Springfield, IL
It’s practically a place of pilgrimage. A Mecca for food historians. Tourists flock there, not just from Illinois, but from all across America and around the globe, by motorcycle, car and by the busload.

It’s the Cozy Dog on South Sixth Street. The story of Cozy Dogs — the original hot dogs on a stick, deep-fried in cornmeal batter — is almost as familiar as Lincoln lore to anyone knowledgable about Springfield history.

Cozy Dogs’ creator, Ed Waldmire, had eaten an unusual sandwich on a trip to Muskogee, Okla., during his youth: a weiner baked in cornbread. Returning to Illinois, Waldmire told a fellow student at Knox College about it, saying he wished he could make something similar that would cook faster.

A few years later Waldmire, now in the Air Force stationed at Amarillo, Texas, had forgotten the conversation. But unbeknownst to him, it was on the mind of his college buddy, Don Strand, whose father owned a bakery. Strand developed a cornmeal mix that would stick on a weiner and could be deep-fried. Strand sent his mix to Texas, and Waldmire experimenting in the U.S.O. kitchen with hot dogs stuck on cocktail forks, communicating back and forth until the recipe for their “Crusty Curs” was perfected. Waldmire sold “thousands” at the U.S.O. and P.X. as well as in the town of Amarillo until he returned to Springfield at the end of his military service in 1946.

Charlotte, NC
Two years after the final plate of soul food was served up, demolition began this morning at the historic Coffee Cup restaurant.

Crews with bulldozers began tearing into the building just after sunrise.

The diner left its landmark spot near Bank of America Stadium two years ago after Atlanta developer Beazer bought the property off Clarkson and Morehead.

"I have a lot of memories of the wonderful food and fellowship I shared here," said Celi Auten, who snapped pictures of the building during today's demolition.

Since leaving its longtime home, the restaurant has unsuccesfully tried to stay in business in other locations.

Millvale, PA
A Pittsburgh-area restaurant famed for its crepe-thin flapjacks says it served a special guest this morning , Michelle Obama.

A co-owner of P&G's Pamela's Diner in Millvale says the First Lady arrived around 8:30 a.m. and ordered plain pancakes, bacon and a small orange juice. Obama is in town with her husband, President Barack Obama, for the Group of 20 summit.

Gail Klingensmith says Obama sat at a table with six or seven other women and security officials.

It wasn't Obama's first taste of Pamela's pancakes. She and the president ate them on an earlier visit. And the diner's owners cooked at the White House kitchen on Memorial Day.

Klingensmith says Obama told her "she hasn't stopped thinking about (the pancakes) since she had them the first time."

Osburn, Idaho
If you've been looking for a truly unique home in North Idaho, the search is over. A barrel shaped drive-in restaurant is the talk of Osburn's real estate market.

The 80-year-old drive-inturned home was originally listed for $249,000, but the price has been slashed on the barrel-shaped domicile to $75,000.

"It's a challenge of a listing, let's put it that way," said realtor Roger Crigger. "I'm not even sure if you can find a person that can build a house like this anymore."

Built back in 1929, the Osburn landmark was known as "The Barrel", a popular drive-in restaurant. Crigger says the architect built round designs throughout the area. The barrel came from the old railroad track that's now a bike trail behind the house.

"Most folks say that is actually a barrel that was used along the railroad tracks for steam locomotives," said Crigger.

Look inside the home and you'll be reminded of what once was.

"You can see here where the actual barrel part stops," said Rose Breazeal with Tomlinson Silver Valley Realty.

By Robert Strauss | The New York Times | Sept. 23, 2009

Wildwood, NJ
Given that consumers have been so reluctant to spend lately, the family-run amusement park would seem especially vulnerable.

But amusement park owners around the country say the weather, not the housing downturn or job losses, played a bigger role in their fortunes this past summer.

“We had a lousy, wet June and a couple of hurricane threats this summer, so that was bad,” said Jack Morey, who with his brother Will, owns and runs three amusement piers along the Wildwood boardwalk. “Then the weather got better in August, and suddenly everyone was there.”

If they have sunshine and moderate temperatures, Mr. Morey and his fellow owners around the country say, the slower economy seems to be favoring them.

Indeed, the fact that most of the independent parks are owned by families may insulate them a bit from the normal business cycles, said William Alexander, who teaches courses in family business at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “In many cases, these are seasonal businesses,” Mr. Alexander said. “And in the summer, the whole family would participate. In difficult economic times, particularly, a family committed to a business will sacrifice in deferring compensation and bonuses.”

Mr. Alexander also noted that the family-run amusement parks were generally “not as involved as the large ones in the amusement arms race, where building the next big roller coaster is the goal.” As a result, he said, “Their capital cost structures are not as stretched.”

By Chris Kokenes | CNN | Sept. 15, 2009

There's no shortage of diners in New York City, but one of its most beloved will soon be taking up residence in Alabama.

The Cheyenne Diner, which first opened in 1940, was split in two Monday night to begin its move on a pair of flatbed trucks some 860 miles to its new home near Birmingham.

The dining experience at the Cheyenne was typical of many similar New York eateries, where more often than not, you're guaranteed a hearty meal at a comfortable price.

After taking a seat in a roomy booth or even at the counter, you check out the flimsy paper placemat with innocuous historical information or a simplified map of the Greek Isles.

A busboy places a glass of ice water on your table. Then it's time to break out the reading glasses and flex those muscles to heft the always lengthy menu. While it may take you several minutes to sift through it, take comfort in knowing that you may actually burn some calories by lifting this bible of comfort food.

Unlike the sometimes stuffy pretense of a formal restaurant, the diner experience is generally simple, while the food offerings are diverse -- from apple pie to baked ziti and everything in between.

While never known as a bastion for fine dining, the Cheyenne saw brighter days before it unceremoniously closed on a chilly Sunday in April 2008.

Originally known as the Market Diner until its moniker was changed in 1986, the pre-assembled restaurant stood as a rare classic definition of free-standing diners.

Its streamlined, railcar-inspired design boasts a reverse-channel illuminated neon sign. Horizontal and vertical stainless steel strips border the colorful enamel panels and wrap-around windows on its facade. Celebrities from Jerry Lewis to David Letterman entered through its curved entryway lined with glass blocks.

According to published reports, the planned move of the Cheyenne Diner from New York City to Birmingham, Alabama, has been delayed a few days.

The diner was supposed to get on its way today, but apparently won't leave the Big Apple until late this week or early next week.

Last year, businessman Joel Owens obtained the diner and apparently plans to restore it and run in in a yet unknown section of the Alabama city.

According to author Sarah Rolph, who wrote the definitive history of A1 Diner in Gardiner, Maine, long-time cook Bob Newell has retired. Ho hum, you say? Well, consider this.

When Heald’s diner (now A1 Diner) came to town in 1946, Bob went to work there, and, except for the years of his service in the Korean war, has cooked there ever since. Bob is the only person in the 63-year history of the diner to have worked for all four owners.

Michael Giberson & Bob Newell

By the way, recollections from Bob are a big part of the book about the diner, "A1 Diner: Real Food, Recipes, and Recollections" by Ms. Rolph. In the book, Bob discusses the changes in the diner and its food over the years, provides biscuit-making tips, and shares some of his favorite anecdotes, such as the time he met Andrew Wyeth at the diner.

To learn more about the book, visit Sarah's site here. You can also listen to a podcast Sarah and I did last year, by clicking here.

Photo courtesy Jeff Giberson.

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