Hammett House
Claremore
Downhome Oklahoma cuisine pleases the palate at the Hammett House. Owners Bill and Linda Biard bought the restaurant 25 years ago and have preserved this renowned spot, which first opened in the 1960s.
“Some things don’t change, and although we’ve added a few things to our menu, it’s really like the original restaurant,” said Bill Biard. “I enjoy greeting motorcoaches and telling them about the history of the restaurant and Claremore and, of course, what’s on the menu that day.”
Hammett House remains famous for Oklahoma’s official state meal: chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and cream gravy made from whole milk. The chicken-fried steak is hand tenderized with the restaurant’s special all-purpose seasoning. According to Biard, the gravy is plated first, with the chicken-fried steak added on top so that customers can see how good it looks.
“It’s our favorite meal and No. 1 best seller,” said Biard. “We call it ‘pamper fried,’ a term Mrs. Hammett coined that expressed the goodness of our chicken-fried steak, chicken-fried chicken and onion blossoms. I’ll stack them up against anyone, anywhere.”
After the Biards took over, the original owner’s son came in and taught them to make Mrs. Hammett’s pillowy mashed-potato yeast rolls and pies. The restaurant is best known for three pies: lemon pecan pie, a twist on Southern pecan pie with a light lemony flavor; a German chocolate pie that weighs about 12 pounds and that is cut into eighths because of its richness; and a sour cream raisin pie laced with clove, nutmeg and cinnamon. However, there are at least 14 different pies baked daily, using Crisco for the flakiest of crusts.
Aaimpa’ Café
Sulphur
After a morning tour of the Chickasaw Cultural Center, groups can eat an authentic meal at the center’s Aaimpa’ Café. In addition to modern favorites, they can taste traditional American Indian food like fry bread, buffalo burgers and chili.
“Our goal is to serve the freshest ingredients possible so that each dish is authentic, and our horticultural team maintains various gardens whose vegetables are served in our cafe,” said Valorie Walters, executive officer for the Cultural Center.
According to Walters, a favorite meal for groups is the Chickasaw Special, which includes an Indian taco with beef or buffalo accompanied by side dishes of authentic pishofa and grape dumplings, plus a drink. Pishofa, a traditional corn soup, is stewed with cracked hominy and contains chunks of pork. Traditionally, it would have been cooked over an open fire. The classic Chickasaw dessert of grape dumplings would have been cooked with wild grapes grown in the area. Today, it’s cooked a bit differently and infused with grape juice for a sweeter rendition.
