Steak Street/hilltopfoods, Clyde, TX (2026)

03/04/2026

All dis thankin givin mes a haidache, Cookie moaned. If you want to stay healthy best you finish this menu for the men coming Coo, Gwendoline retorts. You are feeding an army here for the next few days. Tale me bouts et, wut bout them thousands down en de park pasture? You have trained volunteers and Master Jeeves students to take care of that, pay attension to the final details.
Dis detail aint Merican, dey don eat rat! Cookie, these men eat and thats all. Your notion of everyone wanting fried steak and beans is straight off that trail you speak of. Aint nuttin wrong bout dat an a bikkut! These men from Chicago might like bikkuts hee hee but they want food of their homeland Sicily. Wall sissylillies goinsta have ter eat camp cookin once dey gats har har har. Watch what you say! Any disrespect to Italy could send you to the hospital. All rat buts ahm tinkin we needs ter asweeten dis ups sum. Dat cream, whips er up wit sugar sum an adds lemon juice. Dey lack dat, an layer vainiller cookies wit de thickenin sauce. Puts a pot ovah anudder and adds eggs ter make a custerd.
Pudding is what we call it in England and you are making a trifle. No ah aint, Cookie snorts, dis be serious. No Cookie a trifle is a layered dish of flavored cream and digestive biscuts. Ahll show dem di gested bikkuts! Roun har we makes naner puddin. They prefer lemon flavoring Coo. Ahh sees dat en dere lemon drank. Limoncillo and it should be at the table as an aspertif. Dem bikkuts gonna soffen sum, no needs fer as per teefin. No Cookie, the lemon cleanses the palate. All dis grub ahm makin, dey bettah cleanses dat plalate! Dont offend! Their ways are ancient and quite formidable as the Roman armies. Iffen we ken keeps em happay dats all we needs. Dem ken be a roamin all dey wans. Ha, yes chef. That sums it up. We don wan de law on ye rat? Lasagna, Zelda answers, comin right up! Dere go de naxt course!

02/18/2026

Cookie your not following the rules here, Gwendoline said. Antipasti is supposed to be lighter fare with olives, dried fruits and nuts, assorted cheeses. This course sounds like cowboy meets Italian. Ah don keer! We gotsta feed dese men an seein wut dey lack. Wen we dun eatin den wuts laft ons de plate we aint servin no moe.
I assure you these men will eat with gusto as long as you dont stray far from the normal. Ah aintst dat ways Missy! We eatiin an eatin hearty! I can see that Coo haha. Now we move on to the next level of consumption. Seems lack we dun leveled ups wit consumption. Even worser iffen we keeps eatin. These courses are served in small quantities for taste, not to fill up. Enjoyment, conversation, and wine or spirits are to be enjoyed slowly over evening hours. We are not cooking beans and fried steak.
Aint nuttin wrong wit dat anywhos buts lets ramble on. Gustos gotsta get is fill harhar. Such ill humor, ghastly mate! Watch what you say. Den wut ailse dey eats en Rome? There is a bread dish covered in sauce, meats, and cheese. Sausage is often the meat, Italians make many sausages. Dat sound good sausage pie. No Cookie it is called pizza pie and eaten daily as a quick meal. Don seems lack a piece o pie be a meal. No Coo pizza pie is baked in a pan, bread dough with toppings like pepperoni or Italian sausage, mushrooms, and peppers.
You tink Zelda ken makes dat fer forty men? Dats a lotta pie! I am sure Rico has taught her how, ask her. Zeldie ya knows dis piece o pie? Sure do Cookie, Zelda answers, first thing Rico teach me after sauce. Seems we gonna serve that the most at the new place we buildin. You best get de horse smail outta dere fust harhar! We fixin de whole place ups soon as Rico gats paid. Rico aint gettin paid iffen he don pull dis off! Cookie too late now, these men are coming, they are armed and dangerous. Any slips and you and Rico could disappear. Zelda you best puts extree meat on dat pie! Thats the way to a mans heart Cookie!

