I am going to back my way into telling you about a restaurant we tried and a two talented young ladies we met when Barbara Ann Fultz and I drove to Hodgenville back on Saturday, July 12. Those who know me from high school and college know I played the bass tuba in both the Southern High and University of Kentucky bands. No, I haven’t touched a tuba in decades and wouldn’t be able to play a scale on it now. Still, I identify with the tuba. Not too many musical pieces feature the bass tuba, but my favorite is a novelty song called “Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy.” You can find it on YouTube. Except for that notable exception, tuba is about as country as, well, bagpipes, which brings me closer to the point of this story. I’d never heard “country bagpipes” until I listened on YouTube to a song named simply “Scotland” and sung by Jessie Lee Cates who has that classic “Nashville sound.” Jessie is one of those “belt it out” gals with a great voice and a terrific stage presence. Who would have guessed, then, that the first words we would hear from her, in the flesh, a few days ago were, “Hi, folks. What can I get you today?” Yessiree, Jessie Lee Cates was our server at Ray’s Hodgenville Grill. Apparently, she’s taking the classic route to stardom, waiting tables and singing on weekends and all that. We didn’t recognize Jessie, but when restaurant co-owner Judy Alford came by our table to welcome us, she gave us the lowdown on this striking slim, trim, rising young star, who is only now learning to play the guitar but whose singing voice is remarkable. Up until we learned about her background, our dialogue with Jessie had been minimal. Barbara and I both ordered the roast beef Manhattan, simply because I had seen it on a table next to us and asked the nearby diner what she was having. Our roast beef with brown gravy was merely so-so, but the rest of our visit was a genuine delight: Not only did we get the scoop on Jessie but we had a good talk with Judy Alford, who has that “Nashville babe” look herself. I just bet Judy’s a karaoke night sensation in Hodgenville or perhaps a Lincoln Jamboree gal, herself. After our late lunch, we talked to both ladies. Judy told us she makes all of the restaurants’ pies herself, right there on the premises and said she had to get back to the kitchen because the Saturday night crowd would be coming in before long. A few moments later she was gone. But, on this Saturday afternoon, right here, in person, was Jessie Lee Cates whose first album is “Let Your Country Out.” She has a great song in “Scotland,” with that “country bagpipe” signature sound. Though we never did connect the dots as to how she happened to be waiting tables in Hodgenville, and didn’t want to pry, Jessie told us she’s originally from the Morristown in east Tennessee. Soft-spoken and downright timid in speaking to us, in person she’s quite a contrast to her onstage presence. Jessie’s been working on making it in country music for 10 years and her influences include country legends such as Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline. She also looks up to Bonnie Raitt. Having listened to her recordings now, Jessie could hold her own in a dueling duet with any of those country headliners. So, our big discovery at Ray’s Hodgenville Grill was Jessie, but the homemade pies alone are well worth the drive. While I savored the coconut meringue pie, presented at the table with a dessert spoon on the plate, Barbara Ann opted for the Derby Pie and raved about the crust, as well. Since Barbara Ann is driving to avoid chocolate, I gladly had the coconut cream, but also got a slice of chocolate pie boxed up for carryout. