Echo Dell Farm's Essence of the Prairie Bison Stew with Savory Sage Cornbread as featured in KANSAS! 2026, Vol 82, issue 2

Dining at Echo Dell Farm is a culinary experience and a pleasure! Sue Shoemaker-Shea and her staff not only dish up delicious food but create a memorable evening that begins with cocktails or mocktails and ends with pots of French press coffee. We were there in the fall so we dined in the house that's filled with art and interesting decor,  but when the weather allows, guests dine under the trees (see photos below). Friendly and attentive staff ,as well as conversations with fellow diners added to the evening. 

Photo courtesy of Echo Dell Farm)

I covered this unique farm-to-table dining establishment (that's located in a rural setting in the North Central part of Kansas) as a part of the Taste section of KANSAS! Magazine's 250 Years of America issue. The main course was Seared Bison Ribeye Au Poivre, Chef Chris provided a simpler at-home recipe that features bison (or beef) stew. (KANSAS! Magazine 2026, vo. 82, issue 2, pp. 58-63)  

Menu for our seven-course meal. 

RECIPE

According to Chef Chris Coffman, “This is a true one-pot meal, a hearty and soulful stew that is perfect for a cold day, inspired by the spirit of the Kansas prairie. The secret is patience—browning the meat properly and letting it simmer slowly creates an incredibly rich flavor that can't be rushed.”  He added, “Beef can also be substituted for bison.”  

Essence of the Prairie Bison Stew with Savory Sage Cornbread  

8 servings

 

INGREDIENTS 

For the Bison Stew:

2 pounds bison (or beef) chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes 

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon kosher salt & 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

3 ounces bacon or salt pork, diced 

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and cut into1/2-inch thick half-moons

2 celery stalks, chopped (about 1/2-inch thickness)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup dark beer (like a Stout or Porter) or strong black coffee

4 cups beef broth, low sodium

1 bay leaf

3 sprigs fresh thyme

1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

 

For the Cornbread:

1 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt or 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped

 

INUSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare the Bison: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Add the bison cubes and toss until they are evenly coated.

Brown the Meat: In a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot. Working in batches, brown the floured bison cubes on all sides until a deep, dark crust forms; if needed, add additional cooking oil. Set the browned meat aside.

Build the Flavor Base: Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot; add additional cooking oil as needed. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the dark beer or coffee to deglaze, scraping the bottom vigorously. Let it reduce for 2 minutes. Return the browned bison to the pot. Add the beef broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it gently bubble for at least 2 hours, the longer you let it go, the more tender it will become. 

Add Vegetables: Add the potatoes and parsnips. Return to a simmer, cover, and cook for another 45-60 minutes, until the vegetables and bison are completely fork-tender.

 

Make the Cornbread: While the stew finishes, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease an 8-inch cast-iron skillet. In a bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk. Pour the wet into the dry, add the melted butter, and mix until just combined. Fold in the Cheddar and sage. Pour the batter into the skillet and bake for 20-25 minutes, just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Finish the Stew: Remove the bay leaf and thyme stems. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and reserved bacon. Season to taste.

 

Serve: Ladle the hot stew into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve with a warm slice of the cornbread.

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A few photos courtesy of Echo Dell Farm that highlight their outdoor dining venue, table settings, etc. 

Appropriately dubbed hand-crafted cocktails (Echo Dell Sunset, Neighbor Karen's Caramel Apple, Farmer's Old Fashioned are available in the Grain Bin Bar (photo courtesy of Echo Dell Farm).

Barry and I enjoyed every minute of our evening at Echo Dell Farm!

Recipe without photos . . . Essence of the Prairie Bison Stew with Savory Sage Cornbread  

8 servings

 

INGREDIENTS 

For the Bison Stew:

2 pounds bison (or beef) chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes 

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon kosher salt & 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

3 ounces bacon or salt pork, diced 

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and cut into1/2-inch thick half-moons

2 celery stalks, chopped (about 1/2-inch thickness)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup dark beer (like a Stout or Porter) or strong black coffee

4 cups beef broth, low sodium

1 bay leaf

3 sprigs fresh thyme

1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

 

For the Cornbread:

1 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt or 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped

 

INUSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare the Bison: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Add the bison cubes and toss until they are evenly coated.

 

Brown the Meat: In a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot. Working in batches, brown the floured bison cubes on all sides until a deep, dark crust forms; if needed, add additional cooking oil. Set the browned meat aside.

 

Build the Flavor Base: Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot; add additional cooking oil as needed. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

 

Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the dark beer or coffee to deglaze, scraping the bottom vigorously. Let it reduce for 2 minutes. Return the browned bison to the pot. Add the beef broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it gently bubble for at least 2 hours, the longer you let it go, the more tender it will become. 

 

Add Vegetables: Add the potatoes and parsnips. Return to a simmer, cover, and cook for another 45-60 minutes, until the vegetables and bison are completely fork-tender.

 

Make the Cornbread: While the stew finishes, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease an 8-inch cast-iron skillet. In a bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk. Pour the wet into the dry, add the melted butter, and mix until just combined. Fold in the Cheddar and sage. Pour the batter into the skillet and bake for 20-25 minutes, just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

 

Finish the Stew: Remove the bay leaf and thyme stems. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and reserved bacon. Season to taste.

 

Serve: Ladle the hot stew into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve with a warm slice of the cornbread.

 

Cheesy Cream of Cauliflower Soup

A sore tooth  for Barry means that we’ve been eating soft foods such as this Cream of Cauliflower Soup that is a combination of several online recipes. Most use a whole head of cauliflower and even though we really like it, we don’t want to eat it for a week . . . so I cut the recipe in half. Method: Veggies are lightly sautéed and then cooked until tender in broth; a cheesy roux (white sauce) is added to the tender veggies and broth to create a creamy soup that is even creamier if part of the soup is blended and re-added to the soup.

Cheesy Cream of Cauliflower Soup   5 to 6 servings

½ 1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons), divided

1/2 onion, finely diced 

1 carrot, finely diced 

1 celery stalk, finely diced 

1/2 cauliflower head, cored and roughly chopped 

2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley or about 1teaspoon dried

1 large bay leaf

3 to 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock (start with lesser amount and amount more to achieve desired consistency

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

1 1/2 cups whole milk (I used 1 cup whole milk &  1/2 cup half-and-half)

2 teaspoons salt and about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon black pepper  (or to taste) 

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (it could be omitted)

Paprika for garnishing, if desired 

1. Melt 2 tablespoon butter in a heavy pot over medium heat. 
2. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, and then stir and cook for a couple more minutes. 
3. Add cauliflower, parsley, bay leaf and broth. Bring to a boil on medium temperature and then lower temp and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until all veggies are tender.
   
4. Meantime, make the white sauce: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Then whisk in the flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook for a couple of minutes to avoid a flour taste
5.  Slowly add the milk, whisking to combine. Cook to thicken – the mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Add the cheese as the sauce thickens.
   
6. Pour white sauce mixture into the pot of veggies and broth. Add 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste; allow the soup to simmer for another 10 or more minutes. The soup will thicken slightly but shouldn't be overly thick. Give it a taste and add more salt if needed. (Soup may also be thinned with additional broth.)
7. To create a creamier soup, remove about 1 1/2 cups of soup and blend (with a hand-held blender or in a regular blender); re-add to soup. 
8. Sprinkle bowls of soup with paprika (if desired) to garnish. 
   
