Barbecue Beef Mountain

When I am young, my father insists I try the mix plate at Rainbow Drive-In. I taste the delicious chicken/fish/barbecue beef mountain covered in gravy and boxed like a gift. It was the start of a full day: beach, Costco, and an island drive.

He’s gone now, moved to California with a new wife and new kids. I’d visit him but it’s all the same. Different beaches and a bigger island.

I still visit Rainbow Drive-In and still order the mix plate. And when I do, the friends who come ask me why. It’s simple but rich. Close to home.