Maybe that generalization is a little sweeping, but the baked potatoes at Sweetie Pie’s are darned good!
Baked potato dripping with butter.
Now, doesn’t that make your mouth water? But, wait! You don’t know how they cook them. That’s the part that fascinated me. See, they have these two enormous vats, with racks to hold the baked potatoes. Chris, one of the managers, let me step back to see them.
Custom built potato vat
Rosin to bake the 'tater
They heat pine rosin until it reaches 350 degrees, and then they dip those potatoes down in the rosin to bake! Chris told me that once the potatoes are done, they are wrapped in brown paper and split open to serve. I asked, ‘Can’t you eat the skin, then? It’s my favorite part of the potato!” Unfortunately, Chris said, “No, you have to scrape the potato from the inside and be careful not to crack the rosin. It wouldn’t taste very good.”
I swan I never heard of such a thing in all my natural born days (I’m sorry, I’m channeling my Grandmother — Mamaw never swore, but she “swanned” a lot!). I can’t figure who thought up the idea of baking a potato in pine resin. And, if you can’t eat the skins — why?
I had gone to Sweetie Pie’s on the day I told stories at the Decatur Public Library, at the recommendation of Donna Teal, who is the proprietor of a wonderful shop on the courthouse square called Memory Lane (hold on, a post is coming soon about it). She said that the ladies who come to the monthly Girls Night Out just love the place. Hey, I had to eat to keep up my strength, so I sashayed over to Sweetie Pie’s on the other side of the square.
Their website proclaims:
“Sweetie Pie’s objective is to do a few things very well.”
Oh. My. Thunder. They certainly do! That day, since it was lunchtime (and they don’t serve their baked potatoes at lunch except on Sunday), I ordered a steak salad with hot bacon dressing. I was warned not to look at the plate after I ate — I would see that I had been eating bacon grease!
Look at the filet mignon on that salad!
They didn’t know me. I’ll eat bacon grease as if it’s ice cream.
There was a generous helping of delicious filet mignon on top of that salad. It was almost more than I could eat. But, I fell for the Red Velvet cake, too.
There is no cocoa in this cake, but who cared?
Actually, I packaged that up in a “to go” box and brought it home. Don’t tell my husband that, though, because I hid in the closet and ate every bite all by myself! Don’t even think that I would share a morsel of this delightful dessert.
Since I didn’t get to try the baked potato the first time around, I had to go back to Sweetie Pie’s. Oh, darn.
That’s when I got the baked potato, along with this rib eye steak. I had to try the rib eye, since that’s what the restaurant claims as its specialty. That steak was tender and juicy. It was delicious! And, I didn’t miss eating the potato skin. That potato was fluffy and wonderful. It was everything that their advertising claims.
That rib eye will melt in your mouth!
There is a special butter, with secret ingredients in it, that is served alongside that potato. Zeb, another one of the managers, told me that little kids have been known to dive into it like it was ice cream.
My cholesterol climbs just looking at this butter.
I was tempted to eat the butter for dessert, but instead I tried their pecan pie. It was almost as good as my Mamaw’s version — but not quite.
I still haven’t tried their apricot fried pie dessert, so I’ll have to go back again! And, I haven’t tried a Green Chili Burger on a homemade hamburger bun. I need to sample the pot pies, too! I’m told they are a hot seller, and in fact patrons get downright angry if they run out of them. Oh! I have to try their “Chipped Beef on Toast.” That’s the polite name for “S.O.S.” — which is the polite way to say “sh*t on a shingle” — which is the name that soldiers traditionally call “chipped beef on toast.”
I can already see that I am going to be burning up the highway between Denton and Decatur to go back to Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes! You’ll find it on the square in Decatur at 201 W. Main St. (it’s open 7 days a week, but you can call for reservations 940/626-4555).
Sweetie Pie
I would not “steer” you wrong (Get it? Huh? Huh?). But, don’t take my word for it. You simply must go and try it for yourself.
Sweetie Pie’s is another gem in my neck of the woods. If you live in Dallas, it will take you a little over an hour to get there. From Fort Worth, it’s about a forty-five minute drive. Trust me: Sweetie Pie’s is worth the drive no matter how long it is. You will know you are there when you see the Wise County Courthouse.
Wise County Courthouse
It’s a sure bet that when you get to Sweetie Pie’s, I’ll be the red-headed gal in the corner stuffing my face with that heavenly baked potato!
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Man O Man that looks like some good food, and your descriptions are great! Not too sure about the rosin baked spuds. Why rosin? I guess I’d be afraid I’d get a little pine tar in my throat!
But the steak looks mighty fine. I love rib eye.
I had red velvet cake down in South Carolina a few times. It’s the best. Your picture tells me they use the pecans in the frosting, (or some kind of chopped nuts). To die for.
A personal note about bacon: I love it, but with all the hype about it not being the best for your health, I don’t make it or order it very often. When I do make some, I use only the best thick sliced smoked variety from the butcher. I then fry my eggs, sunny side up, in the grease. Nothing better for breakfast.
Great places down there in Texas. Next time to the hill coutry to ride I’ll have to make it back to Heitmiller’s Steak House near Wako on the interstate.
I’m also really really motivated to write some “My Neck” stories. I have the ideas, now to get out there. You do a great job!
Spadoman´s last blog ..Good stuff, posted on Friday 08/21/2009
I don’t understand why the pine resin, either, Spadoman. I guess maybe just for the novelty of it? You are making me hungry! I remember Heitmiller’s —I’ll have to watch and see if it is still there. Bring on your tales!
Thanks for your kind words.
YUM!!!! Baked potatoes and steak are actually one of my favorite meals! I’m not a skin eater, though. No, not my thing…..That Red Velvet cake looks delicious!! I’ve only had it once before and it was to die for! It’s not something I see around here a lot. S.O.S.!!! You know, I love chipped beef on toast. My dad used to make it when we were kids and I loved it. I was just mentioning it to my husband a few weeks ago. I don’t know what brought on the urge, but it must be fate that you mentioned it. I’m going to have to find some
Jessica The Rock Chick´s last blog ..Who Wears Short Shorts?
I always thought the skin was the best part (as long as it is washed really well! I hate grit in my teeth). The Red Velvet cake was indeed “to die” for. In fact, ALL of the stuff at that restaurant is. I told ‘em they were trying to kill me by driving my cholesterol through the roof!