In 1946 Worcester Diner #790 arrived by truck and was installed at 3 Bridge Street in Gardiner, Maine. Under the name of Heald's Diner, it served employees of Gardiner's mills and factories with an emphasis on ample portions served quickly. The diner is still at 3 Bridge Street, still a marvel of efficiency and art moderne design, still a local gathering place, still serving the same warm, flaky biscuits. But under the ownership of Mike Giberson and Neil Anderson since 1988, the little A1 Diner (as it is now known) draws customers (and restaurant reviews) from far and wide with its wonderfully eclectic menu (you can order Bouillabaisse or meatloaf), its emphasis on fresh, local food, and its upscale deli and specialty food store next door, A1 To Go. This is a small business success story, filled with characters from either side of the counter, packed with recipes and kitchen notes, enjoyable down to the last bite.
I grew up in California and didn't know about diners until I moved to New England. A friend took me to A1 Diner in Gardiner, Maine, and I was fascinated by both the beautiful space and the diner's history.
The 60-plus-year history of the diner mirrors the recent history of the town: from boom to bust and back. Maurice Wakefield, who owned the diner for almost three decades, was still alive when I wrote the book, and was delighted to share his recipes and anecdotes. It was an honor to tell his story.
A lot has changed over the years, but a lot has remained the same. The strong work ethic, the respect for the customer, and the focus on fresh food prepared properly are all part of both the diner's heritage and its present. Maurice told me that during smelt season (wintertime--they're caught through the ice!) people would show up at the diner with buckets of smelt and he would cook and serve them. I thought that was a lovely old-fashioned story. Then Mike told me they still do that!
A1 Diner is my first book. I have been a professional writer for over 30 years, but until recently I only did business writing. My first job was at the computer trade publication Datamation, and I then worked in corporate communications for several firms, including a national security-oriented systems engineering firm and several software companies. I still do freelance business writing--details and examples at sarahrolph.com.
