(This post was written by Dream Girl and originally appeared on her now famous blog, Okie Sister and then I cross posted it here from our food blog.)

My two favorite lunch restaurants have closed their doors.

Cinders in the Ramada Inn has been closed for some time now. I wonder where "Ms Pearl" is? She cooked  wonderful homemade soups for Cinders. Just what Okie Sister craves on a cool fall day. Annie Pearl Hill cooked at this hotel for 35 years.

And now the Back Porch is closed. Hubby and I ate there the last day they were open, not knowing of their impending closure. The sign on the door says “closed for two weeks.” That was three weeks ago, so things are not looking good. I hope all the sweets gals that worked there have found other employment. I’m sad that I didn’t get to say goodbye but hopefully our paths will meet again one day.

I had a dream last week that we were back at the Back Porch eating lunch. In it, I let the owners know of my displeasure that we were not consulted about this hiatus. Talk about working out your subconscious feelings in your sleep.

All I can say is, "This would be a good town to start a restaurant in." Don't forget the golden rule of real estate though, Location - Location - Location. The Back Porch was perfectly situated near down town. They had people standing in line for a table at lunch, so lack of business was not the reason they closed their doors. I wish they would have left me a parting gift, like the recipe for their tarter sauce or their heavenly buttermilk pie.

So now, we have been venturing out in search of new lunch stops.

This week I had a fabulous bowl of soup at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant. It was a Creamy Tortellini Soup. Hubby said, “I could make that. It’s tomato soup, cream and tortellini.” Close, but I think  it is actually their special marinara sauce that makes the soup so good.

Besides, he doesn’t make bread rolls like these babies.

Look at them, aren’t they a thing of beauty. They tasted fantastic too.

I finished my meal with a green salad and a chicken dish that had eggplant and mushrooms in a buttery garlic sauce over spaghetti. Yes, I know…real low-cal stuff here.

Hubby had a big sausage roll. (That's what she said.)
I didn’t get a picture.

Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant 2502 NW Cache Rd  Lawton, OK 73505 580-248-1110

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Dream Girl, way to step up to the plate and post in this time of social upheaval, I know I couldn't do it. I am too sad. Too sad and lost. Too sad, lost and deeply hurt.

Too sad, lost, deeply hurt and forlorn to go on. I cannot imagine the hopelessness some will feel in the future when they find that the shining star is forever extinguished. We must all come together now to form a "family" of all those involved and seek a resolution to our quandary.

SMACK----- Snap out of it... no I'm not talking about the election. I'm talking about something that truly touches each of our lives. The unceremonious closing of the Back Porch.

Like a newly found lover I was entranced by the succulence of our joining. I learned the spicy side and the sweet as well. And then you left me mouth agape in the middle of the night without even a kiss. Or at least a Mother Forker*.

*Note a Mother Forker is... strike that.... was a burger on the menu at the Back Porch. It was made by placing a loaded cheeseburger on a plate. I'm talking about a loaded cheeseburger here, large meat patty, toasted bun, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard and large slice of onion. Then on top of the loaded cheeseburger, ladle a large quantity of chili covering the burger. Then ladle a large quantity of queso over the chili covered burger and consume. It was so named because it was considered the "Mother" of all burgers and you couldn't pick it up to eat it so you had to use a fork.