El Reno’s fried onion burgers exported to Fort Worth

If you're in north Texas and you have a hankering for fried onion burgers served in no fewer than three restaurants in El Reno, Oklahoma, you're in luck. Hookers Grill in the popular Stockyards area of Fort Worth, Texas, recently opened. It features a significant El Reno connection, reported the Fort Worth Star-Telegram With or … Continue reading El Reno’s fried onion burgers exported to Fort Worth

Warmer weather decreases sap harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup

An unseasonably warm winter decreased the annual sap harvest by a third at Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois. The co-operator of the fabled Route 66 business also said climate change may mean a permanent change in when maple sap is harvested at the nearly 200-year-old farm. I recently saw a report a warmer-than-usual winter led … Continue reading Warmer weather decreases sap harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup

Route 66 episode of “Bizarre Foods” airs Feb. 21

A few weeks ago, Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel show "Bizarre Foods," announced a Route 66 episode was in the hopper for the program's new season. We now know when it first will air: 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Here is the synopsis of the episode, titled "Road Tripping Route 66": … Continue reading Route 66 episode of “Bizarre Foods” airs Feb. 21

Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” to feature Route 66 episode

Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel show "Bizarre Foods," said the show has produced a Route 66 episode for its ninth season. The new season of "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" began Tuesday night, but that was with the "Lewis and Clark Trail" episode. But Zimmern gave this news about the upcoming season on … Continue reading Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” to feature Route 66 episode

Green chile stew-eating contest added to Grants festival

Major League Eating announced this week it will add a green chile stew-eating contest to its circuit at the Historic Route 66 Fall Fiesta in Grants, New Mexico, on Oct. 8. The contest will be at 1 p.m. that day at Fire & Ice Park on Santa Fe Avenue (aka Route 66). According to MLE, the total … Continue reading Green chile stew-eating contest added to Grants festival

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard wins World Ice Cream Index

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard of St. Louis won the second annual World Ice Cream Index in a contest run by an Irish marketing firm. Sool Nua of Dublin reported the Route 66 landmark prevailed over other establishments from 13 countries after more than 30,000 votes. No. 2 was a shop from Slovenia. According to Sool … Continue reading Ted Drewes Frozen Custard wins World Ice Cream Index

Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series

The Illinois Office of Tourism features Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois, as one of eight businesses in a new Illinois Made series. According to an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe said Illinois Made contains videos, exclusive web content and travel ideas. “Travelers really want to travel to a destination or … Continue reading Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series

Giant Vess Soda bottle in St. Louis being restored

Work crews are busy restoring the giant Vess Soda bottle near Route 66 in St. Louis to mark the company's 100th anniversary. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The 34-foot tall, steel bottle will get a new paint job. On Friday morning, workers removed piles of trash from the base of the bottle and … Continue reading Giant Vess Soda bottle in St. Louis being restored

‘Great Food Truck Race’ on Route 66 begins Aug. 23

The sixth season of the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race" begins Aug. 23 with a variety of challenges along Route 66 towns, according to a news release this week. The season opener will air at 9 p.m. Eastern Sunday, Aug. 23. Here's a trailer for the series: More from the news release: In … Continue reading ‘Great Food Truck Race’ on Route 66 begins Aug. 23

Longtime operator of Funks Grove Maple Sirup dies

Steve Funk, a longtime operator of Funks Grove Maple Sirup along Route 66 in Funks Grove, Illinois, died at age 90 at his home on June 21, according to an obituary in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Funk served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and met his wife, Glaida, when he was … Continue reading Longtime operator of Funks Grove Maple Sirup dies