Over the past few months, I have been thinking a lot about food. (Well, we did start a business that revolves around it after all…) The tastes. The smells. The preparation. I have reviewed various restaurants. I have travelled to Napa, Denver and Vegas on a never-ending quest for Foodie perfection.

I am going to blog about some of these experiences from my food past and present over the next few weeks because I maintain, the experience that goes along with the food, is as important (if not more!) than the actual food itself.

This weekend, my husband and I decided to do a “lock-in.” Essentially, we stock the refrigerator on Friday night, rent some movies and don’t reemerge into society until Monday at 7:30 AM.  We were going to cook on Friday night, but it was so hot outside that we caved and ordered a pizza. Yesterday, I made lamb pitas and tonight we are having steak.  I have been glued to Facebook and the Food Network. My mind however, has been wandering all over the foodie map and time continuum.

Ever think about how you became a foodie? Or about all the food experiences that have shaped your life? Your past? Your childhood? We live in a society that celebrates with food (and yes, that does contribute to obesity, but I am not a doctor or expert, so we aren’t going to debate that right now). These celebrations stick in our subconscious (and sometimes conscious) for many years.

Through my Facebook adventures, I have reconnected with many people whom I have known for 25+ years.

I was trolling through one of my old friend’s pages and saw he is a member of “The Kiltie Drive-in” group. I was immediately taken back to a childhood spot that will be etched in sweet and greasy goodness in my mind forever.

That red neon sign was a beacon in the night.

The Kiltie, a drive-in located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, is an institution that opened 60 years ago and has not changed a bit. I recall sitting in the car, and eating cheeseburgers, crinkle cut fries and of course, the infamous mello-mint sundae. The food was delicious, (in my mind—it’s been 20 years since I have actually tasted it) but for me, the memories that surround those trips make the memory whole.

This menu has been here longer than I have.

The family time we spent in that car was full of laughter. The drive was less than30 minutes from our house in Watertown to the Kiltie. I recall whining “are we there yet?” when I was really young. (I was developing my impatient foodie habits young!)

Mmmm. Cheeseburger goodness. Tastes even better in the back seat.

My twin brother and I would accidently drop fries down the sides of the seats and find them months later. I remember in September, we would try to go “one last time” before winter came and sit huddled in the car and feeling very sorry for the girls who skated to our car with trays of food. I remember birthday parties, rewards for good report cards, and of course endless summer nights that all seemed to involve the Kiltie. (I am sure the Richard Marx song didn’t have the same meaning for me then as it does now)

There are drive-ins here in Arizona (Sonic) but nothing can compare to a 60-year-old joint that shaped a portion of my childhood. When I moved to Arizona after 8^th grade, I bought a t-shirt to commemorate those experiences. I have long since outgrown it, but the memories still remain. I wonder how hard one of those sundaes would be to recreate?

Not sure if this is a mello mint sundae, but if someone could take a photo of one, I would be eternally grateful!

Cheers,

Susie

PS. Special thanks to NP for spurring some of these Wisconsin memories!