Cookbook Book Club - July -- Gobbler's Roost

There is a restaurant outside of Nevada

That's been in business eight years or so

And except for me, none of the Cookbook Book Club had been there

They're usually open on Fridays and Saturdays

but in June, they also do Thursdays

(which is Cookbook Book Club night)

so this week we ventured East

to Nevada and "the boonies" to dine at

It is on gravel roads

(so don't wash your car before you go -- you'll have to wash after!)

The property consists of a cabin, an event center and the restaurant

owned by Kent and Kathy Abele

And there are turkeys "everywhere"

Even turkey tracks on the floor.

On Thursday's it's an abbreviated menu.

Normally, dinner consists of appetizer, soup, salad, bread, entree with potato and dessert for one price

But on Thursdays, appetizers are separate.   There is no soup and dessert is ice cream.

Kathy, for us, made us appetizers and a dessert

But alas, we had no soup!

The group was enchanted by the property and restaurant

(And amazed that I could drive right to it!!!)

As we say every month --

"It was the best one"!!!

The food:

Appetizers:

Onion rings

Everybody agreed they were the best ever!

(and believe me, we live in "onion ring" country so that's quite a compliment!)

We inhaled them!

Spanikopita

served with an Asian sauce

OMG was it good!

 A salad with choice of Housemade Sweet Onion vinaigrette or Ranch

We all chose the vinaigrette, fell in love, and were clamoring for the recipe!

Some of our entrees:

Sara chose ribs

Donna chose pork chop

Michelle was one of four fried chicken eaters!

Sorry, did not get a picture of the steak eaters!

I chose fried chicken as well.    Delicious and enough that I took the breast home

and we both shared it for lunch!

Those "little brown things" on the plate?    They're called M and L potatoes.

Why M and L.    They stand for Mary and Lonnie

Who ran Marlon's Cafe in Bronaugh for years!

That was the way they fixed their "baked potatoes"

(it's hard to call something "baked" when it's never seen an oven -- but Marlon's did!)

I like that Kathy kept a little bit of local history in her choice of potato

And we did have ice cream for dessert

(it came with the meal)

But then Kathy made for us:

This wonderful summer dessert.

Two kinds of sherbet rolled into an angel food cake!

Perfect!!!!

 We were happy campers!

And full campers!

After dinner, Kathy gave us a tour of the kitchen.

A small kitchen to be sure

And we learned a lot

We also fell in love with the Sweet Onion Salad Dressing

And bottles can be bought to bring home

Which several of us did!

Kathy wouldn't give us the recipe but she did share the ingredients

(it's no secret -- it's on the label!)

My goal this week is to try to replicate it!

(And I think I can!)

We'll all be back.

It's really that good of a restaurant

A hidden gem in Vernon County, Missouri