Tuesday, June 21, 2005
SEPTEMBER....1993
Becky, Bear and I went to visit George over Labor Day week-end. It would be the last holiday we would have until Veteran’s Day in November….typically the last of the “summer holiday’s.” The high-ways were full of cars heading for the lake areas or family gatherings to have one last fling before school started. We drove up on Friday evening after work to avoid as much of the rush as we could. Travel is always treacherous but at holiday time the risk is much greater.
We arrived at George’s around 10:30pm, carried in our luggage and visited with George and Mac-dog for a while before turning in for the night. The next day we did some shopping and Becky’s high-school friend came by in the afternoon to visit. For our evening meal we decided to go to my favorite place….Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant. I mentioned this before in a blog but misspelled the name. This is the correct spelling. Phyllis was interested in the place and I decided to put a little information about the restaurant for those of you who might be interested as well. It is taken from the introduction of a cook-book purchased there.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE APPLE FARM RESTAURANT
In 1870, when Highway 40 was a mud road, the Stephenson fruit and vegetable farm had it’s beginning. From a little, one-room stone building, our grandparents sold home-grown produce to folks traveling between Lee’s Summit and Independence. Old Timers say the little building was regarded as the half-way point between these two towns. Like most early Missouri settler’s our grandparents smoked meats, made apple butter, canned their own fruits and vegetables. And so, on April 16, 1946, when we opened our restaurant in the original stone building, it seemed natural to call it The Apple Farm. We had 10 booths then and served only 38 people the first day.
Then, as now, we served old-fashioned hickory smoked meats, home-made apple butter, preserves and relishes-all prepared in our kitchens in the unique manner which our grandparents had taught us.
Gradually, during seven remodelings the original stone building has been engulfed. It remains, however, as part of the restaurant’s superstructure.
In 1935 Norman, our older brother, joined father in the orchard business. Since then, the orchard acreage has spread from Lee’s Summit to locations in Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Sibley. From these orchard’s come our fresh apples, peaches, berries and the sweet cider which we serve all year long. Fresh produce from these orchards can also be bought, in season, at Norman’s stand next to the restaurant.
We join the young men and women who are serving you in a warm welcome.
Les and Loyd
The Twins
This cookbook was republished in 1967 and I know there have been many changes since but not in their wonderful food or the service.
We were able to visit some of our old friends, relax on George’s comfortable deck and enjoy his grilling. We always look forward to his burgers and he always looks forward to my Toll House cookies. We left on Monday early enough that we missed the worst of the traffic. We ate supper in Springfield and got home in time to unpack and do laundry. The next day would be another work-day.
The rest of the month was routine. We had rain again after a dry summer but it came in the midst of a storm and flooded a lot of people. For now, the rains would be more frequent and the dry earth and vegetation drank in the moisture…….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
We arrived at George’s around 10:30pm, carried in our luggage and visited with George and Mac-dog for a while before turning in for the night. The next day we did some shopping and Becky’s high-school friend came by in the afternoon to visit. For our evening meal we decided to go to my favorite place….Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant. I mentioned this before in a blog but misspelled the name. This is the correct spelling. Phyllis was interested in the place and I decided to put a little information about the restaurant for those of you who might be interested as well. It is taken from the introduction of a cook-book purchased there.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE APPLE FARM RESTAURANT
In 1870, when Highway 40 was a mud road, the Stephenson fruit and vegetable farm had it’s beginning. From a little, one-room stone building, our grandparents sold home-grown produce to folks traveling between Lee’s Summit and Independence. Old Timers say the little building was regarded as the half-way point between these two towns. Like most early Missouri settler’s our grandparents smoked meats, made apple butter, canned their own fruits and vegetables. And so, on April 16, 1946, when we opened our restaurant in the original stone building, it seemed natural to call it The Apple Farm. We had 10 booths then and served only 38 people the first day.
Then, as now, we served old-fashioned hickory smoked meats, home-made apple butter, preserves and relishes-all prepared in our kitchens in the unique manner which our grandparents had taught us.
Gradually, during seven remodelings the original stone building has been engulfed. It remains, however, as part of the restaurant’s superstructure.
In 1935 Norman, our older brother, joined father in the orchard business. Since then, the orchard acreage has spread from Lee’s Summit to locations in Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Sibley. From these orchard’s come our fresh apples, peaches, berries and the sweet cider which we serve all year long. Fresh produce from these orchards can also be bought, in season, at Norman’s stand next to the restaurant.
We join the young men and women who are serving you in a warm welcome.
Les and Loyd
The Twins
This cookbook was republished in 1967 and I know there have been many changes since but not in their wonderful food or the service.
We were able to visit some of our old friends, relax on George’s comfortable deck and enjoy his grilling. We always look forward to his burgers and he always looks forward to my Toll House cookies. We left on Monday early enough that we missed the worst of the traffic. We ate supper in Springfield and got home in time to unpack and do laundry. The next day would be another work-day.
The rest of the month was routine. We had rain again after a dry summer but it came in the midst of a storm and flooded a lot of people. For now, the rains would be more frequent and the dry earth and vegetation drank in the moisture…….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
