On the Road Again with Merle

[btb01]

Ah that's not far from St. Boni at all! I have a very few memories of Mound...I can recall a chinese restaurant that we'd sometimes visit on a Sunday, and I remember that the road to Mound had a series of whoop-de-dos that were as great as a rollercoaster to a little kid. And of course I remember going to visit Tonka Toys! I remember touring the factory and at the end of the tour every kid was given a little truck as a souvenir. I still have several of my Tonka toys from way back when-- if Merle makes it up here to AK I'll try to round them up. That's nothing to do with Alaska really but it's fun to connect the dots

I wonder if the Chinese place was Jade Palace? It’s right off the main intersection in Mound, and I found something online saying that it’s been around since the early ‘70s.

The road between Mound and St. Boni is a bit up-and-down, although I think you might have to exceed the speed limit a bit to get the true rollercoaster effect. Having just driven over there yesterday, I was thinking about it and realized that after pulling out of my driveway, I only have to make four left turns to get to the missile in St. Boni.

Sadly, although I am aware that Tonka Toys used to be made here in Mound, I don’t know much else about the history, or even where the factory was located. A bit of quick Googling suggests that the factory was closed in 1979 and production moved elsewhere.

 

[btb01]

Today’s adventure with Merle is a culinary one.

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, Chicago has deep dish pizza and Amarillo has a steak the size of your head, but in Minneapolis, it’s the Jucy Lucy, a burger stuffed with molten cheese.

Merle, Scout and I headed over to Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for lunch, where they claim to serve the “original” Jucy Lucy.

Here’s some info from their website:

Matt’s Bar & Grill, now a Minneapolis landmark, began in 1954 as a neighborhood burger eatery. Shortly after we opened, founder Matt Bristol explains how the “Jucy Lucy” was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “that’s one juicy Lucy”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the “i” and the “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero. Remember, if it’s spelled correctly, you just might be eating a shameless ripoff!

I have to say, I really like the atmosphere inside Matt’s. It has just the right sort of dated-but-well-cared-for neighborhood bar feel to it.

I wasn’t able to get a photo of Merle outside of the building — that would have required standing in the middle of an intersection that, while not exactly busy, had enough regular traffic that doing so would have caused an issue — but he did get to join in on the pictures inside.

Now I will say, at first glance, the Jucy Lucy at Matt’s doesn’t look very exciting. It’s sort of… plain. Just a simple looking burger patty on a bed of grilled onions and a plain bun.

That said, it’s actually really good! A bit messy, definitely juicy, potentially hazardous (that cheese comes out HOT!) and it tastes great. (The grilled onions are a really nice touch.)

Scout had a grilled cheese, which she said was excellent, as well. (Ok, she doesn’t know the word “excellent,” but she seemed to like it just fine.)

 

[WValtakis]

Today’s adventure with Merle is a culinary one.

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, Chicago has deep dish pizza and Amarillo has a steak the size of your head, but in Minneapolis, it’s the Jucy Lucy, a burger stuffed with molten cheese.

Merle, Scout and I headed over to Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for lunch, where they claim to serve the “original” Jucy Lucy.

Here’s some info from their website:

Matt’s Bar & Grill, now a Minneapolis landmark, began in 1954 as a neighborhood burger eatery. Shortly after we opened, founder Matt Bristol explains how the “Jucy Lucy” was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “that’s one juicy Lucy”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the “i” and the “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero. Remember, if it’s spelled correctly, you just might be eating a shameless ripoff!

I have to say, I really like the atmosphere inside Matt’s. It has just the right sort of dated-but-well-cared-for neighborhood bar feel to it.

I wasn’t able to get a photo of Merle outside of the building — that would have required standing in the middle of an intersection that, while not exactly busy, had enough regular traffic that doing so would have caused an issue — but he didn’t get to join in on the pictures inside.

Now I will say, at first glance, the Jucy Lucy at Matt’s doesn’t look very exciting. It’s sort of… plain. Just a simple looking burger patty on a bed of grilled onions and a plain bun.

