There are many great cuisines in LA, but there are also things that are sadly lacking. One of them is country cooking, the hearty cuisine of the old Scotch-Irish protestant population of the south and southern midwest. But journey into the interior of California, and you will find this cuisine, a remnant of the dust bowl refugees that poured into California during the Great Depression.
In the Tahoe area, if you look beyond the newer, gentrified spots, you will find plenty of country cooking. Diners and cafes that specialize in heavy breakfasts and hearty meals, often dating back thirty, forty or even fifty years. One such place is Rosie's Cafe in Tahoe City.
Decorated with ancient ski equipment and dusty hunting trophies, Rosie's sits directly across Lake Boulevard from Lake Tahoe. Founded almost thirty years ago, Rosie's features a full bar and breakfast until 2:30 pm.
One of my favorite country cuisine classics is chicken fried steak, and Rosie's has a wondrous version. A slab of steak, with a thick fried batter buried in creamy sausage gravy, accompanied by two perfectly cooked eggs (over easy in my case), hash browns and home baked cinnamon raisin bread. You may be able to get a great milanesa in LA, but you can't get a chicken fried steak like this, crunchy and crusty on the outside and tender within, a mid-day breakfast will stick to your ribs all day, just like country cooking is supposed to.
Rosie's Cafe
571 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City, CA 96145
(530) 583-8504
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