Penny's Diner in Missouri Valley IA

 

 You’re not yourself when you’re hungry, right? Well imagine a time when a quick bite to eat was off of a “lunch wagon”.. Yep, a humble wagon - old school buggy hanging out on muddy streets waiting to assist the hungry masses as they leave their places of work, school or duty. With cars taking over the roads, for optimal public safety and as a deterrent to lingering in what were now roadways, chowing down on  grub in the street signaled it was time for a change. Thus arrived the necessity of a stationary place where meals could be prepared and served for both timeliness and cleanliness.

Enter Diners! Shortened from the word “dining car” like its rumbling yet elegant sisters on trains, Diners were prefabricated sleek chrome buildings that could be trucked to a location and put together onsite, ready to feed hangry travelers. Three American manufacturers started building and shipping out these early space age looking capsules in the early 1900s. Read on at Atlas Obscura for more mouth watering history (1). 

 

In Iowa, Penny’s Diner chain is still happily providing friendly and quick service - 24 hours a day - in a beautiful classic in Missouri Valley. Grab a booth or seat at the counter for soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and all day breakfast (you know, the kind of food Diners are famous for).

  

Today our meal was the Deluxe Biscuits and Gravy, seriously delicious bacon (bacon often tastes better when someone else is doing the cooking) and scrambled eggs. A yummy, creamy chocolate malt (like a Whoppers candy) was a sweet start to a beautiful Saturday. (2)

 

 

Located behind the Travelodge, turn at the Mickey D’s and just keep going till you see this chrome beauty for yourself.  

What does the Xanth say?

"Diner, 24 hours, middle of nowhere going to nowhere? Stop here for a vintage dining car from the 1950s era." 

Footnote

(1) Informative article detailing the history of the All-American Diner. (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-do-diners-look-like-trains)

(2) What’s the difference between a malt and a milkshake? A malt contains a grain derived substance that has been mixed with evaporated milk. Believed to be a nutritional powerhouse in 1882,  it was prescribed to children and those needing an extra boost., it was popularized in the 1920s thanks to a thirsty Walgreens employee who mixed the malt powder with a milkshake. The malt lends a nutty flavor that as the kids say “hits different”.  I think I’m using that correctly. Anyway the malt became an instant classic as the craze caught on and was served at the local soda fountain. (https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/what-is-malt)