delish too. and the prices can't be beat!!!
ReplyDeleteIf mom was still alive I'd send this post of yours to her and perhaps even buy her the book for her anniversary in June. She would have loved it!!!