That said, it’s actually really good! A bit messy, definitely juicy, potentially hazardous (that cheese comes out HOT!) and it tastes great. (The grilled onions are a really nice touch.)

Scout had a grilled cheese, which she said was excellent, as well. (Ok, she doesn’t know the word “excellent,” but she seemed to like it just fine.)

Nice! Burgers for lunch here too!

 

[Jack Black]

Today’s adventure with Merle is a culinary one.

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, Chicago has deep dish pizza and Amarillo has a steak the size of your head, but in Minneapolis, it’s the Jucy Lucy, a burger stuffed with molten cheese.

Merle, Scout and I headed over to Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for lunch, where they claim to serve the “original” Jucy Lucy.

Here’s some info from their website:

Matt’s Bar & Grill, now a Minneapolis landmark, began in 1954 as a neighborhood burger eatery. Shortly after we opened, founder Matt Bristol explains how the “Jucy Lucy” was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “that’s one juicy Lucy”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the “i” and the “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero. Remember, if it’s spelled correctly, you just might be eating a shameless ripoff!

I have to say, I really like the atmosphere inside Matt’s. It has just the right sort of dated-but-well-cared-for neighborhood bar feel to it.

I wasn’t able to get a photo of Merle outside of the building — that would have required standing in the middle of an intersection that, while not exactly busy, had enough regular traffic that doing so would have caused an issue — but he didn’t get to join in on the pictures inside.

Now I will say, at first glance, the Jucy Lucy at Matt’s doesn’t look very exciting. It’s sort of… plain. Just a simple looking burger patty on a bed of grilled onions and a plain bun.

That said, it’s actually really good! A bit messy, definitely juicy, potentially hazardous (that cheese comes out HOT!) and it tastes great. (The grilled onions are a really nice touch.)

Scout had a grilled cheese, which she said was excellent, as well. (Ok, she doesn’t know the word “excellent,” but she seemed to like it just fine.)

Great post Barrett, what a cool-looking bar Scout is a lucky gal

 

[beezwax]

I wonder if the Chinese place was Jade Palace? It’s right off the main intersection in Mound, and I found something online saying that it’s been around since the early ‘70s.

The road between Mound and St. Boni is a bit up-and-down, although I think you might have to exceed the speed limit a bit to get the true rollercoaster effect. Having just driven over there yesterday, I was thinking about it and realized that after pulling out of my driveway, I only have to make four left turns to get to the missile in St. Boni.

Sadly, although I am aware that Tonka Toys used to be made here in Mound, I don’t know much else about the history, or even where the factory was located. A bit of quick Googling suggests that the factory was closed in 1979 and production moved elsewhere.

Well, I'm sure the road between St. Boni and Mound has needed maintenance and repairs over the last 40yrs, they may have evened out the road bed in the course of some of those. Also I'm sure the area has been built up (in my mind it was largely open country) perhaps the speed limits have been reduced as population has risen? I'm sure it's one of those, and not my dad's lead foot And yes it sure could have been the Jade Palace. Too far back and I was too young to recall any names, but it seemed to be right in the center. Pretty cool if so, it's great when businesses stick around. Unlike, sadly, the Tonka factory. 1979 sounds about right, I would have been 5yrs old then. We moved north in 1983.

 

[Magizm7]

Today’s adventure with Merle is a culinary one.

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, Chicago has deep dish pizza and Amarillo has a steak the size of your head, but in Minneapolis, it’s the Jucy Lucy, a burger stuffed with molten cheese.

Merle, Scout and I headed over to Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for lunch, where they claim to serve the “original” Jucy Lucy.

Here’s some info from their website:

Matt’s Bar & Grill, now a Minneapolis landmark, began in 1954 as a neighborhood burger eatery. Shortly after we opened, founder Matt Bristol explains how the “Jucy Lucy” was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “that’s one juicy Lucy”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the “i” and the “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero. Remember, if it’s spelled correctly, you just might be eating a shameless ripoff!

I have to say, I really like the atmosphere inside Matt’s. It has just the right sort of dated-but-well-cared-for neighborhood bar feel to it.

