Bakersfield, CA: Donna Kaye's Cafe

Just the mention of "Bakersfield" never sounds too promising. Not known for much but a town most people pass through on their way from Sacramento to Los Angeles, Bakersfield has a large population, but doesn't really rank too high on the "Destination" scale.


So to wake up here on a Saturday morning and find ourselves tricked again by the hotel's version of a continental breakfast (red apples and a waffle maker), we were determined to find some good food for breakfast.

After launching the trusty Yelp we rolled off to Donna Kaye's Cafe. Vaguely disguised as a tiny office building along Oak Street, Donna Kaye's had ranked 4.5 stars out of 5 on Yelp, with 12 raving reviews. Sold on the idea that the locals know best, we took a seat at the only open table in the miniature restaurant. Looking like most local cafes, clean, homey and bustling, I'll admit my hopes weren't really high. Highway ordered the Donna Kaye Omelette and I went to my old standby, Chicken Fried Steak and Biscuits and Gravy. I expected a good deal of food, but had no idea what I was in for.

From the first bite, no words were needed. Memories of my Texan Grandma flooded my senses and I closed my eyes with joy of the fried steak and gravy in my mouth. I could hear my Grandma singing, "Put your little foot, put your little foot. . ." as she danced in her kitchen to her favorite song by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Bite after bite I had to choke back the tears of longing to hear her voice as I ate the meal she had most certainly made me. I would know Grandma's cooking anywhere, even after lo these 20 years. Not just delicious, but heartwarming, satisfying and embodied the flavor of home.

Highway was in his own heaven on earth. The Donna Kaye Omelette was all he had hoped. A cheesy treat, abundantly stuffed with a cornucopia of onions, peppers, mushrooms and bacon, his omelette lasted only moments on his plate. Silently he worked each bite, savoring, smiling and shoveling. I convinced him to part with a bite of the best hashbrowns I've ever had in exchange for a bite of gravy-laden fried steak. The trade left us both moaning with delight.


With half of my meal in a to-go box, we waddled out to the bike to go to our hotel to rest before the big afternoon ahead. We had ridden 250 miles yesterday from San Diego to Bakersfield along Interstate 5 just to attend my daughter's wedding today. My daughter Olivia and her fiance David have been together for nearly 3 years and have cohabitated for most of that time. Perfect for each other, I couldn't be happier for this day to come.

The ride was lovely, aside from Highway nearly being sideswiped - twice. Both vehicles were changing multiples lanes, swinging over 2 or 3 lanes to shimmy through traffic, flying up from behind him at nearly 80 mph, and neither one ever saw him. Both times Highway saw them, in barely the nick of time and avoided the collision. Following behind him in the confusion of the Los Angeles traffic so he could navigate the constant changes of freeways intersecting, I saw the black BMW barely a second before he did. My heart stopped and I screamed helplessly in my helmet. With the collision avoided, I did my best to focus on the ride ahead.

On the downhill side of the Tejon Pass I was following Highway again because I was struggling with setting an appropriate speed. I get flustered when the cars pass me, but I get fearful to lead riding more than 75 mph. When I'm following Highway I feel safe to follow at 80 mph. Highway had just taken the lead shortly before and I saw the minivan coming. She was doing her best to weave in and out of the lanes, cutting off the semi's and SUV's. She roared past me and found herself stuck behind a moving van that wasn't careening down the 6% grade fast enough for her. She swerved over 2 lanes and almost took Highway out in the third, coming behind him. She never looked, never saw him. If it weren't for his vigilance she would have sent him off the side into the canyon.

At the bottom of the hill she found herself stuck in the slower lanes, unable to get around the mass of trucks and vans. I passed Highway in the Number 1 lane and took the lead. Then I saw her minivan, only 1/4 mile ahead, stuck. Determined to catch her, I pulled the throttle and hauled ass. Within moments I was beside her, shortly before we left Interstate 5 for the 99 into Bakersfield. I beeped my horn to get her attention just as I passed her. While I flipped her off, shoving my finger in the air repeatedly, she looked puzzled. That is, until Highway rolled up beside me. She hung her stupid head and slowed down, as far away from us as she could. I aggressively motioned for her to pull over, but she declined the serious beating I wanted to wallop upon her.

We were relieved to reach the hotel, to relax in the spa last night and then to find a great breakfast this morning. I can't wait for the wedding, which is just a couple of hours away. Days like this are few and far between. Surprisingly, even though I'm a horrendous hot head, something as simple as a good chicken fried steak can still bring a tear to my eye.

Posted by Sash Johnson at 11:54 PM

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Labels: California