Ozzie's Diner

Anyone interested in an Americana "greasy spoon?"  I always am.  Is it nutritious and good for me?  I am pretty positive the answer is no.  Will I most likely need a recovery nap from the experience just to let my body and belly recoup?  Most definitely.  Will that stop me from having a new and exciting food experience?  Absolutely not!  The best kind of greasy spoons are the hidden ones.  The kind that aren't off the interstate, or next to the high-traffic stores like Wal-Mart and the like.  No, the best ones are the ones that some of the locals don't even realize are there.  The ones where the regulars go, that have waitresses who can't help but call you "hon" even if they've just met you.  Want to go to a place like that?  Well, then get yourself to the airport in Norman, OK - room 104.

On the first floor of the little airport is a diner called Ozzie's.  I had heard rumors in the air that Ozzie's was the place to go for Sunday brunch.  I also heard it was at the airport, but I didn't quite know where, exactly.  So one day, I got up and decided to find it.  I thought it would be a fun experience, and I was right.

After hitting a couple of winding roads away from the main road, we found it!  We walked in and the diner was right there.  Outside of the diner in the hallway, there was a white-board disclosing the menu we had to look forward to, as well as some basic rules about not sharing.

After wondering inside the establishment, a waitress asked if we could be helped and I explained that this was my first time here.  She was very good about letting us know how it worked.  She pulled out an awesome menu that had an American 1950's feel about it.

We ordered coffee and water to drink while we waited for our breakfast.  What was cool, is that the coffee came in thick ceramic mugs and the water arrived in mason jars - classic.

What did we order?  Well, the all-you-can-eat breakfast of course!  Here's how it works:  You can choose any combination as many times as you want from pancakes, grits, toast, biscuits & gravy, eggs (cooked however you like), home fries, hash browns, bacon, and sausage for just $5.79 per person.  

It is all cooked to order instead of sitting on a buffet where everyone else can pick at it as it gets cold/dried out.  After you are finished with your first plate, you can order your next with the same thing, or a whole new combo.  I also tried the biscuits & gravy (which I forgot to get a pic of), and it was surprisingly good!  The scrambled egg had a sort of gross texture to it, like it had grits in it or something, I couldn't quite peg it.  However, the fried egg was very good.  I like my fried egg with well done whites, and a slightly dippy middle, which I rarely get done right at any restaurant no matter how fancy.  But Ozzie's got it perfect!

The decor was riddled with aviation (as it is in an airport and very fitting), and objects from an era long past, but not forgotten.

We also had a great view!

So, if you want a breakfast that will be served until 3pm (which is when I like to eat breakfast), that taste a lot like Mom used to make on the weekends, with a reminiscent decor, an endearing waitress, a thrifty all-you-can-eat menu, and an exciting view, then give Ozzie's Diner at the Max Westheimer Airport a try.

Trader Joe vs. Mr. T

Sorry I've been off of here a while, I was on a trip out of state with no wi-fi!  I know, I thought my life was over, turns out it was just postponed.  Anyway, I have lots to say about the food I had on that trip, but my camera hates me and I am still trying to retrieve some of the photos I took of my dining experiences.  So, to tide you all over until then, I've decided to talk about this awesome cereal that I found at Trader Joe's!

Isn't it beautiful?  I bought it on a whim while visiting Kansas City, just as something to fill my belly in the mornings while I was there.  Turns out, it is now my favorite cereal EVER!  (Well, except for maybe Mr. T cereal that I was scarfing down in 1984, and would probably still be if Quaker still made it.)  No high fructose corn syrup, 4 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, crunchy pomegranate-granola clusters, dried blueberries, and flakes that stay relatively crispy in milk!   And only about 4 bucks a box!

I ran out very quickly back in April and I've been super hungry for it ever since.  Luckily for me, my friend Cindy brought me a box for my birthday.  Wasn't that thoughtful?  So, if you're anywhere near a Trader Joe's (which I'm really not, but if you have a friend willing to snag you some the next time they visit, bonus!) and you consider yourself a breakfast person, you should try a box...sooo good!  Check out the link at Trader Joe's for more info.

Remember, a new post about restaurants from my home town is on it's way (as soon as I can get the stupid camera to work).  Oh, and remind me to buy a new camera.

Bagels & Brunch

Today's post is going to be about breakfast.  Now, I've never been much of a breakfast eater, unless it was in the afternoon or evening.  Meaning - biscuits & gravy with fried eggs and bacon feels a whole lot different on my belly at 5pm, than it does at 8am.  However, I have been trying to work out different types of breakfasts for the AM, especially in the hot months of summer in the south (heavy food is a bad way to start a day in the heat - I found this out the hard way).

This past weekend I made a light and simple breakfast, based on a brunch that a friend of mine prepared once upon a time for me.  The main filler is bagel (I do love my breads).  I usually get my begals at places that make them fresh daily, like Old School Bagel Cafe or Panera Bread.  I honestly think that Old School Bagel Cafe has the best selection and the best quality in the area I'm in, however, the ones I got this time were from Panera because it was closer to where I was at the time.  Either place is good though.

Ok, so I got blueberry, cinnamon-raisin swirl, and sesame seed.  They will generally ask you at the shop if you would like them sliced, I always say yes, but not toasted.  If I'm making this breakfast for more than just myself, I also like to cut the bagels in half vertically when I get them home, that way everyone can have different flavors without filling up too much one the same thing- it adds an option for variety.

I then take a block of cream cheese, softened, and add 1 Tbls. of sugar and 1 Tbls. of vanilla extract (remember: not the imitation crap).  Beat it all together on med-high until the ingredients are mixed and the mixture is a light whipped texture - about 20 seconds or so.  I use this to spread on the bagels, it's simple and yet jazzes up the plain cream cheese a little.  Now you can get creative here, depending on what you like and what flavors of bagels you have.  For instance, you can add cinnamon, honey, nuts, fruit, etc.

Then I usually get either whatever fruit is in season, or if I just feel like something not in season, I'll get that.  This time I got some pineapple and organic blueberries and mixed them together.  I usually like to cut up a garden veggie like cucumber with this breakfast, but I didn't have any available at the time.  And then, just to add another element of zing, I usually slice up some Vermont sharp white cheddar on the side!  This goes better with the cucumber as a combo flavor, but even that didn't matter today because I just used what I had on hand, which was Colby...good enough!  Sometimes adding some scrabbled eggs is a tasty bonus for me as well.  As I said, it depends of my mood that day.

RECAP:

• Bagels, sliced both horizontally and vertically - variety is the key
• Cream cheese + sugar + vanilla = awesome
• Fruit bowl
• Sliced cucumber (not pictured) and cheese
• Scramble up some eggs for a bit of protein (optional) 

As far as drinks go, I always brew a pot of coffee, and I like to mix lemonade and orange juice together (you can also mix O.J., pomegranate juice, and champagne together too, if you wanna get fancy).

So that's it kids, a nice and filling breakfast without the crappy feeling of morning in your belly!  Be creative and enjoy.