I wasn’t able to get a photo of Merle outside of the building — that would have required standing in the middle of an intersection that, while not exactly busy, had enough regular traffic that doing so would have caused an issue — but he didn’t get to join in on the pictures inside.

Now I will say, at first glance, the Jucy Lucy at Matt’s doesn’t look very exciting. It’s sort of… plain. Just a simple looking burger patty on a bed of grilled onions and a plain bun.

That said, it’s actually really good! A bit messy, definitely juicy, potentially hazardous (that cheese comes out HOT!) and it tastes great. (The grilled onions are a really nice touch.)

Scout had a grilled cheese, which she said was excellent, as well. (Ok, she doesn’t know the word “excellent,” but she seemed to like it just fine.)

That does look a tasty burger!

 

[mbkr]

Today’s adventure with Merle is a culinary one.

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, Chicago has deep dish pizza and Amarillo has a steak the size of your head, but in Minneapolis, it’s the Jucy Lucy, a burger stuffed with molten cheese.

Merle, Scout and I headed over to Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for lunch, where they claim to serve the “original” Jucy Lucy.

Here’s some info from their website:

Matt’s Bar & Grill, now a Minneapolis landmark, began in 1954 as a neighborhood burger eatery. Shortly after we opened, founder Matt Bristol explains how the “Jucy Lucy” was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “that’s one juicy Lucy”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the “i” and the “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero. Remember, if it’s spelled correctly, you just might be eating a shameless ripoff!

I have to say, I really like the atmosphere inside Matt’s. It has just the right sort of dated-but-well-cared-for neighborhood bar feel to it.

My kind of place

 

[Nature Boy]

Interesting to learn that the BBQ joint named Juicy Lucy in my neck of the woods is just a shameless ripoff!

 

[SVTFreak]

How did I miss this thread????

If it’s not too late, I’d like to get in on hosting Merle. I missed earl, although I did see it in a pic of Mr Tony’s collection on a friend of mines phone who knew Tony well. He was quite tickled to hear the story of that random knife that I picked up out of prolly 100 on that bench. I did get to host pearl! I’d love to take part again.

 

[btb01]

Ok folks, I've got the host list organized and posted in Post #2 of this thread. I decided to split Merle's travels around the US into two parts, and put his international travels in the middle. I think that will help keep things interesting.

The list/order will be subject to change, but I'll try to avoid that if possible. It's difficult to estimate when exactly Merle will be visiting each member, but if you go through and estimate 2 to 3 weeks for each visit, you should be able to at least get a rough estimate of when your time will come.

If anyone has any questions (or if I forgot anyone!), please let me know, either in this thread or by PM. Thanks!

Edited to add: If anyone has not entered yet but would like to join in, you can still participate! Just let me know and I’ll get you added to the list.

 

[paulhilborn]

Today’s adventure with Merle is a culinary one.

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, Chicago has deep dish pizza and Amarillo has a steak the size of your head, but in Minneapolis, it’s the Jucy Lucy, a burger stuffed with molten cheese.

Merle, Scout and I headed over to Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for lunch, where they claim to serve the “original” Jucy Lucy.

Here’s some info from their website:

Matt’s Bar & Grill, now a Minneapolis landmark, began in 1954 as a neighborhood burger eatery. Shortly after we opened, founder Matt Bristol explains how the “Jucy Lucy” was created when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle. Upon biting into this new, molten hot burger, he exclaimed “that’s one juicy Lucy”, and a legend was born. Customer demand grew so quickly, we forgot to add the “i” and the “Jucy Lucy” has now become a local culinary hero. Remember, if it’s spelled correctly, you just might be eating a shameless ripoff!

I have to say, I really like the atmosphere inside Matt’s. It has just the right sort of dated-but-well-cared-for neighborhood bar feel to it.

I wasn’t able to get a photo of Merle outside of the building — that would have required standing in the middle of an intersection that, while not exactly busy, had enough regular traffic that doing so would have caused an issue — but he did get to join in on the pictures inside.

