The Medora, North Dakota tourism season kicks off June 1st, and the locals are awfully proud of their premier culinary attraction: pitchfork fondue. It works like this: You pick your preferred steak—say, a rib-eye or a New York strip, then you stand in line, tell some guy how you want it cooked and he literally sticks it on a pitchfork and "fondues" it in a cauldron of boiling oil. Once he returns it, you pile up your plate with traditional cowboy fixings like baked potatoes, baked beans, vegetables, salads, and brownies. Feast in hand, you settle in at a picnic table on an enormous outdoor terrace, and watch the sun set over one of this nation's most otherworldly landscapes, the Badlands. The terrace is built to accommodate the summer crowds that stream into this far corner of North Dakota to see the Medora Musical. Now, I have never seen this musical, but it sounds nothing short of mind-boggling. It seems to be an original production about Teddy Roosevelt and involves, according to the Medora Musical website: "A mix of modern country, western, gospel and patriotic music; a talented cast of singers and dancers from across the US; a live band on stage; live horses on stage; nationally known variety acts; historic, patriotic themes dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt; [and] modern conveniences for your comfort." I really want to go. I love Waiting for Guffman, I love steak, and I love Teddy Roosevelt. Actually, I know almost nothing about Teddy Roosevelt, but I do love Cary Grant's crazy brother in Arsenic and Old Lace who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt, and isn't that pretty much the same thing?
Pinterest
