Thursday, February 16, 2012

Rural Thursday - Where Homestead Foodies Go to Eat

"I don't like food that's too carefully arranged; it makes me think that the chef is spending too much time arranging and not enough time cooking. If I wanted a picture I'd buy a painting."
-- Andy Rooney 



Welcome to the Thursday edition of Eating Out. No, no. That's not right. I'm joining Rural Thursday today and that means I need to post something about our rural homestead. Only there's nothing much happening that I haven't already blogged about. But wait! I re-read the Rural Thursday rules and they say I can blog about "anything and everything that embraces living the simple life." So, I figure I can post about the simple pleasure of eating at the Meadow Mountain Cafe in Allenspark, Colorado. 

I've written here several times about Meadow Mountain, but I've never showed interior photos because. . .well. . .I never had any to show. But now I do. Recently Dennis and I drove the 16 miles from our home to have lunch there and the owner graciously allowed me to photograph the interior during an unusually slow time. I'm excited to take you on a tour of this wonderful rustic cafe that serves up some of the best fresh everything-made-from-scratch-including-the-bread cooking in the area. Delicious omelettes, fabulous pancackes (my favorite is the blueberry), incredible hamburgers, scrumptious soups and desserts to die for (just to name a few tempting items.).

Walk through the front door of this vintage cabin and the first thing you see is pine paneling and the work of local artists. That's my husband's painting of Jim Creek in the center. He gave the print to Roxie, the owner, several years ago. 

"Jim Creek" by Dennis Reinke


Indoor seating accommodates about 22 people: a table for six, 3 tables for four and  4 stools at the counter. In the summertime there's additional seating on the front porch, but there's usually a line waiting to get in. 
The food is just that good!


But here's the thing that makes Meadow Mountain Cafe unique -- at least in my book. Customers who have unoccupied seats at their table invite new arrivals to join them. Dennis and I do it all the time and others have welcomed us to their table, too. It's the friendliest, most hospitable restaurant atmosphere I've ever encountered, and we have met some very special people this way. 



A splendid pot-bellied stove warms the cafe and adds a homey touch. 



Carousel horses and other figurines offer whimsy. As does the salt & pepper collection.



And the restroom door.




The daily specials are hand-written on a chalkboard. (Love the artwork.)





I am in love with the spotless Meadow Mountain Cafe kitchen. 
That's Roxie's son Joe doing the cooking. 











The inside of the front door acts as a community bulletin board.


So there you have it: the marvelous Meadow Mountain Cafe. I have some fun exterior shots of the cafe, but they're for another day. If you get out this way, be sure to put Meadow Mountain on your must visit list. Just for the record, I received no compensation for this write up. We just love the food, the service, the patrons and the great family that works so hard to make eating here such a treat.


What's going on in your rural world?


Nancy
Rural Thursday links up some of the best rural and simple living blogs on the net. Check it out.



17 comments:

  1. I love that little pot bellied stove. Their food sounds wonderful too!

    This was perfect for Rural Thursdays - so glad you linked up!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa. I'm glad you and Nancy are hosting this. It's one of my favorite places to link up. Great people join in.

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  2. That truly is a welcoming little place to eat...and talk!

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    1. Lately we've been going there every Sunday after church. It's just so comforting. Thanks for visiting, Evelyn. God bless.

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  3. Yes, a wonderful place to eat out! Great pics.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Jan. Hope you have a great weekend.

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  4. Gosh, Nancy -- your husband must be famous around these parts -- he has a picture on the wall! Love your tour of the restaurant and I have to say I've been in a few like this and they always have good food.

    Thanks so much for sharing at Rural Thursdays. Please don't hesitate to post whatever feels right to you -- I'm sure we'll love it. :)

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    1. Well, we got a good laugh over your "famous" remark, Nancy. I told Dennis he's famous for being married to me. LOL. Thanks for visiting. Have a great rural weekend.

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  5. Thank you for another enjoyable trip to Colorado. I have been to several areas, but not this place. I have definitely found some great eating places tho.

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    1. My pleasure. Thanks for visiting, LV. God bless.

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  6. Stopping in from the hop! Little places like that are always the most friendly and serve the best food! Thanks for sharing! Hop over and enter my give away:

    http://theredeemedgardener.blogspot.com/2012/02/veggie-seed-give-away.html

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    1. Done and done. I'll look for my prize in the mail. ;-)

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  7. Fantastic. Looks like a great place to me. Love the artwork and the salt & pepper shakers too.

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  8. Hi Nancy! My wife and I discovered Meadow Mountain Cafe some years ago and think it may be the cosmic center of the earth. We come from Missouri to spend two to three weeks in Allenspark every year and try to not miss the parade on the 4th. Every morning we try and be the first in the door for Rocky's breakfast and sit at the "community table". It is the kind of place that if you run out of coffee, but the waitress is busy, then you go get your own second cup. While you have the pot in hand you naturally offer to fill empty mugs in the room. I am also pretty sure they have an extra charge if you are grouchy.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Jim, and for commenting. We had breakfast at Meadow Mountain this morning, in fact, on our way to Lyons. You're right about helping yourself to coffee and then filling the empty mugs around the room. My hubby has done that numerous times. I think it's the best breakfast place in the area. I'm never disappointed. I don't think they even allow grouchy people to eat there, do they? ;) If you ever get to Estes Park, look us up. We have a shop called A Joyful Cottage between Riverwalk and Range Realty. We sell my husband's fine art, and upscale consignments including Colorado Artisan jewelry, furniture, etc. It would be great to meet you and your wife in person. Blessings.

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    2. A Joyful Cottage looks great and we will visit your shop next summer. The little photograph of the bluebird on the wall behind the wood stove pipe at the Meadow Mountain was my gift to Rocky and crew a couple of years ago. The cafe is the kind of place where you like to leave a little something behind as a personal marker. I am glad to see it is still there. Take care.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment.