While walking around the town square in Altus, I kept being hit with the unmistakable smell of fajitas cooking. The smell drew me into a small little building on the corner of US Highway 62 and Hudson Street. This little place is a true hidden gem in Altus.
I like to judge a Mexican restaurant on their chimichangas, these were different than I have had anywhere else. I got 3 small chimichangas (instead of the normal big one), with the usual side of beans and rice. There was actually something refreshing with these chimichangas, they weren’t drenched in sauce, they were just plain which allowed me to experience more of the meat and fried tortilla flavors. The ground beef inside was spiced nicely with just a bit of cheese and the tortillas didn’t have that greasy taste that sometimes is a downside of chimichangas. The rise was really good, had a buttery Hispanic taste that was also something that was refreshing. The refried beans were more of a soup type than what I’m used to as well. I’m still torn on them but I know there are people who like them to be runny. The chips and salsa were also good, the chips were fresh and light, the salsa had a good kick to it.
So if you find yourself in Altus, take a walk around their historic town square and stop in at Taqueria Hernandez. The staff was friendly and the decor was beautiful, with hand painted walls. The outside of the building has a look that reminds me of the old 1950’s diners. I’ll give them 5 strips of bacon.
A few weekends ago, I got the pleasure of touring the 1937 mansion of Dr WH Slaughter in northeast Oklahoma City. Situated on a 7 acre piece of land on NE 50th Street, just to the east of I-35, this home is a hidden gem and home to a vital member of Oklahoma City history.
Wyatt Hardy Slaughter was born in Alabama in 1872 and attended Walden University, then later Meharry Medical College, both in Nashville, TN, graduating around 1892. He arrived in Oklahoma City in 1903and became the first African American doctor in the new city. He worked with Dr WL Haywood to build the Utopia Hospital on NE 1st and later they established the Great Western Hospital in NE Oklahoma City. He practiced medicine in his own personal office in the Deep Deuce area of Oklahoma City, placing his Slaughter Buidling at 327 NE 2nd. This 3-story building was used for retail, housing his wife’s family’s pharmacy as well as the home of the Dunbar Library. Side note, none of these buildings are extant any longer, most succumbing to the wrecking ball in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was also active in real estate, banking, as well as oil and gas. A public servant for many years, he was on many boards and committees. After retirement in 1949, he dedicated himself to building a YMCA on the NE side as well as a new school (current Frederick Douglass High School). He passed away in 1952, buried in Trice Hill Cemetery along side family. In 1907, he married Edna Randolph, the daughter of Jefferson Davis Randolph, the first African American Teacher in in Oklahoma City who founded the first black school at California and Harvey (what is now right in the middle of the Myriad Gardens).
Dr Slaughter purchased a 40 acre plot on NE 50th Street near Bryant Avenue in 1916 and built this home in 1937. The drive to the house is a old meandering paved trail that gives you a beautiful view of the mansion before leading you to a parking area next to the home. Being perched on a hill, the home dominates the landscape. The large stones that have been used in the construction also draw your eye to the home. Massive arches frame the east side of the house, these also provide a beautiful view of the countryside from the porch as well.
I wasn’t able to take pictures inside, but the home has been restored. After entering the home, you are in a foyer that to the left leads to the living area and to the right, a den or office, plus a hall to a bedroom suite. The dining is off the living area and also leads to a small kitchen. Upstairs are bedrooms, bathrooms, and storage areas. The two bedrooms that were open both had spacious bathrooms attached to them. One bathroom also led to an open air porch that is right above the front doors. There is a third floor but there was no access for guests. On the grounds are the remains of a well house and windmill. A functioning garage and small storage building are also original to the home and have been updated.
Over the years, parcels from the original 40 acres have been sold off. The house was empty for a time and vandals did hit the property. The home is in private ownership now and used for various events also rented out as an Airbnb. The property has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as of 2018. If you see a chance to visit this beautiful home, I highly recommend it.
Nic’s Grill is known around the country, several tv shows have featured it, many magazines have done stories on it. My first visit was a few years ago, at the time it was only open during the week for lunch. Even though we got there early, my claustrophobia set in and we got the burgers to go. Now after a 30-minute drive back home I wasn’t really impressed with the burger. But I wanted to give them another chance, I just needed to work through being in such a small place.
While passing it a few months ago, I found out that they are now open on Saturday as well. So I took a long breath and went in. To say this place is tiny is an understatement, there is a long counter with 9 stools overlooking the grill, a shorter counter near the window on one side of the door and 2 small tables on the other side of the door. I felt it best to sit in the corner with one window behind me and another I could see out. The menu was pretty straightforward, burger or cheeseburger, by themselves or in a combo. You do get a selection of cheese and can get add ons like bacon or mushrooms. The only sides are curly fries.
My order was taken quickly even though they only have 2 employees, one on the grill and one doing everything else. I didn’t wait long for lunch to be delivered. The curly fries were the first thing I tried, freshly cut, fried, and lightly salted. They were really enjoyable and a reminder that simple can be good. Then the burger, it was huge. Lettuce, tomato, pickles, lots of fried onions and melty cheese all piled on top a nice sized patty with a soft bun. I was pleasantly surprised how good it was, juicy, needed to use both hands to eat it. I really wish I had tried it fresh years ago, was much better experience this time around.
I keep mentioning it was a small place, it really is. No place for large groups or small children (I did watch parents realize this when they opened the door). It’s just an old time burger stand, not seen like this in many years. Only open for the lunch crowd and still closed on Sunday. I will go back as long as I can sit near the windows again, I’ll give them 5 strips of bacon.
I say all the time, there are lots of burger places in the Oklahoma City metro but only a few have been good. Burger Punk is one I’ve heard about but hadn’t tried until last weekend.
What started as a food truck, has now evolved into a brick-and-mortar location on the east side of the Paseo District. Painted all in black, it looks like an interesting place to try. The black theme continued inside, with pink and purple lights accenting the tables and bar. We took a seat near the window and immediately had someone there to help us find their online menu and take our drink order. We both tried their March special- Mushroom Whiskey Burger. This nice sized burger had truffle mayo, lots of mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and a sauce called Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Our orders came out pretty quick, and this burger was outstanding. The meat had a nice flavor and was juicy. The mix of the truffle mayo and the whiskey sauce really worked on this burger. There was a small pool of sauce that had run off the burger and I was dipping it in the sauce because it was so good. It wasn’t strong with the whisky flavor and had more of a honey type texture. I love truffles and the mayo was perfect, had the right truffle earthiness to it. I got the lil macaroni as a side, this mac and cheese had large rigatoni smothered in a tangy cheese sauce. Add in some roasted jalapenos and top it off with some panko breadcrumbs, this really complimented the burger. Big K got the crinkle cut fries, also doused in what they call “liquid gold”.
I’m excited to try them again, the service was great. The dining room and bar area were a bit small but there’s also a patio area which will be good now that spring and summer are about here. Not going to lie, not a lot of parking. I got lucky and got a space right up front but I know it can get crazy in that area. Overall I really enjoyed my first trip, 5 strips of bacon.
With all of this talk about aliens, time for me to talk about one of my favorite places on the planet- Devils Tower. It was most famously used in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind back in 1977. I have gotten to visit twice and loved each visit.
In the corner of northeast Wyoming, north of I-90, is a really cool geological feature, Devils Tower. I first learned of it back in 1977 while watching Close Encounters of the Third. As a kid it was fascinating this was a real place, I really wondered if aliens landed here. Of course it was just a movie, aliens didn’t land there (or did they) but Devils Tower was real and I always wanted to visit. My first trip there was in 2011. We made a quick side trip to see it. I know it’s a revered site for many of the indigenous tribes around the site and I could feel a sense of calm while I was there. We have talked about how much we loved visiting the first time so finally last year we took a second trip and it was just as much fun as the first.
To get there, get off I-90 on to US 14 at either Sundance or Moorcroft and head north. You will see the tower peeking over hills at different times. When you get to Wyoming State Highway 24, keep heading north and there will be places to stop for great views of the tower. After a few more miles you reach Wyoming State Highway 110, turn west. You know you’re in the right place, the tower rises above the valley like a silent monument to nature. There is a campground as well as Devils Tower Trading Post. The trading post is fun, they have t-shirts, ornaments, stickers, and anything else you could think of related to Devils Tower.
Continuing on, you will stop at the entrance station to get into the park. Then drive past a huge prairie dog town, then into a pine forest. Finally the tower emerges from the trees near the parking lot. After a brief stop in the visitors center, head to the Tower trail. Now I’m not going to lie, this trail is easy but you better be in shape. It’s only a 1.3 mile paved trail but there are lots of ups and downs. There are a few other trails to explore if you have but this is the main trail around the tower. You can get close to it plus see the views around the tower. There are so many things to see on this hike, small animals, native flowers, plus plenty of birds.
The history behind this beautiful place is fascinating. The Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Crow, and Lakota all have tales that include the tower and bears. If you visit the National Park Service website you can read them, interesting how they are almost the same but yet different in their own ways. Even though it was mostly referred to as Bear Lodge by the natives in the area, the name Devils Tower was given to it in by some of the first white explorers around 1876. In 1892, the area was first set aside as a forest reserve by Wyoming Senator Francis Warren. He fought to get it recognized as a national park but no action was taken at the time. In 1906 the Antiquities Act was passed and Wyoming Representative Frank Mondell convinced President Theodore Roosevelt to name it as the first national monument in the United States.
I’m already to visit Devils Tower again. So beautiful and peaceful.
Update: They have moved to a new address. They are now in a new building along with The Produce Gal. Still a quiet place to write, read, or relax. They do have a larger menu, not just for drinks for food and baked goods. The Produce Gal also runs a small market with local products and produce. I had a frappe latte with lavender which was really good. I also loved my bagel sandwich with egg, cheese, and bacon. So check them out, still good food and great service, just a new location.
I often write in my office at home but sometimes I need someplace quieter with no distractions. I have found a great place to get some coffee, breakfast, and some quiet, MentaliTea and Coffee in Bethany.
On NW 36th Street just to the east of Southern Plaza retirement center, this small building looks industrial but inside is a quiet inviting space. I ordered one of their signature drinks, a lavender latte with a breakfast biscuit that had bacon added. I took a seat in a cozy nook near a window, with a comfy seat and a table to work from, I could look out the window when writers block struck. My latte came out in a cute white mug, with a latte art flower on top. I let it cool while I waited for the biscuit, which soon followed. The biscuit was huge, covered the small plate. It was homemade, buttery and flaky, the bacon added a bit of smoky flavor to it. The latte was smooth, the lavender just added a smoothness to the drink. Even though some people came in, the vibe stayed calm. I stayed for almost 2 hours, just thinking, writing, and enjoying my food.
This will be a new go-to place for me when I need to clear my mind. I will give them 5 strips of bacon, and some peace and quiet.
While out on a road trip to see small towns in Oklahoma, I went through Blair just north of Altus. Cute town, lots of old buildings still being used, including a few restaurants. It was lunch time so I was early for Backdoor Steakhouse (it opened at 5p, I would like to try it though), so I tried the small Luigi’s Pizzeria right next door.
Located on their Main Street, just to the east of US Highway 283, if you aren’t looking for it you’ll miss it. Painted up in blue, you go in through the front door and are greeted with a beautiful tin ceiling. There are vintage signs around the small dining room with a cool old Coke machine in the corner. We were told to sit anywhere, so we sat next to that Coke machine. We were quickly brought some toasted garlic bread with a vinegar and olive oil dip. It was so good, crisp on the outside and buttery soft in the middle. We ordered a medium pizza with a garlic crust, alfredo, pepperoni, black olives, and mushrooms. We waited about 15 minutes for the pizza to be done, and it came out piping hot. Everything was great and the garlic crust gave it a bit of extra flavor.
Luigi’s has been serving pizza and other Italian dishes to southwestern Oklahoma for over 20 years, they have a second location on the east side of Altus. I loved the atmosphere of the Blair location, quiet with an old time charm. I’ll be happy to drive to Blair to get a pizza with them again, 5 strips of bacon.
Address: 118 E Main St., Blair; 20650 US-62, Altus.
If you are looking for some really good Mexican food in Bethany, head to downtown Bethany across from SNU and check out Brirrieria Diaz. I have heard of it for quite some time and a few months ago was our first visit. We’ve been back several times because it is so good.
It’s located on the east corner of the downtown area, just a small restaurant. You can park on NW 39th or drive around back to the larger parking lot. Once inside, we are always seated quickly. Fresh corn tortilla chips along with really good queso and salsa are brought to the table. The salsa is fresh and not to spicy, the queso is creamy with a touch of sharp flavor. I have gotten the beef enchilada dinner a couple of times and it has been great. Always cooked to perfection, the ground beef has a nice flavor. But my new favorite is the tacos diaz, 3 flour tortillas filled with steak, ham, bacon, onions, peppers, and mozzarella cheese. These are wonderful, the different flavors just compliment each other. The meat is grilled and is tender, the veggies are also grilled and liven up the taco. It’s served with rice and beans. The rice is good but I really like their beans, I have tasted bits of bacon in them which I love.
I highly recommend trying them out, they have a breakfast menu that I need to try soon. I give them 5 strips of bacon.
I love new restaurants, but I love them more when they’re close to home so I was excited to hear about the opening of Taqueria El Camino a few weeks ago. They originally opened in the Edmond Railyard back in October 2019 and business was so good they now have their own location on North MacArthur in Oklahoma City.
Being an introvert, I was apprehensive about going in, I could see they were really busy with the Friday night crowd but Big K wasn’t going to let that deter us. He went in and found out they had tables open, so in I went. They mostly specialize in tacos but have a few other items as well. We started with just basic chips and queso. These were awesome. The chips were fried flour tortillas with seasoning on them and the queso had a tang to it, I would have these everyday if I could. I went with the coconut shrimp taco and brisket barbacoa taco with the sides of waffle fries and cilantro lime rice. The tacos were good sized, the coconut shrimp taco had a nice pile of slaw on top, gave it a beachy type feel. The brisket barbacoa taco also had the slaw with some cotija cheese on top, the brisket was cooked perfectly, melted in my mouth. The cilantro rice was really good, had a light flavor to it. And the waffle fries were perfect, not those sad ones you get from Chick-fil-A. These were fried crip with seasoning over them that gave them a great flavor. I also had a lavender berry margarita, this was a real treat, sweet with a touch of lavender flavor. Big K had the chorizo guac taco and a quesa carnitas taco with the sides of zesty slaw and elote. He loved both tacos, they had crispy cheese fried onto the tortillas. He thought the slaw had a flavor that was different, and he fell in love with the elote (elote is grilled street corn, I tried a bite and it was good).
The only real downside is that it did take a bit to get our entrees. Like I said at the beginning, they were really busy. They just opened at this location in December and getting a lot of attention. I will be going back to try more of their menu offerings and will give them 5 strips of bacon.
We sent Miss Mae back to Norman for the spring semester last week but of course some of her books hadn’t arrived before she left. They showed up a few days later and on Saturday morning we decided to deliver them as well as take her out for breakfast at one of her many favorite places to enjoy a coffee, Haystack Coffee.
This small coffee shop is run by the OU Baptist Collegiate Ministry and is just southwest of the campus dorms. It was quiet on Saturday morning, just another small group was meeting there, so we just sat and enjoyed our coffee while conversing about the upcoming semester. All 3 of us thought the snowman latte sounded good. This special latte for winter has peppermint, maple, cinnamon, white chocolate, espresso, and whipped cream. It was different but good. Each sip you could just get a hint of each flavor, it was the perfect drink for the cool morning. We also had some cinnamon rolls made for Haystack by Buttercream Bakery. These came in small containers and could be heated, a nice sized roll with lots of buttercream icing topping it.
Haystack Coffee is a straight up coffee shop that was started in 2019. Even though it’s in the ministry building, the coffee shop is separate from the rest of the building. Even though it is near the campus, it is not part of OU. It’s right across the street to the south of the old Stubbeman Village and to the southwest of Adams Tower, both will be demolished soon. You will need to text your tag number to a verification service to prove you are a customer and not just parking there to go to a game or class. I give them 5 strips of bacon.
The Fat Okie 