Poll: Have You Ever Eaten At A Waffle House?

Above, the Waffle House near the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last month, I stayed the night in Albuquerque near the Albuquerque Sunport as I had an early morning flight to Des Moines, Iowa.

While there, I ate at the local Waffle House near the airport. I went there for dinner and breakfast.

RV Travel has a poll asking, Have You Ever Eaten At A Waffle House?

It begins with:

Think back to your last road trip. Maybe it was late at night, maybe you were hungry, maybe the neon lights were calling… If there’s a Waffle House nearby, maybe we can always find you there. For today’s poll, we want to know: Have you ever eaten at a Waffle House?

For some of you, the answer is an easy yes. Waffle House is a roadside institution, especially in the South. Did you know there are more than 2,100 Waffle House locations across 25 states?

To read more and take part in the poll, go here. 

Why Cracker Barrel's Iconic Decor Was So Sentimental

Above, a hot-air balloon as seen from an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Let's see. In recent years I have been to at least four Cracker Barrel restaurants.

I've been to the one in Gallup, New Mexico. I've been to two in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And, I've been to one in Kingman, Arizona.

Above, the fireplace at an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

All of them looked pretty much the same with the same antiques. The sameness doesn't bother me. It is fun looking at the antiques while waiting for the meals to be served. Looking at the items from bygone eras is the big draw for people. Ruining that would be worse than the logo fiasco. Also, the food, for me, has been consistently good. I've no complaints.

Above, an Elvis Presley gospel CD from Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's an interesting story about how Cracker Barrel acquires their antiques. The article also tells of the warehouse that stores them.

Above, the Gallup Cracker Barrel fireplace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article is posted by TastingTable and it begins with:

Cracker Barrel has been making a lot of changes lately, and many of them aren't landing well with longtime fans. Most recently, the chain of restaurants and retail stores removed Uncle Hershel from the logo and received backlash for it. Last year, the chain modernized the interiors of the restaurants, and that, too, came under scrutiny. The old-fashioned interiors of Cracker Barrel restaurants held a lot of nostalgia, so it's not surprising that diners didn't like it when the look changed so drastically. It turns out that the restaurants are just doing a little refresh and, in response to a viral TikTok video, they assured patrons that the old-timey decor would be back on the walls sooner rather than later.

What you may not know is that the old decor actually holds meaning. Every single antique that decorates the inside of a Cracker Barrel is real and was at least inspired by local history. It all started with the first restaurant-store that opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1969. Founder Dan Evins enlisted the help of Don and Kathleen Singleton, who owned a local antiques store, to come and decorate the interior to feel like an old country store.

As Evins opened more Cracker Barrels, the Singletons came on board as full-time designers, setting up the decor for each location. In 1979, after Kathleen got sick, their son, Larry Singleton, took over. He retired in 2018 after almost 40 years. Joe Stewart, who worked with Singleton for 33 years, is now the decor manager. 

Above, Russell Azbill and Larry Lucier getting their orders
taken at the Gallup Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Trump Breaks Silence After Forcing Cracker Barrel To CHANGE Logo

Benny Johnson weighs in on Cracker Barrel's cancellation of the new logo. 

Cracker Barrel Drops New Logo

Above, the old logo is staying.

Cracker Barrel made a big "about face" and reversed course yesterday when they announced that they will drop the new logo and retain the old one.

NewsBreak reported:

Cracker Barrel announced Aug. 26 that it is dropping its much-criticized new logo and returning to the "Old Timer."

"We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have," the company wrote in a statement provided to USA TODAY. "Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain."

The nationwide restaurant chain and country store, which is known for its comfort food and nostalgic atmosphere, unveiled a new, simplified logo with the launch of a fall menu campaign on Aug. 19.

The "enhanced brand look" was intended to modernize the company's brand, executives said. The intent includes moving its restaurants away from nostalgia-rich decor to something more contemporary and less cluttered.

The change drew sharp criticism from customers and politicians, with both President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party decrying the change. 

Unless Cracker Barrel decides to retain the decor that people love, it is too early to break out the champagne bottles.

To read more, go here. 

Cracker Barrel Responds

Cracker Barrel has responded to the massive uproar over their rebranding of their logo and the interiors.

To me, it is nothing more than B.S. and a feeble attempt at damage control. As one person responded, "You wrote all that just to basically say “screw you, deal with it.”" Another wrote, "The biggest insult to your customers is acting like you hear them but doing the complete opposite."

