What would you think if you sat down at a restaurant and the server brought you peanut butter and crackers?

At Weidmann's Restaurant in Meridian, Mississippi, that's not a mistake. It's a tradition that goes back more than 80 years. And the restaurant itself goes back considerably further.

In 1870, Swiss immigrant Felix Weidmann and his wife, Clara, opened a little café with just four stools. It was called the European House and was located in Meridian's Union Hotel.

That was 156 years ago. Ulysses S. Grant was president, and the automobile hadn't yet become part of the American landscape. The restaurant changed locations and passed through generations of the Weidmann family. In 1923, it moved to its present downtown location.

But perhaps its most unusual tradition began during World War II. Butter was in short supply, so Henry Weidmann began offering peanut butter with crackers instead. Customers liked the substitution so much that they wanted it to continue after the war.

Today, the peanut butter is served in handmade ceramic crocks. Sometimes a temporary solution turns out to be a permanent improvement.

I wonder how many business consultants would have recommended that one!

Weidmann's also became known for dishes such as garlic-boiled shrimp and its famous Black Bottom Pie. Over the years, the restaurant has experienced ownership changes, renovations, and even closures. It reopened in 2010 with an effort to restore many of its old traditions.

It's a reminder that historic restaurants are about more than food. They're also about the people, memories, and customs that survive from one generation to the next.

And if I get to Meridian on a future road trip, I know what I'll be looking for.

A little peanut butter. And perhaps a rather large slice of pie.

Learn more: Weidmann's Restaurant​

Quote of the Day

“Sometimes the best traditions begin when somebody runs out of butter.”

— The Driveby Tourist

Classic Rock Connection

“Old Time Rock and Roll” — Bob Seger

Some things are worth keeping around, even when fashions change. That applies to music, restaurants, and apparently peanut butter.

Reader Question

Have you ever visited a restaurant with an unusual tradition that made the experience memorable? I'd love to hear about it!

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Until next time.....

Stan

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