Jean's Restaurant

Jean's was an authentic country restaurant of the old school, located in Rockcastle County Kentucky. It was perched about halfway up Burr Hill, near Exit 59, off of Interstate 75.

I cried when I heard that it burned down.

When I say Jean's was authentic, I mean that it was where the locals went to eat. Jean's did not pander to the I-75 tourist trade and it wasn't littered with Cracker Barrel-crap. It's where you went to eat dinner on Sunday afternoon, after church. It's where county political bosses held court and kissed babies. It's where all the best gossip was spread.

I only ever ate three things at Jean's but I would travel around the world just to eat them there again: (1) country ham so strong it would salt cure your tongue; (2) pinto bean soup with hamhocks that was especially good for your heart, if you know what I mean; and (3) fried cornbread, smothered in enough real butter to make life worth living.

Oh, I forgot the chocolate cream pie! And coffee in those old-school diner coffee cups that were not an affectation at Jean's, just the only crockery they ever had.

You'll have to excuse me now. I feel a fresh batch of bitter tears coming on.

it burned down... sad