   
   

Recipe without photos . . .Cheesy Cream of Cauliflower Soup   5 to 6 servings

½ 1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons), divided

1/2 onion, finely diced 

1 carrot, finely diced 

1 celery stalk, finely diced 

1/2 cauliflower head, cored and roughly chopped 

2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley or about 1teaspoon dried

1 large bay leaf

3 to 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock (start with lesser amount and amount more to achieve desired consistency

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

1 1/2 cups whole milk (I used 1 cup whole milk &  1/2 cup half-and-half)

2 teaspoons salt and about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon black pepper  (or to taste) 

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (it could be omitted)

Paprika for garnishing, if desired 

1. Melt 2 tablespoon butter in a heavy pot over medium heat. 
2. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, and then stir and cook for a couple more minutes. 
3. Add cauliflower, parsley, bay leaf and broth. Bring to a boil on medium temperature and then lower temp and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until all veggies are tender.
4. Meantime, make the white sauce: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Then whisk in the flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook for a couple of minutes to avoid a flour taste
5.  Slowly add the milk, whisking to combine. Cook to thicken – the mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Add the cheese as the sauce thickens.
6. Pour white sauce mixture into the pot of veggies and broth. Add 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste; allow the soup to simmer for another 10 or more minutes. The soup will thicken slightly but shouldn't be overly thick. Give it a taste and add more salt if needed.  (Soup may also be thinned with additional broth.)
7. To create a creamier soup, remove about 1 1/2 cups of soup and blend (with a hand-held blender or in a regular blender); re-add to soup. 
8. Sprinkle bowls of soup with paprika (if desired) to garnish.

Stuffin' Muffins

Not sure what to call this dressing recipe baked in muffin tins.  Racheal Ray called them “Stuffin’ Muffins” so I’ll just go with that name. I made a batch to go with a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans . . . and gravy, of course. Baking the dressing individually ensures that each serving is crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Definitely no soggy dressing! This batch made 8 cups so I baked 6, served 4 (we had guests), had 2 baked ones for leftovers the next day and added 2 unbaked cups to the freezer for use at a later time. 

This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover bread while adding an interesting  bread-based component to a meat and potato type meal. Another use for leftover muffins: split in half, toast and top with creamed chicken or turkey . . . or a poached or fried egg.

 

Stouffin’ Muffins  Makes 8 muffi

10 ounces bread (ciabatta, French bread, any leftover bred on hand),cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 stick(4 tablespoons) room temperature butter, divided

3 to 4 ounces bulk breakfast pork sausage

1 cup finely chopped yellow onion

1 cup finely hopped celery

3/4 teaspoon koshet salt   

1 teaspoon fresh sage chopped or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage 

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme   

3/4 teaspoon black pepper 

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard 

1 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup chopped celery leaves

2 large eggs, beaten

1 1/4 cups chicken broth.stock (or beef broth  could be used if serving muffins with beef)

 

1. Grease the cups of a muffin tin with 1 tablespoon of the butter.(I used a  6 cup muffin tin and 2 custand cups.  Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour. (This isn't about preventing sticking as much as it is creating a crispy crust.)
2. Preapare bread: Heat y oven to 250℉. Arrange the bread pieces between on a  half sheet pan and bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour. The bread should be crisp and dried without browning. Transfer to a large mixing bowl
3. Cook t\sausage in a medium sized cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up any chunks with the back of a wooden spoon or potato masher; cook until the fat has rendered out, and the sausage is browned, about 6 minutes.
4. Add remaining butter to the skillet of sausage; then add the onion, celery, salt, pepper, sage, thyme, dry mustard, and rosemary and cook for 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley and celery leaves. Cool for 5 minutes and add to bowl of bread; mxi to combine 
5. Combine the eggs and broth in measuring cup or bowl, then add to the bread bowl mixture  in two installments, allowing the first to be absorbed before adding the second.
6. Retrieve the buttered muffin tin from the fridge and using an ice cream or cookie scoop (or large spoon) fill the muffin cups, evenly distributing amongst the cups and shaping roughly into mounds.
7. Tear a piece of aluminum foil (large enough to cover the muffin tin), spray the dull side with no-stick spray. Cover the muffins tightly with the foil (lubed side down of course), and refrigerate for several hours, overnight, or up to two days. 
8. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350℉. Then remove the muffin tin from the fridge and place directly onto the middle rack of the oven, and bake for 20 minutes. Then, carefully remove the foil and bake 35 more minutes, until the dressing is deeply browned and crisp.
9. Remove and cool for at least 15 minutes on a cooling rack. To release, loosen the edges of the muffins with a small offset spatula or butter knife until the muffins release from the pan.

