After reading local blogger Steve Eck’s post about eating at Cracker Barrel, I had to wonder what is it about cheap, greasy, disgusting, everything tastes like Crisco and canned green beans, that makes people pack ‘em in at Cracker Barrel and the like?
I mean, just take a look at Steve’s perfect explanation of the place to his unknowing wife:
The menu was exactly what I remembered it being: absolutely ridiculous comfort food. I was joking with Linzy on the way over that they would have chicken-fried anything, such as chicken-fried lasagna. While they didn’t have that, exactly, they certainly had biscuits and anything. Linzy got roast beef which came with three sides and when she asked for one side to be a corn muffin the waitress goes “Oh honey, everything comes with bread here, you don’t have to use a side for that”. The waitress then recommended the cheesy hashbrown bake.
While I haven’t eaten at Cracker Barrel since college, something which was at the request of my future mother-in-law, I don’t remember the experience being a particularly pleasant one (i.e. everything tasted exactly the same) but yet when I first read Steve’s post I was immediately brought back to the days of wandering aimlessly through their junk store at the front of the restaurant drooling because of the wonder of oversized lollipops that I’d never be able to finish and trinkets I would not see again five minutes after pulling into the driveway after leaving the place.
So I wonder what it is about places, like Cracker Barrel, that makes us forget just how unbelievably terrible the food can be and makes us have memories of other stuff instead. What is it for you? Do you ever drive by Cracker Barrel (or any number of other establishments) thinking, “ooh, I should stop there for chicken-fried lasagna!”? Perhaps you’re like me and you continue to eat at places like White Castle because your grandfather, father, and you would pile into the car, drive there, order them, and drive back eating them in the car?
Whatever you have to say about comfort food go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say!
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
Loading ...
March 1st, 2010 at 11:11 am
Totally – I do that at White Castle too (and other places). I have no clue why except that it’s a fond memory of times past. Maybe it’s also the feeling of being free to do whatever I want (like in college when calories didn’t really count because they were serving the purpose of counteracting all the beer I just drank).
March 1st, 2010 at 12:26 pm
We love going to the Cracker Barrel! Come on! They have actually really good salads and on the other end of the health spectrum, their pancakes are amazingly good. We go a lot during the winter and sit by the huge fireplace. It’s cozy and the kids love it too. So there. :P
March 1st, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Golden Corral. “Comfort food” may be going a bit too far, but anytime I see the logo it brings back memories of a spring break trip with a famished stop at a Golden Corral on our way through El Paso, TX. Thankfully the memory of whatever the food did to me has been selectively blocked…
March 1st, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Isn’t that like asking “what is it about a cozy warm jacket that makes you want to wear it in the cold?” I jest… Yeah I wish I could reverse the connection I have between a warm cup of joe and after-dinner coffee and dessert at grandma’s – maybe then I wouldn’t turn it into a frothy milkshake three times a day. When you figure it out let me know.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:42 pm
never been to cracker barrel. Most of my eating life has been home cooking. Thus when comfort is necessary, that’s where it is coming from. As far as White Castle, I don’t know that I’d categorize that as comfort food. It’s just a tasty treat from time to time, but I’m not sure I feel all that comfortable after eating.
March 1st, 2010 at 10:12 pm
I’ve only eaten at Cracker Barrel a couple of times in my life, and those were both about fifteen years ago or so. Once at the one in Lakeville, and once in Tennessee or Kentucky while on a trip. Or maybe that was a Shoney’s; I’m not sure. Anyway, it didn’t make much of an impression on me.
I guess my equivalent place would be Perkins. Yes, a bunch of places have better food, but I have a lot of good memories associated with it, whether it be going there with my family when I was young or hanging out on weekend nights with my friends in high school (if you wanted — hell, still want 24-hour dining around here, it’s always been the only option).
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:34 am
Well, Perkins or Denny’s, I should say.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Anyone remember the “Wishing Well” at Perkins? Selecting a prize from the Wishing Well was always a reward for not acting like a jerk face while my parents tried to enjoy their breakfasts. We totally bastardized the tradition by going through the wishing well as drunken teen-agers. Sadly, haven’t seen a Wishing Well in quite a long time.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:43 pm
shoney’s, bob evans, cracker barrel, and the list goes on. when you have a case of “white line fever”, any of these will fill the bill. pull off on exit ## and tank up on the biscuits and gravy, hopefully sausage gravy, and you’re good for another 400 miles. or is that your new cholesterol reading:) keep the windows cracked and the sounds up!!
bb
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:24 am
Mrs Marcos, yep, I remember those. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen one, though.