Thanksgiving at the Bright Star Restaurant
It was something I wanted to do for my sweet wife! I wanted to have someone else prepare the turkey and dressing, do the shopping, the cooking, and the cleanup and really treat my darling to a special Thanksgiving with just me. Was I a little selfish in doing this? Maybe a little! But let me tell you about my favorite restaurant that makes some of the best food in the Southeast.
The Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer, Alabama, USA has been there for over 100 years. When I was growing up in Bessemer too many years to count, my mom and dad introduced me to the Sarris family and this Greek family's special talent in making the best food around next to your mother or grandmother. It is now owned and managed by the 3rd generation of the Sarris family, or Jimmy and Nicky Koikos. I grew up with the Koikos boys and graduated from Bessemer High School with their sister Helen.
Karen decided she wanted a late lunch or early dinner, so we timed our arrival for 3:00 pm. There was a spill over of people waiting, some choosing to stand outside as the weather was moderate and the rain had finally left us. They were serving number #94 and I was given #25, so I ask Karen if she was up to the wait of maybe up to an hour? She smiled and said "Of course I am!"
We soon were meeting friends from Bessemer, Eddie Dunlavey and his wife and Gus and Kathy Koutralakis that own and operate Pete's Famous Hot Dogs in downtown Birmingham. Soon Karen and I felt right at home seeing many folk we had not seen in years. Jimmy was working the front and soon ask Gus and Kathy their number and immediately sat them in a nice booth for two. It was maybe 5 minutes later, Jimmy came up to me and ask what my number was and how many. We followed the waitress to a booth right behind Gus and Kathy. Nice to be good friends of your favorite restaurant when he takes my #25 when they are calling out #5 or #6!
The waitress got our drink and appetizers ASAP with Nicky bringing us our 3 pieces of homemade pie. "We are running out of some desserts!"...Thanks Nicky, enough said. Karen chose shrimp and Greek potatoes and salad, whereas I had the traditonal turkey and cornbread dressing with turnip greens and homemade fried corn. That with hot rolls and cornbread we had a real treat. The waitress soon ask us if we wanted coffee with our pie and soon we had piping hot cofee with my lemon icebox pie and Karen's chocolate almond.
We each shared a bit of our desserts with each other and Karen brought a pie of homemade cheesecake pie home for later. We had a fine time, great food, great time with friends and this time, we let someone else clean it up. Believe me or not, it was under $50 (fitty) bucks for this wonderful meal for two....Worth every penny!
I ran into a friend Friday and he too, had treated his wife to the Bright Star and Thanksgiving dinner. But he and his sweetheart went at 11:00am and how long was the waiting list I ask. 150...that is one hundred and fitty folks ahead of you!
I ask him did y'all (southern for you two, or really number more that 1 (one)). He said "yes" and it was just over 1 1/2 hours with the line out curling outside onto the sidewalk on 19th street. And, and, I thought my 15/20 minute wait at 3:00pm was a long time. He said "Next year we will be there at 3:00pm..."
I heard of your Lemon Ice Box pie from one of your Alabama boy's...Bill Mattinson who does work for our firm. He has been braging about your Lemon Ice Box Pie...he said he didn't have the recipe but I was wondering if you had it on line some where. You are on my list of places to visit next year. Have wonderful Holiday's!
It is coming up Mothers day this Sunday and Karen and I are doing the Bright Star thing again. My mouth is watering for the 'greek style snapper' followed by homemade lemon icebox pie. I drueling already...
Jeff in B'ham, Al, USA