Steak Soup (KC Plaza)

Chockfull of steak, ground beef and vegetables, this thick soup is hearty and filling. A perfect dish for a winter holiday meal prepared by my sister Marla Newell Payne. Although there are many variations of KC Plaza Steak Soup (all claiming to be authentic), her recipe came from  Debbie Meyer-Gore’s “Good Friends Great Taste” cookbook. I did make a few CHANGES as outlined below:

1) Debbie’s recipe calls for round steak but does not specific top or bottom round. We purchased bottom round and adjusted her recipe to allow the beef to cook longer in order for it to be fork tender. 

2) We added extra salt and a pinch of ground thyme near the end to enhance the taste. Since ingredients as well as tastes vary, adjust seasonings to suit your own tastes. 

3) I made the soup early afternoon and then added it to a crockpot to finish cooking for a supper party later in the evening. Make ahead instructors are explained in step #5.  

4) Recipe said it served 6 but we easily had 16+ serving. It makes a lot!

Steak Soup   Serves 16+ 

2 ½ lbs. round steak, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil for browning steak

9 cups water, divided use

2 tablespoons beef base (we used Better than Bouillon)

1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 lb. ground beef (we used an 80/20 blend)

4 carrots, peeled and diced (or sliced)

4 stalks celery, diced (or sliced)

1 onion, diced

1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables (we used a combo of frozen corn & peas)

1 (28 oz.) can diced or chopped tomatoes, undrained

½ cup (1 stick) butter (I used salted)

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce

Additional seasoning as desired: We used 1 scant tablespoon kosher salt & about ¼ teaspoon ground thyme

1.    In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the round steak in olive oil until it loses it’s pink color. Transfer to a large soup pot or Dutch oven.

2.   To the steak in the soup pot, add 8 cups water, beef base and pepper. Bring to a boil and then simmer until beef is almost fork tender, about 1+ hour. 

3.   While steak is simmering, cook the ground beef in the same skillet used to brown the steak until it loses its pink color. Drain any excess grease and add to the soup pot. 

4.   Add carrots, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil and then simmer another 30 minutes until vegetables as steak are tender.

5.   At least 15 minutes before serving, add frozen mixed vegetables and canned tomatoes.  Note: After adding the frozen vegetable, I made and added the thickener (steps #6) and then transferred the soup to crockpot set on low and allowed it to cook for a couple of additional hours. 

6.   Make the thickener by melting the butter in a saucepan and slowly whisking in 1 cup flour. Add 1 cup cold water and some hot soup llquid until mixture is smooth. When smooth, add to the hot soup; continue to whisk the soup over the heat to be sure theyre are no clumps of thickener. Add Kitchen Bouquet to enhance flavor and color. Taste and add additional seasonings (such as salt and thyme).

Recipe without photos . . .Steak Soup   Serves 16+ 

2 ½ lbs. round steak, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil for browning steak

9 cups water, divided use

2 tablespoons beef base (we used Better than Bouillon)

1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper

1 lb. ground beef (we used an 80/20 blend)

4 carrots, peeled and diced (or sliced)

4 stalks celery, diced (or sliced)

1 onion, diced

1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables (we used a combo of frozen corn & peas)

1 (28 oz.) can diced or chopped tomatoes, undrained

½ cup (1 stick) butter (I used salted)

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce

Additional seasoning as desired: We used 1 scant tablespoon kosher salt & about ¼ teaspoon ground thyme

 

1.   In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the round steak in olive oil until it loses it’s pink color. Transfer to a large soup pot or Dutch oven.

2.   To the steak in the soup pot, add 8 cups water, beef base and pepper. Bring to a boil and then simmer until beef is almost fork tender, about 1+ hour. 

3.   While steak is simmering, cook the ground beef in the same skillet used to brown the steak until it loses its pink color. Drain any excess grease and add to the soup pot. 

4.   Add carrots, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil and then simmer another 30 minutes until vegetables as steak are tender.

5.   At least 15 minutes before serving, add frozen mixed vegetables and canned tomatoes.  Note: After adding the frozen vegetable, I made and added the thickener (steps #6) and then transferred the soup to crockpot set on low and allowed it to cook for a couple of additional hours. 

6.   Make the thickener by melting the butter in a saucepan and slowly whisking in 1 cup flour. Add 1 cup cold water and some hot soup llquid until mixture is smooth. When smooth, add to the hot soup; continue to whisk the soup over the heat to be sure theyre are no clumps of thickener. Add Kitchen Bouquet to enhance flavor and color. Taste and add additional seasonings (such as salt and thyme).

LeSueur Pea Salad

As we entered her apartment at Homestead Virginia (soon to be 102 at the time) sputtered, “We just had the worst macaroni and cheese — baked so long it was dry and served with frozen peas that were still frozen! Simply horrified by that meal, her mind conjured up an old-time favorite. “Do you remember LeSueur Pea Salad? Virginia recalls, “By the time we were finished making it, the counter was lined with cans.  It has peas, green beans, some kind of special corn, celery, a whole lot of things. We served it with just about anything and took it to potlucks, too.”

Besides being quite tasty, the salad will keep for several days stored in a covered container in the refrigerator

Shoepeg corn is a white and sweeter than other corn. It is characterized by small, narrow kernels and it's flavor is described as sweet and mild. 

LeSueur Pea Salad  (also know as Shoe Peg Corn Salad & Mainiated Salad)  

About 8 servings

Salad:

1 (15 ounce) can LaSure peas, drained

1 (15 ounce) can Shoepeg corn, drained

1 (15 ounce) can French cut green beans, drained

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/2  cup chopped onion

1 (2 ounce) jar pimentos

Vinaigrette:

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup white  vinegar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Assemble salad: Mix together peas, corn, green beans, celery, bell pepper, onion, and pimentos in a large bowl.
2. Make vinaigrette: Combine sugar, vinegar, oil, salt, and black pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Pour boiling vinaigrette over salad; stir to coat. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Valentine Diner Fare . . . as featured in KANSAS! magazine

 In a nod to by-gone days and a tribute to the owners who are currently operating Valentine diners, I wrote an article titled “Space Age Diners” for the vol. 80, issue 5 2024 issue of KANSAS! magazine (pp 50-57). It was easy to get caught up in the history of those diners that were manufactured in Wichita  I discovered that ValentineManufacturing Company constructed portable, self-contained, prefabricated metal units in Wichita from the late 1930s into the mid-1970s. It has been estimated that 2,200 Valentines were built and shipped across the country; over 90 of those remained in Kansas. 

While over 90 Valentine structures have been documented in Kansas, I discovered just 17 that are either still serving food or have plans to open in the near or distant future (see list that follows the recipes). 

 After many years of wear and tear, they are showing their age and are in various states of repair but on our trek across Kansas, Barry and I ate some fantastic food. We didn’t make it to all but we have hopes of sampling more diner food in the future. 

As always, recipes were included with the Taste feature . . .  

SWEET TREATS — Behind the front counter in the LoMar Diner in Eureka is a vintage Taylor Soft-Serve Ice Cream machine that is used to crank out all kinds of sweet treats—cones, cups of ice cream, hand-blended milkshakes and malts made with real malt powder. A diner reviewer from Texas called their chocolate milkshake “the best from here to the west coast.” Owners and operators Daniel & Desiree’ McVey tout other ice cream favorites that include Tornados (soft-serve ice cream mixed with a large choice of candies), Peach Milkshake (a LorMar original milkshake made with real peaches and the same secret ingredient used by the original owners Loy and Mary Browning), and The Marshmallow Nut Cup. Specialties such as these were just one of the reasons this iconic diner represented Kansas as “The Best Drive-In Restaurant in Every State” in the May 2023 online edition of Mash.

