Freedom found on the road to Suzie's Country Kitchen

Freed from the chains of snow-clogged roads, I found myself driving down a winding country highway, on my way to try another restaurant in the wilds of Missouri. Or maybe just in Patton. Either way, I was happy and free.

I've been meaning to visit Suzie's Country Kitchen for some time now, but I could never work out the timing. I have several relatives who make the drive regularly, and that means Suzie's was well worth checking out.

Suzie's is located in a large building in Patton, and I walked up a long concrete ramp to get to the door. When I walked in, it was about an hour before closing, and most of the lunch traffic had already died down. Seating myself at a table, I looked around, soaking in a good first impression. A tile drop ceiling, a handwritten daily special on the wall to my left, a large handwritten all-you-can-eat weekend special on my right, a simple counter with cash register up front, and two friendly gentlemen enjoying a late lunch filled the room. Decor was simple and no nonsense, functional. This wasn't meant to impress, no, this was meant to give you a place to eat food, pure and simple. I loved it.

As I so often do, I ordered the special of the day, a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich with fries. My husband ordered what would turn out to be an absolutely monster of a burger, the Double Bacon Cheeseburger with fries. We chatted and waited, and I watched through a small window while someone worked her magic in the kitchen. There was a sign on the wall that said something about good food being served here, not fast food, and I hoped it wouldn't be too terribly long. I was hungry.

Indeed, the wait wasn't too terribly long, and pretty soon we had steaming hot plates of food in front of us. I checked my Philly Cheese Steak for a toasted bun, a must on a sloppy sandwich, and that was the first green checkmark. Upon biting into my sandwich, it got all of the checkmarks. The beef was sliced thin and so tender and packed full of flavor that I closed my eyes. Mmm. Bursting with well cooked and softened onions and peppers (because no one wants a crunchy onion in a Philly cheese steak) and slathered in just the right amount of gooey cheese, the bun held together through the entire eating process, and I felt like today's daily special was indeed special.

The Double Bacon Cheeseburger from Suzie's Country Kitchen, huge and glowing with beauty and flavor.Submitted by Rebecca LaClair

My husband, however, had ordered the plate that would provide me with my photographic money shot. The Double Bacon Cheeseburger was placed on the table, and I think I breathed a silent "Oh my goodness" when it made its appearance. The burger towered over the fries, defying anybody to get a mere human mouth around its bulky height. Fresh and beautiful lettuce and tomato peaked out from under the bun, like a feather in the cap of a jaunty gentleman. Perfectly placed bacon slices sat serenely atop the burger mountain, secure in their place of taste dominance. There is true beauty in a pretty plate of food, and this was an example of something commonplace, a burger, made extraordinary with good presentation. And now that I've waxed poetic on this burger's appearance, let me assure you that the flavor matched. Meaty, well-seasoned beef, crisp bacon, cool snappy veggies and a toasted bun did not disappoint. And no, I couldn't get my mouth all the way around it. Neither could my husband. He didn't care. The whole thing disappeared somehow anyway.

I ended my visit as I always do whenever the opportunity presents itself, with the last slice of coconut creme pie in the place. Phew. That was a close call. Suzie's pie has a beautifully white, creamy filling, full of vanilla flavor and lots of coconut. The waitress asked if I wanted whipped cream, and I'm sure I looked at her like she was crazy when I answered, "Oh, yes please." Now, I won't lie and tell you it was the absolute best coconut creme I've ever had, but it was an easy top three. Give it a try and see where it ranks on your list.