{"id":1619,"date":"2009-11-13T02:08:09","date_gmt":"2009-11-13T10:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/burgersdogspizza.com\/?p=1619"},"modified":"2009-11-13T02:08:09","modified_gmt":"2009-11-13T10:08:09","slug":"big-timber-mt-country-skillet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.peterstromquist.com\/?p=1619","title":{"rendered":"Big Timber, MT – Country Skillet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Montana has no shortage of casino\/gas stations, and each one seems to have a diner attached. One I stopped at was in the small burg of Big Timber<\/a>. It was high noon on a weekday, and the cafe had more workers than customers. My fellow diners included one senior couple, two elderly levels, and two traveling businessmen, in a place with an occupancy level of about 120. There was a soma-like quality to the atmosphere, and the people’s movements paralleled that, almost like it was a set of a film, and I expected someone to shout “Reset” any moment, and the people would return to their original positions and start their same movements over again.<\/p>\n

There are apparently several locations for this diner in the state, and I suspect there are clones operating under different names, as they are all combo gas\/cafe\/casino operations.<\/p>\n

I don’t know what brilliant person thought Montana needed a casino or two on every corner, but apparently somebody did.<\/p>\n

On the table for one’s bemusement was a copy of “Montana Meanderings” (purchase your own copy at the cashier for 6.95), a collection of “recipes, old-time remedies, and Montana cartoons.”<\/p>\n

Here’s just a sneak preview, sure to make you want to find a copy of this book: recipes for pasties, and green bean hot dish. Witticisms like “you know it;s a rotten day when your twin sister forgets your birthday.”<\/p>\n

And tips like “peppermint sprigs chase mice away.” Valuable stuff, huh? Well, someone thought so! It’s even available on Amazon<\/a>, tho it’s listed at $25!<\/p>\n

The meal was a bacon cheeseburger with fries, which was pretty good, actually, hand-formed patty cooked to order, fresh bun, good fries. My only disappointment was halfway through the meal, there heretofore mentioned businessmen place their order and one said “and a side of tater tots.” DAMN. I didn’t see tots on the menu! Must have to be an insider to know that!<\/p>\n