The Blue Plate Special - The heart of an American experience.
The Blue Plate Special was the preferred original value
meal for over three decades feeding millions of hungry Americans starting in the1920’s and beyond. Its name stemmed from
a restaurant’s “special” meal changing daily and usually featured at a few cents cheaper. Sometimes these budget friendly dinners were
served on blue plates. I was determined to relive and experience a piece of our
American food culture and in the process found so much more.
The Revival of the Blue Plate Special
“The Depot American Diner has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives; its Zagat rated (best of Chicago restaurant
ranking) and has a slew of other local awards and positive reviews. The experience took me back to a time when
food marketing was young and new. Things
were simple and that was a great feeling of comfort, much like the food.”
In an area on the Westside of
Chicago, tucked into an unassuming neighborhood with Hispanic, Irish and Polish
cultural influences lies a Diner so hidden you have to squint to find it. If you’re looking for parking, it’s your
lucky day, there isn’t any. With an“it’s hip to be square” attitude, there was
the Depot American Diner. It features no bright lights, no flashy signs, no two
for $20, just a beat up wooden door so underwhelming you had to take a step
back to make sure you were, in fact, heading into the right place.
As I stepped through the door,
I experienced something that is hard to explain: authenticity. The gentle murmur of conversation, kitchen utensils
being banged on the flattop grill, the high top counter with red vinyl topped
stools and a smell so intoxicating I immediately became twice as hungry.
A small chalkboard informed me
of today’s Blue Plate Special: Grilled Pork Chops. I took a booth to the right and plucked a
menu tucked neatly between the salt and pepper shakers taking in my
surroundings. What made this place so
different from others was its imperfections and lack of commercialization. It's menu was not fancy, there was no flare or shiny buttons on the wait staff, no funny dinner names, no flat screen TVs, no catchy
jingle, just a simple slogan: “Home of the Blue Plate Specials”. On the surface you would not assume this place has the right strategy to fit into today's market, but it is hard to argue with a line out the door and a consistently packed dining room 7 days a week. Simply put, it is good food made from scratch by cooks
taking the time to prepare it; a total
and complete dedication to serving high quality Blue Plate Specials at a value
price -- the way it should be. 
Maybe it was the nostalgic visual of three
Chicago detectives sitting at the counter discussing the day’s events, or the eclectic
mix of patrons coming and going, or even the faint smell of bacon grease from
that morning’s breakfast rush but this no frills experience took me to a different time and place. It was exactly the
change of pace I needed from the fast paced city of Chicago that I know and
love. 
Driving home I found myself
thinking about our own Blue Plate brand here at Chicago Meat and have found a
new appreciation in the culture and experience that lies behind it. While it comes in an unassuming box, much
like the Depot American Diner’s front door, the product inside is deep rooted
in tradition and deserves the attention and care of cooks everywhere to unlock
the potential of delicious - made from scratch American eats. 