Olgas

Marie at a Year From Oak Cottage posted a entry about lamb today, and it stirred up some fond memories for me. Being a native Texan, we never ate much lamb. The first place I ever tried lamb was at this quaint little restaurant called Olga's in the mall. My mother would take me to Olga's for special treats, like when I had the school day off or wasn't feeling well and she needed to run errands. I loved going, especially when my little sister wasn't with us. It was a special treat to go out with Mom alone, and I treasured it.

Olga's had pita-like sandwiches that weren't pitas and not tortillas. It was this sweet flat bread that made you almost cry when it was gone. I always got the Club Olga with turkey, cheese and bacon and split a spinach pie (spinach and cheese in a flaky pastry) with my mom.

I mourned when Olga's left, and not just for the bread and spinach pies. I mourned for the lost lunches with my Mom in a charming cafe in the quiet early hours of a mall. Out of nostalgia, I searched for Olga's on the Internet and found a recipe for the sweet bread! I'm planning on trying it out soon. Maybe I can even create a mini-Olga's in my own kitchen.

As food prices go up in the US and journalists go into a frenzy reporting everyone's going to starve, it's nice to be able to hold on to the simple things. When the world is crazy outside, the scent of muffins baking in the oven or a loaf of bread in the bread machine soothes the soul.

Just like an Olga lunch with Mom.