This week’s Sunday Snapshot comes from the iconic Peoria drive-in restaurant, Lou’s Drive-In. Last year Lou’s was put up for sale and I got all paranoid thinking someone would buy the place, tear it down and put up something horrible like a Starbucks or a Chipotle restaurant in its place. But Peorian Laurie Dean stepped up to the plate and bought the drive-in and has left everything, including the age-old recipes in its proper place and Peoria should thank her for keeping this root beer institution, that’s been in business in the same spot on Knoxville since 1953, alive!
Laurie is part of Lou’s history as she was a carhop and cook here in the late ‘90’s. She said when she saw it was up for sale, she immediately said, “I have to have that!”
Well, I’m glad she’s got it and I encourage you to stop by and support the drive-in by getting a frosty mug of root beer and some of the other sweet and savory treats from the Lou’s menu. Here’s Laurie pictured below drawing a mug of root beer from the aged wooden cask that’s been standing there as long as I can remember.
And now hang on to your shoelaces because it’s time to ask Laurie the same four stupid Sunday questions we ask every week. (If you’re wearing loafers or sandals, take them off and put on shoewear with laces, sheesh!)
What’s your favorite Sunday dinner?
Ribs from the Green Egg. (I thought that was a restaurant I had never heard of, but Laurie explained it was a grill she owns. I’m guessing Dr. Seuss has endorsement rights to it.)
Name your favorite Sunday night TV show, past or present...or both?
Football, if it’s on.
What time do you get up on Sunday?
Usually around 7:30 in the morning.
What’s a perfect Sunday afternoon or evening for you?
Relaxing at home.
Thanks Laurie! Stay tuned this week as we visit Lou’s Drive-In for a Saturday night dinner tomorrow, the chicken wing tour is in its eighth week and this week we found a hidden gem concerning chicken wings, we also visited a shooting range and shot off guns and there’s even more fun coming up this week here on MBIP! Have a great Sunday and we’ll see you all tomorrow!
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