02/15/2026

We needs a meat har en da middle Gwendy. What do you mean Coo? Jest a taste ter liven up da dance floor. Are we dancing or cooking here? Bote, aint rat nots havin meat in da middle meal.
This is the third course but entrees should be light, only as a precursor of things to come, elegant but non filling. Ah ken curser more iffen ah don gets mah meat en da middle. Ha, Cookie that is so uncivilized. The first four courses are for warming up to the main dish.
Allrat how bouts a lil steak den? Steak is too heavy, a lighter meat is preferred. Aint nuttin bettah dan steak. That may be but we are building flavors for the main course. Not filling up a cowhand so he sleeps well.
Aint nuttin wrong bout dat. How bouts dat white lookin steak I seen en de cooler? That is veal, light and well suited for this course. Calf steak we calls et on de trail. Ah nevah coulds be straight wit a mama losin her calf buts laff be hahd on famly. This veal is raised for eating. Fries et ups den coatin en flour, den egg warsh, den dried biscuit leavins.
We have Italian bread crumbs seasoned with parsley Coo. Dats fan den, fries en oil poundin thin fust an puts lemons on da side. That is a very popular dish in Milan. Dat calf eatin de lawn gonna gets kilt har har. Cookie your raw humor is not appreciated. Wall he goinsta preciate dis meal ovah mah dead boday! You get this wrong and it might be over your dead body! Hold your tongue. Shew dats a moutfull.

02/14/2026

Cookie, we need to move on to the next course, Gwendoline said as he returned. Allrat, seem dis takin too long fer mes. Coo, chefs spend months preparing menus and they arent faced with these odds. All sez, dis be as odd ter mes as et gets.
Then do what you would do! No pasta but hearty food. Dats da ticket, takes sum good garden vittles lack dat colley flower an dat prickly pear lookin green, some dem new taters. Pour oil ovah an coarse salt. Roasted em en a hot oven tell dey crisp up sum. Thats brussel sprouts not prickly pears and a fine choice, what next?
Ah lack eggs en me dinnah boiled er fried. Takes dat smooth termater sauce an gets et bilin, crack tree egg ovah a plate o sauce an adds sum chili flake fer spice ter balance. That is egg diavalo and a prized peasant food. Wall et aint goinsta be pleasant iffen yous add too mech flakes har har. No Coo just a pinch.
All sez an we gotsta get outta et nows. Take dem fresh peas, boil em en salty watah an add dat curly hardtack to soaks up de juice, den adds fresh cream an peppah ter balance. You are using pasta against antipasta Coo! Wall lets de wah begins den!

02/13/2026

Coo, Gwendy said, we need a simple pastita for this course, never can have enough pasta for an Italian! Ah caints sees all dat hardtac digestin, gives mes a bellyache. You are not thinking balance Cookie. Pasta cooks fast and goes through the body just as fast. The additions are what make the dish.
Wall alls dem addin ons aint fer mes. Two er tree dats et. Allright then, think up a simple recipe. Dats easy, adds buttah an oil ter da hot pan, trows in sum dat cookin watah fer balancin, den sum dat crumblay cheese fer thickenin. Stirs den adds de stringy noodle. Thats spaghetti Coo and the cheese is parmesean reggiano. Tale Reggi den ter hurray ups an makes dat sauce har har.
You are funny Coo but this is the foundation of Italian cuisine. I dun found dis an lack wut ah seen. All dat garlac aint needed. Mah belly sez sos. Yes its needed, just as salt and pepper balance, the garlic and onion along with the French mirepoix make a robust sauce that can stand up to heavy pasta which is served as a later course meant to fill.
Ah dun hads mah fill o dis dried biscuit. Not biscuit but crafted flour and egg worked on the board. Ahm de ones bored wit dis, whars da meat? Italy does not have as much meat as you do here. Cattle dont just run loose like here. Deys happyer an nots sick lack dese cooped up cityfolk. No matter, beef in other countries is a treat, not a main course.
Seems dey sauce evertin toos. Yes Coo, that stretches the meal out so proteins go farther. I aint gots no pro teens cept you studens har har. You know how foods work together so lets get on to the next course. Antipasti! Ups downs downs ups dem fereners caint makes up dere mine. Yes they do and a lot depends on how much they like the last course to look forward to the next.
Seem lack laff ter mes Gwendy. Iffen yer aint happay en dis un, de next aint goinsta be no bettah. That is profound Cookie. Den ken yer found mes a sweet roll an anudder cup o coffee. All dis tinkin makin me hangries. Sure I can and while I do that you come up with a few ideas that dont have pasta. Dats a relief! Ahm headed fer da privvy. Its the coffee Coo. Shore be an brangs et ons!