Now I will say, at first glance, the Jucy Lucy at Matt’s doesn’t look very exciting. It’s sort of… plain. Just a simple looking burger patty on a bed of grilled onions and a plain bun.

That said, it’s actually really good! A bit messy, definitely juicy, potentially hazardous (that cheese comes out HOT!) and it tastes great. (The grilled onions are a really nice touch.)

Scout had a grilled cheese, which she said was excellent, as well. (Ok, she doesn’t know the word “excellent,” but she seemed to like it just fine.)

I would have hit the "like" button a dozen times if I could have Barrett. I've eaten at Matt's countless times and yes, I have been a victim of the Juicy Lucy!!! opps, I hit the post button to soon. The atmosphere is fantastic and you are correct in that Matt's is a Minneapolis institution

I have no family in the cities any longer but very fine memories. Now ya gotta have breakfast at Keys Cafe on Raymond Ave in St Paul

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Edited to add: If anyone has not entered yet but would like to join in, you can still participate! Just let me know and I’ll get you added to the list.

In, please and thank you!

 

[btb01]

Matt’s Bar, where Merle and I had lunch on Tuesday, isn’t the only local restaurant that claims to have invented the Jucy Lucy. The 5-8 Club, located in Minneapolis’ Nokomis neighborhood about 3 miles south on the same street as Matt’s, also claims to be the “home of the Juicy Lucy.” So, of course, we had to give their version a try, too.

I noticed, after thoroughly perusing their website and reading the bit of history provided on their menu, that the 5-8 Club doesn’t actually offer their own origin story for the Juicy Lucy. They do say that the place first opened as a speakeasy in 1928, and was originally called the 58th Street Club.

Inside, the atmosphere of the 5-8 Club is somewhat less interesting than Matt’s. It just feels like your standard sports bar.

(I should mentioned that we arrived not long after they opened at 11, and that the place did fill up not too long after the picture above was taken, mostly with folks who looked like they could’ve been cast in the movie Grumpy Old Men. )

The 5-8 Club has a pretty extensive menu, including several different versions of the Juicy Lucy, some of which sounded good (like the Montana Jack stuffed with bleu cheese and topped with fried onion straws), and others I would probably pass on (PB&J?! ). I just went with the classic.

Comparing this with the Jucy Lucy from Matt’s is interesting. I think the ingredients in the 5-8 Club’s Juicy Lucy — the beef, the bun, even the grilled onions — are of a higher quality. The one thing it was missing, though, was the cheese. It was there, but there just wasn’t as much of it. While the Lucy at Matt’s seemed to continually produce molten cheese from some sort of bottomless reservoir deep within the burger patty, the cheese in the 5-8 Club’s burger was basically tapped out by the time I was halfway through.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad burger, but if you’re ever in Minneapolis acting as a tour guide for an inanimate object and you want to try a Jucy Lucy, personally, I’d say go to Matt’s Bar.

Oh, and Scout had another grilled cheese, with which she seemed perfectly happy.

Now, Merle and I have some work to do…

 

[SVTFreak]

Yay, I made the cut! Thanks!

*pun was not intended, but it’s a good one so I claiming it!*

 

[btb01]

Merle and I headed out before the sun was up this morning to go check out the old Grain Belt Beer sign next to the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in downtown Minneapolis. I've driven by the sign a few times (though I generally don't spend any more time downtown than I have to), but I'd never seen it when it was lit up before.

The sign was built in 1941 (original cost: $5,000) and is approximately 50 feet wide and 40 feet tall. It was located on top of the Marigold Ballroom downtown until 1950, when it was moved to its current location on Nicollet Island, just across the Mississippi River from downtown. The Grain Belt brand has changed hands several times over the years, and from the mid-70s until 1989, the sign was dark. In the late 80s it was refurbished, and a ceremonial relighting took place in 1989, but shortly thereafter the company had further financial trouble and by the mid-90's the sign was in disrepair again.

August Schell Brewing Co. acquired the Grain Belt brand in 2002, but weren't able to purchase the sign and the land it's on until 2016. The sign was again restored, including having its neon and incandescent bulbs replaced with LED, and was relit on December 30th, 2017.