 

LoMar Drive In MARSHMALLOW NUT CUP

Yield:  1 serving

Total preparation time: About 2 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 (9-ounce) clear plastic PET cup or any clear cup/glass

4-ounces (1/2 cup) marshmallow crème 

4-ounces coarsely chopped roasted and salted peanuts

6-ounces (3/4 cup) soft-serve ice cream, vanilla, chocolate or twist ice cream

 

DIRECTIONS

1.   Drizzle 2 ounces of gooey marshmallow crème around the sides of the cup. 

2.   Sprinkle 2 ounces of the peanuts around the sides of the cup, allowing it to stick to the marshmallow crème. 

3.   Fill cup with 4 ounces of soft-serve ice cream (most popular is vanilla). 

4.   Pat the cup 2 to 3 times lightly on a hard surface in order to shift the ice cream into the cup more evenly and push out any air pockets. Fill the cup with the remaining ice cream, allowing a gap around the inside rim of the cup, forming a peak in the middle. 

5.   Drizzle the remaining 2 ounces of marshmallow crème over the peak, allowing it to drip into the open gap. 

6.   Top with the remaining peanuts. 

7.   Add a spoon and serve immediately!

 

The Grinder Man Tuna Salad Sub is based on a sandwich that Paul Donyon’s Italian grandmother made for him back in Rhode Island. It features simple ingredients punched up with the addition of chili sauce and crunchy celery. Like all their subs, it is served on locally baked white or wheat Italian rolls.

THE GRINDER MAN TUNA SUB

Yield: 4 to 6 serving 

INGREDIENTS 

3 small (5 –ounce) cans water-packed tuna, drained  

10  ounces (1 ¼ cups) mayonnaise

2 ½ ounces (heaping ¼ cup) chili sauce

2 ribs of celery, finely chopped

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.     Combine all ingredients and lightly mix. 

2.     Serve on Italian sub rolls with lettuce. 

 

Travel guide to vintage Valentine Diners that still serve food or are in the process of renovation. (Details about each are included in the article.)   

1.     Dighton — Frigid Creme, 433 E. Long St., (620) 397-5512. 

2.     Eureka — LoMar Drive In, 916 East River, (620) 583-7810. 

3.     Galena — Hotrod Hangout, Speed Shop & Diner, 201 S Main, (785) 577-9752.  Opening later in 2024.

4.     Grandview Plaza (near Junction City) — Stacy's Restaurant, 118 W Flint Hills Boulevard, (785) 238-3039. 

5.     Hugoton — Acosta’s & Nieto’s Café, 110 W 4th St, (620) 544-4004. T 

6.     Meade — Bob's Drive-In, 801 Carthage St, (620) 873-2862. 

7.     Ness City — Frigid Cream, 501 E. Sycamore St., (785) 798-2424. 

8.     Mission — The Snack Shack on Johnson Drive, 6018 Johnson Drive, (913) 381-3200. N 

9.     Parsons  — Big Sky Bistro, 1500 Main St. Undergoing major remodeling and renovation, this Valentine Burger Bar model is set to reopen in 2024.   

10.  Overland Park— Grandstand Burgers, 4942 Merriam Dr. (913) 362-0111.

11.  Pleasanton — Cookee's Drive-In, 102 E 12th St, (913) 352-8789. 

12.  Smith Center — Pete’s, 114 E. Hwy 36, (785) 686-3223. 

13.  St. John  — The Diner, 106 N. Main. In the process of a major renovation. 

14.  Wichita — Chicken Chicken, 2419 E 13th St, (316) 295-3848.

15.  Wichita — Grinder Man, 510 E Pawnee, (316) 264-3462. Cash only. 

16.  Wichita —Mr. Taco/Tacos Alex, 711 W 25^th St N., (316) 663-5019. 

17.  Wichita — Sport Burger Drive-In, 134 N Hillside, (316) 350-7679.