November - A Perfect Dinner Ride Month
Now that the temps have cooled off, y'all want to talk politics? I didn't think so.
The only thing that can be said about the upcoming election is - Let the best man win.
What normally makes for a great topic, especially among bikers, is anything food related. The motorcycle ride for a meal has been a tried and true tradition, spanning generations, and has been the catalyst for many great friendships.
Recently, the SSOM has featured some great BBQ. As popular as it is, man cannot live on BBQ alone, despite what many of your grill masters may think. There are as many kinds of eats as there are those to enjoy them.
Eat to Ride - Ride to Eat
Our very own Lady Di's article, appearing each month in the Folly, has some outstanding recipes and unique ideas for a scrumptious meal. She has been diligently providing a step-by-step map to some mighty fine eats. Give some of her suggestions a try; you'll be glad you did.
Of course, sometimes, we don't want the hassle of food prep with the inevitable cleanup afterwards. We also like a little variety. At a new restaurant we take a chance that what the wait staff sets before us will satisfy our fully trained machine - the stomach.
A short list, not necessarily in priority order, might be -
Adequate and Safe Parking
Clean
Affordable
Generous Portions
Attentive and Accurate Wait Staff
And of course, tasty food
Your mileage may vary.
Allow me to offer a couple of places where every item on the Litmus Test has been check marked.
More Than a Dinner Ride
Even though you may not travel on I-30, headed towards Little Rock, at least not often, our first restaurant is off exit 106, in Fairplay, Arkansas, on Fairplay Rd.
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The thing that put this cafe over the top, besides the great food, was the 50's diner atmosphere.
The Jukebox
JJ's also has free WIFI - A definite "Biker's-A"
#2 - Ghost Town Dining
When you're heading out west, to the far reaches of West Texas, a good restaurant is as easy to find as a sheep in a cow pasture.
Right across I-20 from the Smokestack is another eatery of equal or greater value. After dining there once, I had to go back to see if it was as good as I remembered.
The New York Hill has something like the scattered hash browns at Waffle House. Their H.B.O.'s are the best ever.
All of the ingredients tasted like they had grown them in their own garden. I had the 8 fillings with sausage. It is surprising how quickly you can eat one of these even though when the waitress brings it out you would swear you couldn't eat it all. The homemade biscuits top off the meal. While it isn't the least expensive breakfast I have ever ordered, it is one of the most satisfying. I have to give this cafe a large "Biker's-A."
Well Buckaroos, so far, this has been quite a year - quite a ride. It has been filled with ups and downs. Any year where there is a Presidential Race there is bound to be plenty of jawin' across the table. T.M.R.A. would suggest we remember we are all brothers and sisters in the wind. Discuss the issues with courtesy and respect. When we boil it all down, we all want the same things, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Ride proud, ride often, and ride safe but mostly -
