Poker Perambulation

I wrote in the last blog about this Greek joint in the trolley car. That sets me to reminiscing – be warned.

It was an actual trolley converted to a diner. It would have met none of the current Board of Health standards. And the john? Well, forget it. I'm still trying to.

It was little. There were maybe ten stools at the counter. There was a grill, a couple of burners and a little refrigerator that sat underneath. The sink was to one side and a glass case with an aging pie and some drying donuts on the other. The sink had pitted and worn porcelain. Yeah, the Board of Health even then was looking the other way.

Behind the counter was this 'old guy' in a greasy apron and a paper hat. He was a nice man. He treated everyone the same. On the burner was this big pot that contained chili. It was bottomless in a way that also wouldn't be acceptable. When it got low, it was added too. Not sure if it would even fit in that little refrigerator. But, it was spiced to perfection. It wasn't your Wendy's thick so-so chili. It was more watery and finding a chunk of meat or even a bean was like finding the pea in a shell game.

But, I've never tasted anything like it. I've tried to duplicate it and never come close. It had to contain manna from some Greek god.

The burgers were 12-cents. They weren't like today's double Whopper. He'd take a golf ball size piece of hamburger and flatten it to the point you could see gaps between the chunks. He'd spoon some of that chili broth on bun and burger; sprinkle on a few onion bits; finish it with a bit of watered mustard that merged into the broth.

Those super stars on the cooking channel are always lauding the complexity of their creations. Well, this old Greek kicked their butts. He knew nuance better than an unhappy bride.

All this is 50+ years in the past. Yet, I can still taste it and would give my life saving for a plate of them. Damn they were good and I've never tasted anything close, since.

Today we have higher standards and regulated mediocrity and call it progress.  I make fun of the fixtures but he scrubbed and cleaned and overcame.  I never got sick and even the muckity-mucks  from the nearby city hall would come there for their chili fix.  The Board of Health was smart enough to recognize the trade off was to everyone’s benefit.

It is gone now…  I am sad.

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