After the sun came up (and the lights on the sign were turned off), I walked a little ways along the river. Just downriver from the Hennepin Avenue Bridge is Saint Anthony Falls (the only major natural waterfall on the Mississippi) and the Stone Arch Bridge (an historic railroad bridge built in 1883). Unfortunately there was a lot of construction going on, and I couldn't see an obvious way to get close enough for any decent photos.

Adjacent to the Stone Arch Bridge is Mill Ruins Park and the Mill City Museum. The museum is built around the reinforced remains of Washburn Mill "A". The structure in the photos below is actually the second Washburn Mill "A", built in 1879. The original Washburn Mill "A", which had stood in the same location, was built in 1874 and at the time was the largest mill in the world. In 1878, just four years after it was built, an explosion caused by the ignition of flour dust completely leveled the mill and took the lives of everyone inside.

This afternoon, while my wife and the girls were running some errands, Merle and I did a little test run on my new grill/smoker. Merle had helped me put it together when it arrived on Thursday, and after doing the initial burn in and seasoning, I smoked some chicken wings for a late lunch (which turned out really good).

 

[Nature Boy]

Cool tour and History! Thanks for getting out early!

 

[Jack Black]

Merle and I headed out before the sun was up this morning to go check out the old Grain Belt Beer sign next to the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in downtown Minneapolis. I've driven by the sign a few times (though I generally don't spend any more time downtown than I have to), but I'd never seen it when it was lit up before.

The sign was built in 1941 (original cost: $5,000) and is approximately 50 feet wide and 40 feet tall. It was located on top of the Marigold Ballroom downtown until 1950, when it was moved to its current location on Nicollet Island, just across the Mississippi River from downtown. The Grain Belt brand has changed hands several times over the years, and from the mid-70s until 1989, the sign was dark. In the late 80s it was refurbished, and a ceremonial relighting took place in 1989, but shortly thereafter the company had further financial trouble and by the mid-90's the sign was in disrepair again.

August Schell Brewing Co. acquired the Grain Belt brand in 2002, but weren't able to purchase the sign and the land it's on until 2016. The sign was again restored, including having its neon and incandescent bulbs replaced with LED, and was relit on December 30th, 2017.

After the sun came up (and the lights on the sign were turned off), I walked a little ways along the river. Just downriver from the Hennepin Avenue Bridge is Saint Anthony Falls (the only major natural waterfall on the Mississippi) and the Stone Arch Bridge (an historic railroad bridge built in 1883). Unfortunately there was a lot of construction going on, and I couldn't see an obvious way to get close enough for any decent photos.

Adjacent to the Stone Arch Bridge is Mill Ruins Park and the Mill City Museum. The museum is built around the reinforced remains of Washburn Mill "A". The structure in the photos below is actually the second Washburn Mill "A", built in 1879. The original Washburn Mill "A", which had stood in the same location, was built in 1874 and at the time was the largest mill in the world. In 1878, just four years after it was built, an explosion caused by the ignition of flour dust completely leveled the mill and took the lives of everyone inside.

This afternoon, while my wife and the girls were running some errands, Merle and I did a little test run on my new grill/smoker. Merle had helped me put it together when it arrived on Thursday, and after doing the initial burn in and seasoning, I smoked some chicken wings for a late lunch (which turned out really good).

Great pics Barrett, really enjoying your posts I have a Grain Belt church-key on my desk in front of me

 

[Magizm7]

I'm salivating here Barrett.
Matt's burger does look more appetising!
Although Scout seemed to get a better deal at the 5-8
Like the photos of the sign

 

[btb01]

I've had a lot of fun showing Merle around the last couple weeks, but I think it's about time for him to get on the road. There was just one last thing we had left to do. As promised, Merle had to purify himself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.

I also thought a goodbye toast with a Grain Belt beer in my new Matt's Bar koozie seemed appropriate.

 

[Matt_WY]

Good choice btb01 on the Grain Belt Nordeast. Enjoying these posts, going to be fun seeing where Merle shows up next.