The rebranding isn't "woke", it is their behind-the-scenes leftist practices as was exposed here. The rebranding just made everything come to light.

Insider Investigation Exposes Cracker Barrel

Oh-oh! It looks like Cracker Barrel has been far left woke longer than we've imagined.

An insider investigation exposes the company's practices that will leave your head spinning. Check out the comments after seeing the video.

 

James Woods On Cracker Barrel

James Woods weighs in on Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Felss Masino. She's either delusional or just listening to her own little bubble.

Honestly does anyone believe her? I’m not calling her a liar, I’m just asking if any single person in his or her right mind believes her. https://t.co/Pag1oyFjLs

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) August 23, 2025

Do They Really Want To Know?

I spotted this over at X a few minutes ago.

Do they really want to know? 

 

The new Cracker Barrel looks like a car dealership. https://t.co/QxFcwmmFLb

— Carol M. Swain, PhD (@carolmswain) August 22, 2025

Yes, it does look like a car dealership instead of a Cracker Barrel restaurant

Cracker Barrel Loses Almost $100 Million In Value

Above, the Cracker Barrel fireplace we know and love. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some people seem to have very short memories.

Remember when Bud Light and Target department stores "went woke" a few short years ago? Most of us do remember and are reminding Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Felss Masino and her board of directors.

Remember, too, how stocks in those companies took deep nosedives. This is now happening to Cracker Barrel.

From CBS News:

Cracker Barrel shed almost $100 million in market value after its stock plunged Thursday following the release of a new logo. The new design eliminates a longstanding drawing of an overall-clad man leaning against a barrel, in favor of a cleaner logo featuring just the chain's name.

Shares of Cracker Barrel fell $4.22, or 7.2%, to $54.80 in Thursday trading, shedding $94 million in market value. The stock had dipped to a low of $50.27 earlier in the day, representing a loss of almost $200 billion in its capitalization.

Wall Street's reaction to the logo redesign comes as Cracker Barrel has been working to refresh its image through new menu items and redecorated stores that eschew the 55-year-old chain's old-timey approach in favor of a more modern look.

To say that the "fit hit the shan" (cleaned up version) with the public is an understatement.

Go woke, go broke!

To read more, go here.

Democrats, Newsom Hate Cracker Barrel Changes Too

"Politics makes strange bedfellows" it has been said.

Apparently, so does Cracker Barrel.

With the announced change in Cracker Barrel's logo and the remodeling of their restaurants to a brighter and bland decor, the Democrat Party and California Gov. Gavin Newsom weighed in.

They actually agree with the conservative detractors of the changes.

According to Fox News:

The Democratic Party and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office's X accounts joined the backlash against Cracker Barrel after it released its new text-only logo earlier this week.

The company unveiled the new logo on Tuesday as part of its new branding campaign for the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants. The campaign eliminated the image of a man resting on a barrel in favor of a text-only logo for the first time since 1977. 

While conservative critics have piled on the new redesign, both the Democratic Party and the liberal governor’s media team put out tweets Thursday calling out the Tennessee-based restaurant chain for the change.

Will wonders ever cease? It must mean that the changes are so bad that they, too, don't like them. Welcome aboard!

To read more, go here. 

Cracker Barrel Stock COLLAPSES 55%! (Video)

I would have posted this earlier, but after sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 45 minutes on Interstate 40 in the heat, I had to take a nap. 

Now that I am awake, I can post this. 

Cracker Barrel stock lost 55% in value since their woke wacko CEO Julie Felss Masino started destroying the Cracker Barrel brand.

This was easily predictable (just look at Bud Light's experience). 

Again, here's The Benny Show's new video (thanks to my Honorary Sister Diane for passing this along):

 

A lesson for other corporations: don't let liberal women become your CEOs!

GO WOKE, GO BROKE!

Las Vegas Tourism Down 11%

Above, the Las Vegas Strip in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Las Vegas appears to be losing its appeal. 

Visitation and hotel bookings are down. Some say this is a harbinger of a looming recession. 

The reason is obvious. Las Vegas is no longer the top place to gamble. Casinos are sprouting up in several states, mainly on Native Americans lands.

Las Vegas hotels are not cheap anymore. They used to be affordable. Hotels charging resort fees are also turn-offs to people.  Food is also more expensive. There was a time when great deals at restaurants could be easily found. Frankly, Las Vegas was more affordable and a lot more fun when the mob was running it.

