Last week I dropped Ernest off at the day camp in town he goes to when we’re in Northern Minnesota. I had some errands to do in the bigger town of Brainerd and so ended up driving through Ironton, not something I do much. Boy am I glad I did because I saw an addition to the town since I last drove through – whenever that might have been. As you might guess from the picture above, it rather captured the eye. I can barely describe the extent to which this flame-covered building with its bright reds and oranges and yellows stands out in a small town in Minnesota lake country. The folks here are practical, utilitarian, pragmatic people. Energy must be conserved for the long winter that always looms in the background. Colors are muted, speech is reserved, and blending in is highly valued.
Upper midwest culture firmly embraces (and enforces) a no-tall-poppy policy. Garrison Keillor has documented it extensively. Don’t stand out. Don’t draw attention to yourself. Who do you think you are? It is an aspect of the region that has not always served yours truly very well. I know what it takes to stand out here. I know the snarky comments and dry-humored back-handed compliments those flames attract.
So perhaps you can imagine how happy those flames made me as I drove (blah) through to do errands (double blah) on a gray day (triple blah).
And when I saw that this extremely tall poppy houses Louie’s Bucket of Bones, a rib joint and smokehouse (custom smoking available!), I nearly fainted with pleasure. Stenciled lettering promotes the establishment’s ribs, chicken, and catfish, as well as tacos and lasagna. A little something for everyone, I suppose.
Over the weekend I sent my brother to pick up ribs, both St. Louie style and baby back. Both were, in their unique way, fabulous. The tender, unctuous baby backs were preferred by half our group and the dryer, chewier St. Louie by the other half, so peace was maintained as we gnawed our way through our order until we had, indeed, created a bucket of bones.
Carole Stein | 23-Jul-09 at 8:33 am | Permalink
Molly,
Sarah Stein’s mom, here. Thank you so much for your wonderful blog. I almost never read any blogs but Fred knows I love food-talk and ideas and sent me yours.
I think all your food comments are lovely but I, a western soul, really love your comments on Minnesota ways of being. It is a very different world and I feel I could be hearing from a Swedish friend spending summer in the country.
All is appreciated.
Carole
Molly Watson | 01-Aug-09 at 8:57 am | Permalink
Thanks for reading Carole! Good to hear from you. My Norwegian grandfather would drop dead if he thought I reminded anyone ever in any way of a Swede, but I’ll take the compliment as it was intended!
Tim Brophy | 02-May-10 at 4:20 am | Permalink
Thanx for the comments on Louie’s. I moved to the area from Minneapolis and the one thing I missed from the “Big City” is the food, this is meat and potato country up north or as I call it “White food on white plates and white gravy” with the spice rack consisting of a tin of Morton’s salt. Louie’s hits the spot with a wide variety of plates and the homemade sauces I tend to lather everything up pretty good. I’m stuck on the catfish… but tend to try everything at the table by the time we Finnish. Now if someone would just open a Thai restaurant here in “Bedrock” life would be great. If your planning a trip up to Gods country it is well worth a stop by Louie’s, good music is always playing and the owner Joyce is a hoot.