From the Heart
Chuck and I are creatures of habit.
When we got married it did not take him long to learn “my way” around town. Taking the backstreets and staying off the main ones.
We go to his church or mine as well as ours in Tampa and we sit pretty much in the same pew every week.
Chuck learned that my breakfast choice was biscuits and gravy … at Ginger’s Café.
We go to yoga on Friday mornings and then head to Ginger’s. Chuck orders his usual half order of biscuits and gravy with a half side of hash browns. No hash browns for me.
Funny how quickly the staff at Ginger’s not only learned our names but what we order to eat. Whenever I deviate away from my usual, they question me. Monica or Leslie will ask, “Really?” Chuck never strays from his biscuits and gravy. He’s both predictable and loyal.
A few weeks ago Ginger’s closed as they were relocating from the east side to the south side of town. Chuck and I had to get out of our Friday comfort zone and find other places to eat. We felt like we were cheating on Mikki Perrine, the owner of Ginger’s.
So on Friday we invited ourselves to the new place, located in the building where Kaye’s Beauty College had been, 1111 S. 10th St.
I knew Mikki was trying to get things ready for their reopening on Monday. I knew the one thing I could do to help was to hang the décor on the walls. So Chuck and I arrived there after he went to yoga. We were armed with hammer and nails to do what we could to help Mikki and her crew.
After a quick tour of the place, which you all are going to love, we started putting a few holes in the walls and decorating with many of the accessories from the old place. I felt like Joanna Gaines.
License plates. Navy memorabilia. Cookbooks. Antiques. Coffee signs. All these bring back memories of good times. The menu is a reminder of comfort food. Meatloaf. Chicken and noodles. Liver and onions. Food that fills the belly and calms the soul.
Guess what? Those things will not only be served at lunch but Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Who doesn’t love comfort food?
Ginger’s will open this Monday at 7:00 for breakfast and lunch. Guess who will be two of the first customers there? You see, Mikki and her crew have become our friends. I would not get up before the crack of dawn for just anyone or just any reason but we are talking biscuits and gravy after a cold snowy weekend.
There is a sign as you enter that says, “The best memories are made when gathered around a table.” I think there will be lots of good memories at the place where everyone knows our name and they serve really good biscuits and gravy.
You might just meet up with Chuck and me and fellow columnist Amy Shankland as well as a few other Old Noblesville people. After all, we all need a little comfort for our souls and comfort food for our bellies.