01/23/2026

Cookie was watching intently as Gwendoline formed the recipe he described. He got his letters in grade school before enlisting in the great war. Had his numbers too up to double naught. As she wrote Cookie looked up to see Zelda standing there hands on hips.
Cookie what you doin?you startin to sound like these students. This aint you. Chicken balls an yeller gravy. Dat bird nest noodle fer sissys! Would you serve that to cowhands? These men want meat an tomato sauce. That what Rico teachin me. This aint right.
Ahm all flabbergasted wit all dis tinkin, dats all. Aint nevah hads ter feeds Italians. Zelda answers, they eat like other men, simple foods cooked slow for rich taste. All rat, scratch dat outs Gwendy an dis be man food. Ten pound pork an beef grind, add egg fer bindin, salt n peppah fer balance, dat dry Italian seasonin en de bottle, an da pahsleyed bread crumbs fer marryin.
We getting married Coo, Gwendoline asks? Seems we doin lotsa tings lack dat. Pleasin aint easin tell it ovah. Use dat meat sauce undah an dat cheese fer beddin down. Now you are marrying hee hee. Now Gwendy, you makin me blush. Et all like de march. Anticipatin vows o agreein. Can we agree Coo? Yap, yer ken iffen talkin aint hard. Zeldas be rat. Most times women are right.
Ah don knows bouts dat, buts Rose be rat fer mes an she comin home soon. Jeeves said Pappy O Daniel has returned to the mansion. Den all be seein mah bride soons. You will if you live through this. Ah weel et aint no step fer a stepper. Thats the spirit! Now lets get this next course done. Antipasti. Ahm anti in dis pasty fer shore! Balance Coo down the aisle like you says. I dos!

01/21/2026

We needs a meatball made fer counterin dat cheese piller. Chop dat cold chickan meat aftah bilin an mix de white o eggs wit et. Add dem pearl onions an a garlic piece choppeded good, salt an peppah ter balance. Den bind et wit dem Italian bread crumbs an dat powdery cheese. Got dat Gwendy?
Somewhat Sir, meatballs are usually made from beef and pork. Wall deres tam fer dat latah. Dese balls er light fer wakin ups de cheeks. Adds sum red peppah flake fer dat. Your cheeks might not be happy with that after digestion Coo. Har har remambah good fer da goose.
Use jest de whites and da yolk be da sauce whippeded wit buttah white wine an lemon juice. That is a mock hollandais or sabayon, very rich. Yer rat dere, use dat angel pasta fer et be skinny. Angel hair is a nice choice for nesting. Dats wut we makin a nest wit egg an yolk drassed sorter.
I never heard of meatball dressed nest, seems confusing. Et all bout balancin de egg an yolk. The yolks on you if that sauce breaks. Jest add buttah melty, den de wine, bindin wit de lemon juice. I hope Johnny likes unusual dishes, this isnt traditional. Rose taught me dis fum China. That is a completely different dish in China! De idee be a good un. Experimenting might get you killed! Aint no ways dis ken be bad. Jest keeps writin, we needs one else fer balancin. Bread is all you need with these rich sauces Chef. Dats da ticket, put a pan o watah in da oven wit de loaf fer crispin. A crusty loaf is you Coo. An ah aint changin nows.

01/20/2026

Gwendy, Cookie asks, wut yer gots wrote so fer? Chef, we have a soup, a salad, and a cheese board though the recipes are not fully indicated. Don worray bout dat, et all cm tergedder wit yer hands. I cant see that Sir, a recipe must be followed. Dat jest a reminder o wuts en dere. Yer de one wit de magic touch.
That wont make sense to the other students though Cookie. Jest keeps writin an dis be class. Unorthodox at best, Jeeves would not approve. Da Master Major! Him en is penguin suit best stay at de mansion. Ahm da teacher nows.
Cappellini with chicken stock and parmesean rind, salad of mixed greens, cheese board with ham. Less adds more meat an pecans, dried fruit fer da tongue.
That is traditional fare Sir. Glads we most halfwayd dere. No Cookie that is a first course. All adat den seven more! Yes Chef an Italian meal is all about sharing of tastes, a family time over many hours. Wall ours be bean an bacon wit fried steak an taters. No Coo much too heavy for the stomach, many courses of flavorful plates and wines to match.
Dem Italians don seems en no hurray fer vittles. No Chef, the meal is one of entertaiinment. Ah aint nuttin buts food, da band be finashed fore servin tam. The food is the entertainment. Each course should take you to a different destination. Ah lacks et rat har buts iffen dats how dey dos wuts good fer de goose be good fer da gander!
The next course should be light but include pasta with sauce. Dat hardtack aint et, rolls out sum dough an makes lil han pies wit dat cream cheese an pahsley, cream gravy wit dat Italian spinach leaf an pearl onion. Thats alfredo sauce with tortellino of sorts, basil is the leaf along with parsley. Yer writin an sortin so jest keeps at et. Yes Chef.
Dese rolls yer makin fer sanwitches adds sum tater flake fer richnass an boday, dat'll get dere tension! Sir, you do not want tension! A mistake could send you to purgatory. Ah aint worrayed bout mah cookin, jest pleasin grumpy ole men aint easay. Use dat softy cheese an keeps em hot fer meltin. That is fres Q10h mozzarella. More o dat ham an sumtin spicy toos fer filler. We have Genoa salami for that. Dis hole meal gots ter bes genoin er we outta luck! Coo you were out of luck the day Sonya arrived! Yer ken sez dat agin!