According to Travel and Tour World:

Las Vegas is experiencing a significant downturn in tourism due to a combination of rising hotel prices and growing concerns over bedbug infestations. The city’s once-thriving tourism industry is being hit hard as visitors are deterred by the increasing costs of accommodations and reports of uncomfortable pest-related experiences at major resorts. As a result, many tourists are choosing to stay away, opting for alternative destinations that offer better value and peace of mind. This decline in visitors is further compounded by the negative impact on the city’s reputation, leaving hotel owners and businesses struggling to adapt to these new challenges.

Las Vegas is facing a significant downturn in tourism, with new figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) revealing a sharp drop in visitor numbers this summer. June saw only 3.1 million tourists, a marked 11.3 percent decline compared to the same month last year. This decrease is contributing to wider challenges within the local travel industry.

The bedbug infestation is another major crimp. Who wants to get married in Las Vegas and spend the honeymoon night with bedbugs?

To read more, go here.

Grandpa's Grill In Gallup

Since the local Denny's at the Flying J Travel Center in Jamestown, New Mexico changed their menu, our group has decided to hold our Saturday breakfast/coffee gatherings at Grandpa's Grill in Gallup instead.

Denny's eliminated the senior menu and raised their prices. 

We spend about half of what Denny's charges for breakfast meals at Grandpa's Grill. For example, the large breakfast burrito at Grandpa's Grill is only $9.50. Whereas, Denny's charges about $12 to $15 for anything roughly comparable. And, coffee is a lot cheaper at Grandpa's Grill. 

Here's the gang at Grandpa's Grill this morning:

 

Dinner At Lake Havasu Black Bear Diner

Going out to dinner in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on Christmas Day is not exactly a great idea.

For one thing, very few restaurants, fast food and sit-downs, were open. I far as we were able to tell, only Denny's, McDonalds, Carl's Jr. and Black Bear Diner were the ones open. We went to Black Bear Diner. To say that they were busy would be an understatement. 

Above, Holly and Mitch during the wait outside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, after giving our name to the hostess immediately after arrival, we waited for about an hour before we were called to be seated. There were many people waiting. After ordering, we waited almost another hour before our meals were brought. At least we had our drinks brought within a reasonable time. But we had to wait for the silverware to be bought. 

Above, the holiday menu showing a nice plate of turkey. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mitch Geriminsky ordered the special holiday turkey dinner while his wife Holly and I had salads. 

Unfortunately, Mitch's turkey dinner did not look anything like what the menu showed. The menu had a photo of a turkey dinner with several slices of turkey that appeared to be a quarter inch thick. What he received looked like thin slices of deli turkey meat. Plus, everything was cold. It definitely was not worth the $25.99 price. 

Above, this is what was brought to Mitch. It didn't look
anything like what was advertised. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

It probably would have been better if we stayed at home and ate the leftovers from last night's dinner. 

Well, Holly talked to the manager about the service (she felt the waitress had an attitude) and the poor quality of the meal Mitch received. Our salads were just fine, no complaints. 

So, it is probably not a good idea to go out on Christmas Day for dinner in Lake Havasu City since there were so few eateries open. Lesson learned.

Albuquerque International Sunport Unveils New Food Court

KOB Channel 4 News posted the following video of the new eateries at the Albuquerque Sunport.

It looks like travelers will get more choices for food while at the airport.

Unfortunately, the Rio Grande Brew Pub will not be back. According to sources, it is permanently closed. It was there that I discovered Alien Amber Ale.

Here's the video:

Ports O' Call Village Now History

Above, an old post card photo of Ports O' Call Village. 

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, my family, friends and I used to head down to San Pedro to visit Ports O'Call Village. It was a fun place to eat at and shop.

Over the years, poor management let Ports O'Call Village become rundown. Shops went out of business.

Today, it is nothing but a memory. 

According to SanPedro.com:

Ports O’Call has been demolished for a planned new development. LA Waterfront Sportfishing, the San Pedro Fish Market, and the Crusty Crab remain open. The Ports O’Call Restaurant is demolished. Harbor cruises, whale watching and sport fishing trips still depart on a regular basis from LA Waterfront Cruises The old Ports O’ Call is gone forever. The slide show below is postcard views from it’s hey day.

Hopefully, the new development will be just a fun as Ports O' Call used to be.

To read more, go here.

Dining Aboard The Norwegian Sky

Above, enjoying some wine at La Cucina Italian restaurant.

