There Is No Place Like Home

As I said in "Home Sweet Home," I grew up in Wichita, Kansas, lived there until age 22, then moved to the Deep South. My mother and sister (and their husbands) still live in Wichita. After just returning from there, I can tell you- there is no place like home, in both Kansas and here in Virginia.

While in Wichita, as always, there are the traditional places where my family loves to eat. One stop on every trip is The Nu-Way Cafe. The cafe was opened on July 1, 1930 and boasts the famous Nu-Way Sandwich. Simply called a "Nu-Way," it is a loose meat sandwich on a bun. It is messy but wonderful. Served with homemade curley fries and crunchy golden brown onion rings, we devour every morsel. Nu-Way makes their own special root beer and a root beer float or chocolate malt fills out the meal nicely, thank you very much! Oh yes, and they have a chili that is legendary around Wichita.

My mother remembers eating at the original Nu-Way at 1416 W. Douglas and even though there are other locations in Wichita, most natives believe the W. Douglas location is THE ONLY location! Mother says that Nu-Way was a popular teen hangout when she was in high school. A carhop would take the order and promptly bring out a tray of goodies. This was fast food of the 30s. The cafe is small inside now and even smaller back then. A U shaped bar with stools is on one side and the other side seats customers at booths and tables.

The Nu-Way recipe is a secret but the local newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, published a recipe in the 1990s after many requests. See below. I don't know if this is THE recipe and I haven't tried it yet, but if anyone does, please write me @ writingonarainbow@gmail.com and tell me how it tastes.

Homemade Nu-Ways

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 t. instant beef bouillion

3 t. water

salt and pepper

1 small onion, finely chopped

In a skillet, saute onion and ground beef over low heat until redness in meat is gone. Drain well. Add bouillion and water and cover. Simmer over low heat until the water has cooked away. Adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as desired.

Spoon meat on a bun, with mustard and dill pickles. Add a slice of cheese if desired and enjoy a taste of Wichita!