01/15/2026

Cookie, Gwendoline explained, a formal Italian dinner consists of eight courses. Salad, soup, pasti, antipasti, dessert. Dats nice Gwendy 'cepts we settin on a bald hill wit corrals. No matter Coo, that is what Papa Johnny will expect upon arrival.
Wut tam he comin den? According to Miss Ann, he and his men arrive on the noon train. Arranging for cars and loading puts them here by one. Seem lack we all har by one, tank de Good Lord. With this bunch you will need all the help you can get! Den sent fer de udder students wen dey get dis lass dinnah dun whiles ahm cookin an servin out dere we gots forty more ter keer fer.
Thats a lot of preparation Coo. Gwendy dis jest bes annudder test o who ye err. Iffen ye ken den do it. Very brave Cookie in the face of danger. We alls face dat ever dee. Dats wy ah prays. We are here to learn! Den keeps writin downs how we doin tings.
Dat broth fer de soupin an saucin, meat pounded thin fer fryin an rollin ups. We needs braid sose gets a yeast cake an breaks et ups in warm watah with yer fingahs. We bakin crusty loaves bah a pan o watah en de oven wit de braid. We needs softened loaves fer sanwiches an rolls. Mix et ups an adds oil fer a softah loaf.
Olive oil is traditional Coo. Hog lard be mah way buts do dat. Less gets ter bakin! Dem sauces anudder ting seems dey sauce evertin. No but sauces are very important to carry meats baking into pasta. Den less dos a termater gravy wit an witout meat. Long cookin be da key. Adds onion a celry coarse chop an garlack. Fish et outs aftah et all soffeneded up. Add dat grind beef to de udder all browned up.
Wes needin a cream gravy toos fer de chackin pahts. That sauce is called alfredo with fresh herbs and cream fraiche Coo. We ken staht dat latah an use dat flat wide noodle fer soppin. Thats linguine and a fine choice. Take da meat fum da soupin an brown et sum long wit de bones fore addin de bones back en de pot. Dryin dat meat hep et sticks to de sauce.
Dis ham? Wuts et bes? ets all white! That is parma ham hung in the rafters and cured till mold grows. Don seem safe buts da injuns dun dat ter javalina hogs, less make a plate o ham, cheese an fruits fer nibblin. Thats French charcuterie and a very good choice for mid meal. Makes sanwitches toos wit dem rolls addin dat soffeneded cheese. Fresh mozzarella loved by all Italians.
We needs da love ter gets in da dishes sose make sauce, bake braid, pound meats tin, an rustle ups fruit. Dat chokin salad, less gets et outta da way fust, den soupin wit dat chackin broth an dem lil beads o hardtack. Thats cappelini, capalleni pasta, excellent with parmesean rind.
Dat don seem rat addin rind buts dese Italians seem perty rough. No Cookie that is culture! Dat white culture on dat ham mat kill ye! That and a whole lot of things at this dinner party! Shew ah knows dats rat.

