Always Order the Hippie Hash

Inside The Diner

 The temperatures did not drop as far as the recent forecast indicated, but they dropped. We woke to 29°F, cold for north central Florida in mid-March. I sat in our van RV with my coffee trying to warm up. We enjoyed the four day trip in spite of the weather, which changed completely from the time we planned and booked the trip less than two weeks prior. The higher than normal temperatures and dry weather turned to colder than normal and rain. We just changed the itinerary and went. The colder than normal temperature forecasts continued to drop each day, until on our last evening around 8:30 p.m. someone knocked on the door. Since we didn’t know anyone there and just stopped for the night, it startled us. We opened the door to find one of the camp ground hosts. She told us the latest forecast, just updated less than an hour ago, called for low to mid 20s. Could we disconnect our water line and leave the faucet dripping to prevent the pipes freezing? Of course, we both pulled on jackets and complied.

Our almost three hour drive from the campground to home meant that normally we would try to sleep in and hang around for a few hours in the morning before leaving. Instead we both woke early. As I finished my coffee and reached for the pot for a refill, I turned to Karl and said I wanted to pack up and leave immediately. All I could think about was going to the diner in town for a nice, big, hot breakfast. We did just that.

One of the walls at The Diner in High Springs, FL

We had lunch at The Diner in High Springs, FL in the past, but never breakfast. This time I perused the breakfast menu and saw it: Hippie Hash. After Karl and I tossed back and forth some ideas on what in the world it could be, our server went by so I asked her. She laughed and said most people seemed to think it was corned beef hash. It couldn’t be more opposite: hash browns with vegetables such as tomato, onion, pepper and I think a few others, plus feta cheese. I ordered it with a couple of eggs, and finished every bite.

Food and travel writers inevitably trot out the old advice to order the specialty of the restaurant for the best experience. I usually do that, but it is getting more difficult. Whether due to consumer tastes or budget constraints, many restaurants no longer have that one dish that makes them unique. Even eating in local, individual or family owned restaurants so much of the menu is standard. One’s salads may be better or fresher, or another’s sandwich bread tastier, but the creativity of the unique dish, even a simple one, seems to be giving way to more homogenized offerings.

Whenever you can, support cooking creativity and always order the Hippie Hash.