I’m assuming this is the train of thought that led us from our theme of the week to the family-owned Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant of Independence: As the World Turns (as proposed by our beloved President); times are changing; changing seasons; leaves turning colors; it’s fall; apples. Whatever the thinking that landed us there, we were happy as apple pie to be there. Kudos to Karen for choosing the location.
This music is all soundtracky. Whoah.
We were seated in a dining room that resembled what could’ve been the gallery of an 1800s-style mansion. The room was all decked out for the holidays with poinsettias and red place settings. The décor kind of cramped our style, as we had decked ourselves out in fall colors and patterns to coincide with our theme. Yet another example of people rushing the holidays. Sigh.
Our server was this adorable elder woman (whom I will refer to as Grandma) that was all too excited to tell us about the fried chicken special and the history of the restaurant. Grandma explained to us that Stephenson’s was started by “the twins” years and years ago. Apparently, one of the twins is living it up in
After absorbing some of the Stephenson’s history, ambience, and elevator-like music, we scoured the menu for the fattiest items and made our orders.
Janessa – the Fried Chicken Special & a glass of Apple Cider
Dana – Creamy Baked Chicken & a glass of Apple Cider
Megan – ditto & a glass of Apple Cider
Karen –
I love cheese carrots.
Have you ever bitten into something that looks like it should taste one way, but then turns out to taste like something else entirely? All four of our salads had this cute little carrot imposter that turned out to be cheese. Imagine that – thinking you’re going to bite into a crunchy carrot, but it tastes like cheese! What a delicious surprise.
The salads were good – the cheese carrot certainly helped – but the cornbread and apple butter… Oh. My. God. There was an all-out war for who got to put their dirty little hands on that bowl of apple butter. I think Janessa won, partly because we all conceded for fear of our lives.
Who else has babies?
While waiting for Grandma to bring out the main courses, we got to talking about “the old neighborhood,” otherwise known as
“I always hope the team that he likes will lose so he’ll feel like he wasted his time. Is that mean?” said Reagan.
“I’m from the
Note: the above names have been changed to protect the guilty, er, innocent.
If this dumpling had a soul, I’d feel sorry for it.
After devouring whole chickens, a small potato farm, and what had to be an entire rice casserole, we willed ourselves to order dessert. Janessa’s fiancé Jeff recommended “the apple dumpling thing,” which turned out to be some sort of baked apple surrounded by a dumpling, swimming in vanilla ice cream.
After paying our respects to the innocent apple dumpling dessert, each of us filled our hollow legs and bottomless pits with every last delicious bit of it. I’m pretty sure I heard it scream.
Just bring me a bowl of apple butter.
Some people get excited by the hint of spring. Others, the nipple slip of a starving celebutante. The girls of the FSL favor the simpler things in life, like time with loved ones, the glimpse of a rainbow, HOLY EFFING SHIT, they SELL apple butter!
We might not be able to afford dinner at Stephenson’s every evening. But the next best thing might just be Stephen’s apple butter, canned and ready to spread on whatever our little hearts desire. It’ll have to last us until our next FSL adventure this Sunday. Who wants to place bets on how long Janessa’s will last?
Photos HERE
It's the battle of the apple butter! FIGHT!