01/14/2026

Cookie, set down right there and let me pour you a cup of coffee, Zelda said. Et shore be walcum wit all dis tinkin ter dos, he answered. Dont think too much, she kept on, you know best what ter do. Dats rat, buts Italian cookin aint fer mes. Then do whats for you Coo, Gwendoline ups.
Go gets yer a pencil an papah fum Sonyees room, we a writin all dis down fer de udder students. Yes Chef she answers. Zelda you gets a chicken an puts et en a pot fer broth an wen da meat soft take et loose an roast de bones en de broiler fore addin em backs. We needs a soupin.
Dese green vegebles needs choppin, celery, onion, carrot. Thats mirepoix Coo. Ah mires de puah an et need onion scrap an celry fer richenin.
Dese spices wut dey? Oregano is used widely, parsely and garlic also. We gonna need bunches o dat, seem garlaic en dere blood. Yes added Gwendy, it is in most dishes. Not fum mes buts we addin sum.
Rico uses that all the time, Zelda ups. Ah knows, an mah belly don lack et! We holdin back on dat. Dis hardtack wut et be? Pasta is the base ingredient for most meals, gemelli with its screw shape for meat sauce, spaghetti finer shape for smooth sauce, lasagna noodle for meat and cheese.
We needin a pot o each an dem flat noodle fer cream gravy. Zelda sqeeze a bag o lemons en milk fer clabberin an cream. That makes buttermilk Coo. Shore duz an we batterin wit dat. Dese breast o chackin, pound em tin an sets aside. Long wit dat beef steak, we rollin dat up wit stuffin. Dese salad greens, gets em warshed an sorted, easy on dat scariole an radiciole, we don wanna choke nobodies, har har.
You get this wrong you might be the one choked Rico said, added Zelda. Caint worray bout dat nows, we gots men ter feeds. But you are cooking for Papa Johnny! Yep an all is men toos, da Genral eat jest lack is men so we doin fer forty fifty folk. Sonyee an Rico be back late an deres gonna be food on da table fum de tam dey gats har! That is very ambitious of you Coo. Gwendy we en a wah not jest a battle, dese men an us gots ter bes united wit one tought. Dats providin. Zelda said, just dont bite off more than you can chew! Aint dat de trufe, Cookie moaned.

01/07/2026

As Cookie trudged up the steps to the hotel the weight of the day was creeping up on him and he hung his head a little lower than usual. He never had trouble cooking for anyone but the implications of this one meal worried him.
Seeing him in deep thought and troubled Gwendoline stopped at the head of the stairs on the back porch and said, turn around Cookie and see all you have done. The new park is alive with people and the bridge is ready to open. All this you made possible. If you can do this you can handle forty men.
Ah aint so sures Gwendy, aint nevah fixed grub fer Italians. Yes you have! Sonya loves your cooking and so will Papa Johnny. Like Zelda said to you, its no different than preparing other cuisines, just different ingredients. I can help you and Zelda has been training. Dats nice buts et all on mes ter put ups err shut up.
Haha I know you wont shut up so lets put on a show. Dats da spirit, dis aint no wah but ets comin. Dese folk ken bes won ovah wit sum hep by de Lord. Thats right Coo and the Good Lord wont let you down even in your darkest moments. Den lats gats ter pickin an choosin wut wes fixin.
Entering the back door Cookie saw boxes and crates of supplies, the storeroom pantry was overflowing with can goods on shelves and olive oil jugs. Aint nevah seen so muchs feren food. Were all dis come fum? Rico and Sonya have been at the market every day after shooting film, the pantries have everything you need. All cept unnerstandin any o dis, he moaned.
You understand, just look at it in a different light, food is food! Yer sayin dat Italian hardtack an termater gravy be da ansah? Just like your cowboys around the wagon, they will like it or not eat. Don say dat fer evertin ridin on dis. Look here, this is salad pointing to a crate of green. Ah sees dat cow feed, nevah mech keered fer et. Gimmes a taste.
Tasting a leaf Cookie gagged an spit in his hand, dat aint rat he exclaimed. It is endivee or chicory meant to be bitter to offset the richness of tomato. Iffen dat bes wut ah gots ter werk wit ets goin ter bes a long dee. You can say that again Coo!

01/06/2026

After Cookie had briefed all the students on their missions for the day, he and Gwendoline headed in lock step through the entrance. Determination gripped him as he knew he had one shot at getting this right. Gwendy was pouring through her mind all the ways she had been taught to prepare Italian foods.
She thought, bread, wine, pasta, salads, fruits desserts. A mixture of cultures, American style. The more she thought of it, the more fearful she became at the ways Cookie executed. No recipes only ideas and this balance thing he always speaks of.
These men coming Sonya had told her were the personal picks of her grandfather. All Sicilian and few speaking English. The old country ways were ingrained in them. How was Cookie going to win them over? American fried steak and potatoes mashed. They will walk away, or worse turn on their host.
Gritting her teeth and marching fearlessly into battle. These men will be weary from the cramped train ride from Chicago. Likely as not a bit grumpy for the food aboard held no merit. Eight courses of meticulously prepared dishes is what Papa Johnny expected and Cookies loose way of preparing puts her in the middle of the fray. I hope Zelda has learned from Rico the ways of sauce.
Bravely she marched knowing the consequences. She had heard Sonya gush of her amazement at Cookies skill to granpapa and he will have expectations. No way to know how dishes will turn out with him. No recipes, no discipline or formal training. Jeeves would say, madame, this is a pickle.

Steak Street/hilltopfoods