Mom-made

So, in the interest of making sure you are well fed this month—Thanksgiving a.k.a Table Season a.k.a. Friendsgiving a.k.a. November—here are several airport restaurants where you can find mom-made cooking, narrowed down by if the mom in question was willing to put her name on the establishment.

Let’s start with a chef who makes pancakes in the shape of bears with chocolate-chip eyes and sausage noses. At Nancy’s Airfield Café on the Minute Man Airfield (6B6) in Stow, Massachusetts, Nancy McPherson excels in farm-to-table and locally-sourced food for her restaurant, which she has faithfully maintained since 1996. So, in addition to fun bakery items, you’ll also find homemade granola, fresh hummus, quiche, steaks, and salads (see “In Praise of Airport Restaurants,” next page).

There’s a Flo behind Flo’s Airport Café in Chino, California. Flora Stack started her café at the Chino Airport (CNO) in 1975. Serving home cooking such as chicken-fried steak, biscuits with country gravy, and enormous cinnamon rolls, Flo’s was sold to Donna and Paul Hughes who keep Flo’s recipes cooking.

There’s also a Donna behind Donna’s Runway Café in Blairstown, New Jersey (1N7). Donna was a waitress here for 17 years before buying the old-fashioned hometown diner on the field. She and partner Jim serve up fresh food including homemade soups, quiche, prime rib, and always fresh-made pie.

Lilo Hohmann Russell started Westside Lilo’s near the Seligman Airport (P23) in Arizona on historic Route 66 in 1996. German-born, Lilo makes hearty fare such as schnitzel, hot beef, liver and onions, and country-fried steak alongside her daughter Brenda. If you’re feeling homesick for family, the restaurant features photos of family displayed throughout the restaurant, or you can comfort yourself with one of her giant cinnamon rolls or a big slice of carrot cake.

At Block Island Airport in Rhode Island (BID) you’ll find “ma in the diner making chowda” at Bethany’s Airport Diner. Owned by Bethany and Pat, there’s a real mom behind all that good New England fare.

And frequent diners at Tammy’s Billard Airport Restaurant in Topeka, Kansas (TOP) call ahead to find out “What day are you making meatloaf?” to ensure the favorite is available. Tammy’s also serves patty melts, pancakes, and breakfast and lunch buffets. Those same frequent diners also remark on the delicious coffee.

You’re not going to find Louise at Louise Cafe on Thaden Field (VBT) in Bentonville, Arkansas, because the restaurant is named for aviator and record-setting pilot Louise Thaden. But you will find a $100 hamburger ($15 for a single, $18 for a double), meatloaf, and salmon salad.

In the mood for fried chicken? Then watch out for fog as you fly to Katy’s Fly-In Restaurant in beautiful Great Valley, New York (N56). Katy’s and other restaurants are reporting staffing shortages, so check in with each restaurant before flying there. Also, if you are thinking you’d fly on turkey day, call ahead because some of these moms could be closed and cooking at home.

And, here’s the catch of the day: We must have missed someone’s favorite mom-made airport restaurant, so here it goes—email [email protected] with the subject line “Mom made” to tell us.

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