I was saddened to read that Bob Evans died last week. As a personal memorial to the king of comfort food, I ate at a Bob Evans restaurant just off I-71 in Ohio Sunday. I walked past the oversized American flag flying at half-staff. I joined the crowd of locals in their church finery, families on vacation, and some trucking buddies for a memorial breakfast to honor a man who started his career with the simple wish to serve breakfast to truckers at all hours.
Just after World War II, Bob Evans opened a small restaurant next to a truck stop in southern Ohio. His sign read: "No beer, just fine food." You could get a great farm breakfast no matter what time you pulled in. The service was friendly, the coffee was hot and rich, and the pie kept you coming back!
When he couldn't find sausage that he liked, Evans started making his own, using "all the hams and tenderloins." It was so popular with truckers, he sold it in carryout tubs. Over the years Evans built his business into a retail sausage giant and chain of family restaurants. Bob Evans was a trucker's friend and set a new standard for truck stop food. My buddies and I ordered the Farmer's Breakfast with an extra order of sausage. Just seemed like the thing to do. Thanks, Bob. We'll miss you.
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