It’s An Institution – The El-Bo Inn

I like to start my stories input from Webster.  In this case, Webster’s informal definition of an Institution is “an established law, practice, or custom: the institution of marriage .  Informally they are a well-established and familiar person, custom, or object: he soon became something of a national institution.”  This describes the Michigan based  EL-Bo Inn, right in the center of Elk County, situated on M-33 north 13-miles equidistant between Atlanta and Onaway. The El-Bo Inn was built near the entrance to Canada Creek Ranch, a 13,000 acre private sportsman’s club, started in 1936.

The El-Bo’s original owners established it to be a local watering hole for hunters and fisherman and members of Canada Creek Ranch.   At the same time, a Trading Post resembling the ‘old general store’  was built adjacent to the El-Bo,  both generating significant traffic and notoriety in the Northwoods.  These entities changed ownership several times over the years, surviving several changes in management but never losing their flavor.

As a resident of Canada Creek Ranch since 1976,  my children and I frequented the El-Bo for many a meal and pool game.  As a single mom, I felt safe and comfortable at the El-Bo where everyone seemed like family.

The  El-Bo’s structure and facilities have slowly improved over the years but it has not lost it’s old time charm.  Like always, the El-Bo is still the warm, friendly and comfortable place where you can still get a great burger and beer!

Recently, I completed a required food-writing internship at the El-B0.   It was both a real learning experience and hard work. First thing in the morning you have to clean up anything left uncleaned from the night before.  You then check your stock, both food and liquor, to make sure you have sufficient quantities on hand to get through the day and week. If there are breakfast orders at the bar you light the ovens.  It was fairly simple for me to whip up some scrambled eggs with snippets of cheese for flavor along with a dash of salt, pepper and thyme.  I prepared the bacon, by roasting it in the oven, eliminating any grease if, you had fried the bacon.  The toughest morning assignment was to get the eggs over-easy.  Sadly, my eggs ended up with running yolks or hardened yolks.  I went through a dozen eggs before getting it ‘just right’.

By 11 a.m. customers begin to come in  for lunch.  It’s then busy, particularly with luncheon and bar orders from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fortunately, there is usually a lull for several hours after lunch.  Lots of cooking, preparation and washing of dishes goes on during this lull.

By 4 p.m. it starts to get busy again.  This is the local Canada Creek Ranch crowd coming in for a drink after golfing or simply wanting to socialize.  Mostly, it is men, but a few women will also find their way to the El Bo.     By 6 p.m. some of the dinner meal crowd starts up.  These people come from all over Michigan.  In the summer, they come in from the surrounding lake areas.  Suntan and anxious for a party with good food and music, kids and adults  join in the activities.  I once was teaching a graduate class for Davenport University in Traverse City.when I told the students where I was from, a young lady from southern Michigan said, “My family camps at Clear Lake State Park.  Do you know the El-Bo Inn?  We go there every Sunday for dinner?”
In the winter months, it will be quieter, with local couples stopping for an evening meal and socializing.  The El-Bo is famous for it’s homemade pizza. Fortunately, the real cook handled the pizza making.

The parking lot on weekends is packed and one has to be careful pulling out so as to not hit another vehicle.  Weekends, be it summer or winter, are packed with folks from a 200 miles radius finding their way to the El-Bo.  It has a devout following of neighborhood locals and folks that travel far to hear the tunes and sample the cold brews, stiff cocktails and lauded eats:  burgers, burritos and platters of fried bluegill.  It is known as the best place in the North for fun and food!

My day, is not over yet, I started with cooking in the morning (fairly simple with a few omelet orders) then moved on to waitressing at noon. It was somewhat tough for me to carry a number of plates and glasses on a tray.  Only one, went to the floor.  My last task was to tend bar from 6 to 8 p.m. I was fine with opening and serving beer or wine but when it came to drinks, I was lost.   Fortunately, the patrons were patient with me while I learned to make a bar Bloody Mary.   Probably, using my eyes to measure shots cost the bar a bit of money that day.  8 p.m. arrived and I found myself on the other side of the bar ordering a much deserved night-cap!

The El-Bo Inn’s Best Bloody Mary

1 tablespoon celery salt or (or plain kosher salt, if you prefer)

1/4 lemon, cut into two wedges

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or less to taste)

Dash cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Franks)

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated horseradish (or 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish)

2 ounces vodka

4 ounces high-quality tomato juice

1 stick celery

•  PLEASE NOTE OLDS’S EL-BO INN CHANGED OWNERS ON MAY 4TH OF 2016