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May. 12th, 2013 08:57 pmSpeaking of Ducks, we come to The Rusty Duck in Dexter, Iowa.
I had heard of the Rusty Duck, a small town restaurant where you can get a steak for $20 that will give you three meals it's so big. So, it was already on the 'To Do' list, but when I heard it was voted "Best Burger in Iowa" in a very publicized contest, well it was on.
Dexter calls itself the 'original one horse town', but it does look something like this
Which is something that strikes me as a non-native Iowan. Iowan small towns all have a similar layout, as if they are spread ten to twenty miles away, each with a town square with a library, post office, and an American Legion hall.
Maybe the towns I grew up with were just like this (surely they were). Maybe towns in Florida or Virginia or Utah or wherever else are exactly the same. Still, it's hard to shake the image of the Iowan small town. I have spent quite a bit of time in these towns, and they have a similar feel with an unique flavor and history.
Dexter's history is a lot more interesting than you would expect from a town with population of about 600.
The White Pole Road went through it. Predating Interstate 80, this road built around 1910 would eventually become part of a road that connected Cape Cod to Long Beach.
Wikipedia adds a story about Harry S Truman: On September 18, 1948, Dexter was the site of a national plowing match at which President Harry Truman delivered a speech attacking the 80th Congress for its record in regard to the American farmer. This speech is considered one of the most important of his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign that turned the tide of the election and returned him to the White House.
Still, the story that usually grabs everyone's attention is Bonnie and Clyde, who were hiding out just north of Dexter when the law caught up to them, resulting in a shootout. Bonnie and Clyde were both injured, but both escaped, but Clyde's brother Buck and his wife Blanche were captured.
Oh, and the Burger?
Well, Des Moines is home of the much loved B-Bops (the region's version of Rally's or Checker's) and in the last decade seen the arrival of gourmet burger chains like Red Robin and Fuddruckers. Not to mention, Zombieburger, which arrived a couple of years' ago and is helmed by a five-star chef.
Still, everything I had heard about The Rusty Duck was true. The portions were huge. The prices were right. The homemade salad dressing and homemade Onion Rings both worth a mention.
The burger?
Well, it really was amazing. Is there a better burger in Iowa (and Iowa is the place to go for all things beef)?
Possibly. I just can't imagine where it would be. Viva le Duck!
I had heard of the Rusty Duck, a small town restaurant where you can get a steak for $20 that will give you three meals it's so big. So, it was already on the 'To Do' list, but when I heard it was voted "Best Burger in Iowa" in a very publicized contest, well it was on.
Dexter calls itself the 'original one horse town', but it does look something like this
Which is something that strikes me as a non-native Iowan. Iowan small towns all have a similar layout, as if they are spread ten to twenty miles away, each with a town square with a library, post office, and an American Legion hall.
Maybe the towns I grew up with were just like this (surely they were). Maybe towns in Florida or Virginia or Utah or wherever else are exactly the same. Still, it's hard to shake the image of the Iowan small town. I have spent quite a bit of time in these towns, and they have a similar feel with an unique flavor and history.
Dexter's history is a lot more interesting than you would expect from a town with population of about 600.
The White Pole Road went through it. Predating Interstate 80, this road built around 1910 would eventually become part of a road that connected Cape Cod to Long Beach.
Wikipedia adds a story about Harry S Truman: On September 18, 1948, Dexter was the site of a national plowing match at which President Harry Truman delivered a speech attacking the 80th Congress for its record in regard to the American farmer. This speech is considered one of the most important of his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign that turned the tide of the election and returned him to the White House.
Still, the story that usually grabs everyone's attention is Bonnie and Clyde, who were hiding out just north of Dexter when the law caught up to them, resulting in a shootout. Bonnie and Clyde were both injured, but both escaped, but Clyde's brother Buck and his wife Blanche were captured.
Oh, and the Burger?
Well, Des Moines is home of the much loved B-Bops (the region's version of Rally's or Checker's) and in the last decade seen the arrival of gourmet burger chains like Red Robin and Fuddruckers. Not to mention, Zombieburger, which arrived a couple of years' ago and is helmed by a five-star chef.
Still, everything I had heard about The Rusty Duck was true. The portions were huge. The prices were right. The homemade salad dressing and homemade Onion Rings both worth a mention.
The burger?
Well, it really was amazing. Is there a better burger in Iowa (and Iowa is the place to go for all things beef)?
Possibly. I just can't imagine where it would be. Viva le Duck!
