These one-off articles about... whatever, are my favorites. You sure know how to conjure up a memory. I remember our bicentennial trip, but have no recollection of going to Dutch Pantry. Thanks for bringing it back to life.
Pass The Dutch Pantry every time I drive out to Indiana from Jersey, but have never stopped in. Thanks for the in-depth history on the franchise. And, yes, Ham and Bean, as well as Split pea, soups are highly underrated!
As a German speaker and someone who grew up in SE Pennsylvania, I wanted to chime in about that funny looking PA Dutch phrase “Be Donk Mich”. It comes from the standard German “Ich bedanke mich”, meaning literally “I thank myself”. While not used as frequently as “Danke” and all its permutations, it’s still in use in Germany. Not that anybody was asking. :)
Being from the same era, these posts bring back similar childhood memories.
In a similar place, I sheepishly ordered Salisbury Steak for the first time and looked at my father for approval and he said, "Sure". When the dish arrived, it was a meatloaf of another name. I tried telling the waiter that I ordered steak and not meatloaf. The whole table got a good laugh out of that!
I remember Dutch Pantry from our annual drives from Cleveland to NYC. I think that may be where my family got the hex sign that lived on our garage. And in our station wagon the "way back" was the prized position!
We had both kinds. Facing each other and the long bench facing the car behind you. Both ways seem really dangerous now - like all the Volkswagens my dad had with engine in the back.
I did a lot of those vacation road trips growing up, too. I have some specific memories, but they were all from destinations, not from the driving portion of the trips. I know I ate, including plenty of (interchangeable) motel breakfasts, but those memories seem to have not made “the cut”. And I was too lazy to keep a scrapbook.
I just returned from a long road trip from Camp Hill, PA to St. Paul, MN helping a friend move. We shared the driving of the U-Haul, and then I flew back. We drove I-80 in PA where I saw the two Dutch Pantries you mentioned. I was flabbergasted! I thought they were all gone! I was very familiar with the ones in Harrisburg, Camp Hill, and Carlisle. And yes, if you drove I-76, that would have been the one you stopped at as it's right off the PA Turnpike interchange. That restaurant is now a Chinese restaurant after having been a chrome shop for a period of time. The Harrisburg one is gone with a professional building in it's place, but the sign pole is still there with a new sign. The Camp Hill location was torn down to become a Friendly's restaurant, which closed late last year. It's being remodeled into a new restaurant. I think I'll be planning another trip up I-80 to have some Ham and Bean soup!
I have 3 comments:
1. Check the date on the salad dressing.
2. Let’s make ham and bean soup this week!
3. I love those scrapbooks more than anything!
I wish I could find the Dutch Pantry recipe for that soup!
And the car seating sketches are great!
Early examples of my primitive artistry! My childhood goal was to become a cartoonist.
These one-off articles about... whatever, are my favorites. You sure know how to conjure up a memory. I remember our bicentennial trip, but have no recollection of going to Dutch Pantry. Thanks for bringing it back to life.
Thanks, bro. Strangely, they are the easiest for me to write, and the most pleasurable.
And there might be a rumor floating around that you got more time in the front seat…
Conveniently forgotten. But if true, I apologize. I think the older kids managed to convince the younger ones that the way-back wack the place to be.
Pass The Dutch Pantry every time I drive out to Indiana from Jersey, but have never stopped in. Thanks for the in-depth history on the franchise. And, yes, Ham and Bean, as well as Split pea, soups are highly underrated!
If you stop in next time you take that trip, please report back.
As a German speaker and someone who grew up in SE Pennsylvania, I wanted to chime in about that funny looking PA Dutch phrase “Be Donk Mich”. It comes from the standard German “Ich bedanke mich”, meaning literally “I thank myself”. While not used as frequently as “Danke” and all its permutations, it’s still in use in Germany. Not that anybody was asking. :)
Interesting. Thank you.
I love this info - I don’t get it, but I love it. 😆
Being from the same era, these posts bring back similar childhood memories.
In a similar place, I sheepishly ordered Salisbury Steak for the first time and looked at my father for approval and he said, "Sure". When the dish arrived, it was a meatloaf of another name. I tried telling the waiter that I ordered steak and not meatloaf. The whole table got a good laugh out of that!
Haha! But, I gotta tell you, I loved Salisbury Steak then and I love it now. Mary Kate makes a good version.
Great and heartwarming story!
Nice seeing you in NOLA!
Same to you. Your reading was great! Wish we had more time to bend an elbow.
Soon!
Been listening to the new Restaurant Guys podcasts. Great work. Good to have you guys back at it.
That means a lot coming from you. Help spread the word...come one come all! www.restaurantguyspodcast.com
I remember Dutch Pantry from our annual drives from Cleveland to NYC. I think that may be where my family got the hex sign that lived on our garage. And in our station wagon the "way back" was the prized position!
My sister and I used to sit in that spot and make faces at the cars behind us.
Did you have the two small seats that faced each other in the back?
I seem to remember just one long bench style seat.
We had both kinds. Facing each other and the long bench facing the car behind you. Both ways seem really dangerous now - like all the Volkswagens my dad had with engine in the back.
I loved those old station wagons. I'd like to own one again some day.
Yes! #wisconsingoals
A man can dream. I wonder what the MPG was on that beast. 12?
I did a lot of those vacation road trips growing up, too. I have some specific memories, but they were all from destinations, not from the driving portion of the trips. I know I ate, including plenty of (interchangeable) motel breakfasts, but those memories seem to have not made “the cut”. And I was too lazy to keep a scrapbook.
One had to occupy ourself during those long trips. And license plate bingo only takes you so far.
I just returned from a long road trip from Camp Hill, PA to St. Paul, MN helping a friend move. We shared the driving of the U-Haul, and then I flew back. We drove I-80 in PA where I saw the two Dutch Pantries you mentioned. I was flabbergasted! I thought they were all gone! I was very familiar with the ones in Harrisburg, Camp Hill, and Carlisle. And yes, if you drove I-76, that would have been the one you stopped at as it's right off the PA Turnpike interchange. That restaurant is now a Chinese restaurant after having been a chrome shop for a period of time. The Harrisburg one is gone with a professional building in it's place, but the sign pole is still there with a new sign. The Camp Hill location was torn down to become a Friendly's restaurant, which closed late last year. It's being remodeled into a new restaurant. I think I'll be planning another trip up I-80 to have some Ham and Bean soup!
I'm glad you got to see them! Well worth the stop next time you take that route.