Kat Robinson - Classic Eateries of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley

Published by American Palate

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2013 by Kat Robinson

All rights reserved

Front cover, clockwise: Oark General Store in Oark. Grav Weldon; M.L. Greer at work. Greer family; Pauls Bakery in Van Buren. Grav Weldon; historical photograph of Petes Place in Fort Smith. Miss Annas on Towson; Georges Majestic Lounge. Grav Weldon.

First published 2013

e-book edition 2013

ISBN 978.1.62584.668.6

Library of Congress CIP data applied for.

print edition ISBN 978.1.62619.199.0

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

To Richard Allin, never afraid to share his love of Arkansas food, and B.C. Hall, convinced from day one that young Kat Bear would find her voice.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Note: When the original single book project turned into four regional books, the original foreword would no longer work. Considering how little time was left, I turned to a crazy idea. Enjoy this crowdsourced foreword.

No matter what happens in life, the good, the bad, the happy, the sadwe involve food with it. From the engagement dinner to the potluck meal after the funeral, food is an everyday part of our lives. Food for celebration, food for comfort. This book will give you a little bit of both.

Melinda LaFevers

In this age of brand names and big chains, it is nice to know where to find those family diners that the locals like. This book will show you the way to eat like a local, even when you arent one.

Malinda Godwin

Kat Robinson has combined her love of Arkansas with a love of food and brought together a travelogue of unique places to enjoy while visiting the Natural State. In Classic Eateries of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley, Robinson takes us on a journey, not just to get a tasty bite to eat but through a cultural history of Arkansas, by visiting diners and restaurants that have served food to Arkansans for over a generation.

Sheree Corbett Burnett

Kat puts an amazing amount of research effort into every slice of pie, plate of barbecue and deep-fried fair food that she tracks down. When she shares her meals with you, her descriptions make you want to crawl into the page and experience the scent, flavor and sight of each dish. Arkansas is truly blessed to have such a dedicated chronicler traveling its byways to search out the best the state has to offer and making sure the rest of the world knows about it too.

Chef Christy Seelye-King, askchefchristy.com

Kat makes Arkansas food sound like the best cuisine in the world! Her descriptions make you want to go down small dirt roads in the middle of nowhere just to have some fried potatoes!

Angie Bradley Stark

She introduced me to R&R Curry. I always thought it was just another BBQ place until I read her reviews. I would never have tried it, but now I cant get enough.

David Backlin, road-less-taken.blogspot.com

Kat Robinson is THE go-to person in Arkansas for eatery recommendations. When I read her reviews, I feel like I am in the caf, diner or restaurant with her experiencing the sights, sounds, smells and tastes. I know that if a restaurant gets a good review from Kat that it is somewhere I will want to go with friends and family to enjoy a pleasant meal.

Ardee Eichelmann

Ive known Kat Robinson since we were both music- and writing-obsessed ninth graders, way back in 1987. We spent weekends writing short stories and listening to the top forty on the radio. She had a chart of each weeks top five hanging on her door and would diligently keep up with it. When the State Fair came, I remember trying some of the food. Kat had something to say about each taste, showing a passion for good food even at fourteen years old.

Shannon Frizzell Scrivner

My family uses her previous book, Arkansas Pie: A Delicious Slice of the Natural State, as a guidebook while traveling the state.

Malinda Godwin

I was going to write something clean, but I seem to keep thinking about Duck Gumbo in Stuttgart! Mmmm, gumbo.

Joshua Heffy Heffington

I can think of no person more qualified to talk about Arkansas food and restaurants than Kat.

Terri Dutton

Kat Robinson makes me wish that I were a millionaire with a tapewormthat is, that I had enough money to eat every day at the restaurants she reviews without having to worry much about all the weight gain that would otherwise result.

Guy Lancaster

I can think of no one more qualified than Kat to guide people in their search for the best food and food-related experiences. Shes the first person I check with.

Bobby King

I have Kats book Arkansas Pie: A Delicious Slice of the Natural State. It is so interesting. [I] love reading about the history of the pies and the restaurants/diners they come from. I know this book will be just as informative and interesting. Cant wait to read it.

Erin Parker

Out of all the people I have ever met, Kat Robinson is one of those people.

Butch Renfroe, FrontPorchArkansas.com

I became a fan of Kat Robinsons food writing after reading an article about Arkansas watermelon. It brought me to tearsabout watermelon! Kat knows Arkansas, knows food and has a gift for stirring up beautiful memories. I cannot wait for her next book!

Sara Willis

Kat Robinson is the definitive food writer for Arkansas (and quite a bit beyond), period. In fact, up-and-coming writers like myself pretty much just want to be her when we grow up. Her word on ediblestheir history, stories and, yes, tasteis authoritative.

The thing about food in the Ozarks is its mystery, always a surprise. Without the flash and ad budgets of more metropolitan areas, its best eats are shrouded in legend. People tell stories of driving through to Branson or elsewhere and finding the perfect piece of pie or the most glorious ham sandwich. I believe this book will give some needed permanence to the legends, enabling even more people to discover them for themselves.

Christie Morgan Ison, FancyPantsFoodie.com

There are writers, and then there are writers. The former take you places you might not have been, paint a pretty picture and leave you right smack where you started. The latter take you on a grand adventure, tickle your fancy, whet your appetite and leave you with a yearning to find out for yourselves. Kat is definitely of the latter persuasion. From the Delta plains to the top of the Ozarks, the culinary journey of Arkansas is a rich tapestry of tastes, smells, sights and sounds that many call home (with the occasional surprise thrown in just for good measure) so sit a spell, grab a glass of tea, bring your appetites and a smile and enjoy the journey.

Nickie Whittaker II

PREFACE

What you have in front of you is not a cookbook. Well, it does have recipes, but its really not a cookbook. However, I bet youve located it in the cookbook section of your local bookstore. Ill accept that.