My sister, Monica, and I spent a weekend in Pawhuska, Oklahoma-our 3rd and favorite sister trip we’ve taken. We spent a weekend in Eureka Springs one year and stayed in the haunted Crescent Hotel. Another year, we went to Laurel, Mississippi, and ate the best greens and cornbread. Those trips were great, but it’s hard to compete with a Pioneer Woman weekend! We had so many memorable experiences that I had to break them into two blog posts. To start, I don’t think anyone could go to Pawhuska and not remember the food as a major part of the trip.
Our first meal in Pawhuska was at P-Town Pizza, one of the establishments owned by Ree Drummond AKA The Pioneer Woman. The weather was beautiful, so we decided to sit on the outdoor balcony. There were so many unique choices on the menu. Monica had the Pizza-Ree-A, which had a pesto base, with mozzarella, fontina, parm, and goat cheese topped with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and a balsamic glaze. It was fantastic, and a great choice for those who like a Mediterranean flair. I had the What a Fun-gi, which had burgundy mushrooms, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, and fresh mozzarella. Oh my goodness, it was delicious. We both paired our pizzas with a local brew, an Iron Monk Raspberry Wheat.
The next morning, after a walk around the neighborhoods of Pawhuska, we went to the bakery upstairs in The Mercantile. We each had a scone-Monica had blueberry, and I had lemon poppyseed, both of which were great. They had a big variety of sweets, from cupcakes to slices of cake. They also had iced and hot coffees. We loved the atmosphere of the bakery. It had what I’m sure were original brick walls and hardwood floors, and so many couches and conversation areas. We could easily have stayed hours.
After some shopping and a visit to where The Pioneer Woman episodes are filmed, (part 2 of our trip will have all the details) we had a late lunch at The Mercantile’s dining room. We ordered some warm, cheesy olive bread as an appetizer, and I just have to say wow, it did not disappoint! They also brought out some homemade biscuits that would have been great as an appetizer. We then both ordered the Mediterranean Salmon Salad, which was grilled salmon over lettuce in a lemon caper dressing. It was surrounded by hard-boiled eggs, kalamata olives, tomatoes, potatoes, and string beans. I’m running out of adjectives, so I’ll just say it was as good as the rest of the food we tried!
Both nights, we stopped by Charlie’s Sweet Shop, named for Ree Drummond’s beloved dog. Before the trip, we looked at the menu online and were so excited to have the huckleberry ice cream, but unfortunately it was discontinued by the company that supplies the ice cream. We still had some delicious ice cream, pictured above, even though I can’t remember what kind it was! The single scoop is giant, and only $4! Just for reference, the photo above shows half of the $4 order. Sundaes, banana splits, and other ice cream treats are available there as well.
After a little over a day in Pawhuska, we can confirm that any food associated with The Pioneer Woman is worth eating. Every place we ate had a unique menu, friendly staff, and a fun atmosphere. So, what about the rest of the trip? I’ll soon have part 2, everything but the food, ready to go!