The nice thing about cruises, one can pretty much eat all they want without shelling out any cash.

We dined in three restaurants aboard the Norwegian Sky. For breakfast, lunch and occasional dinner, we would frequent the Garden Buffet. We would go there just for coffee or snacks. 

Above, the Garden Buffet on the top deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first was at the Italian eatery on Tuesday, La Cucina. I had lasagna along with a glass of Merlot. It was quite good. The restaurant itself was very elegant.

Above, my lobster dinner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, on Thursday night, we dined at The Crossing. Like La Cucina, it was quite elegant and I had two lobster tails. I was amazed that the lobster dinner was only $25. To me, that was 1970s-1980s prices. Since seafood is not one of the more available foods in the Gallup, New Mexico area, having a lobster dinner was high on my list. I was also pleased that the lobster tails were large.

Above, a sample of the Garden Buffet's cuisine. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, of course, we would partake in adult beverages at the smoking area's bar on the top deck overlooking the adult pools and hot tubs. 

I found that I gained five pounds on this trip. Starting off, I needed to gain 20 pounds and this helped me get to that goal. I am currently underweight, so "pigging out" was a great joy.

Above, a La Cucina table. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In-N-Out Burger Expanding To New Mexico

Above, inside the Lake Havasu City In-N-Out restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I posted about this last year, but this is from MSN.com. It is about In-N-Out Burger coming to New Mexico.  

Right now, the only places with decent burgers are Big Ass Burgers in Thoreau, New Mexico and Blake's Lotaburger at several locations in Gallup.

MSN.com starts with:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – In-N-Out Burger is officially coming to New Mexico, the California-based fast-food burger chain announced Tuesday.

In-N-Out Burger said that it will be serving burgers, fries, and shakes in Albuquerque in 2027. “We can’t wait to have smiling associates serving customers quality burgers, fries and shakes in such a unique, beautiful state,” Lynsi Snyder, president and owner of In-N-Out Burger, wrote in part on In-N-Out Burger’s Facebook post.

In-N-Out Burger did not say where the restaurants would be located in Albuquerque, stating in a news release that “Initial development plans are underway for locations in Albuquerque to open by 2027, with future expansion to other cities in the years beyond.”

In-N-Out Burger said it will utilize a company distribution facility in Colorado Springs to get its products to New Mexico.

Currently, New Mexicans have to travel out of state to eat at In-N-Out Burger. The closest locations are in Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Texas. The chain also has locations in California, Nevada and Oregon.

To read more, go here. 

Osaka: "The Kitchen of Japan"

Above, along with food, Osaka's Dotonbori has interesting restaurant signage to view. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those of you who are planning to travel to Japan and are foodies, the place to go to is Osaka.

Osaka's Dotonbori district is the city's food center. I last went there in 2015 and partook in Osaka's cuisine.

CNN has posted an article on Osaka being the "kitchen of Japan."

It begins with:

Osaka, Japan (CNN) - Let’s be honest. Osaka hasn’t got Tokyo’s mind-bending urban sprawl, where every turn opens up a world of adventure. Likewise, it lacks the historic temples, tree-covered hills and ancient history of Kyoto.

What it does have, though, are two of the biggest draws any visitor to Japan could ask for. The best food anywhere in the country. And the people, who are funky, fun and playful.

This is a place to come and eat, enjoy the odd local brew and take in a city where day-to-day pleasures come to the fore unlike anywhere else.

Food is practically a religion in Osaka, which is now anticipating the global spotlight as it gears up to host Expo 2025. It is known as the kitchen of Japan, and, for foodies, any tour of its myriad culinary delights must start in Dotonbori.

To read more, go here. 

Bland Chinese Food

Above, Zen Steak & Sushi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening, I decided to go to Zen Steak & Sushi in Gallup. It had been month since I was last there.

About a year or so ago, Zen Sushi and King Dragon Chinese Restaurant were bought by a new owner. It was around that time that I had dined at both. Everything was fine.

When I arrived at Zen Sushi, they had signs on the doors stating their new hours. They open at 4:00. Since I arrived at 3:00, I didn't want to wait an hour so I went next door to the King Dragon. I got the buffet.

After getting what I wanted, I started eating. 

I have never had bland (tasteless) Chinese food before. Now I have! It wasn't bad, but one could not tell the difference if they were eating Chinese food or cardboard. The new owners really need to get better chefs.

It looks like it will be a long time (if ever) before I go back there again.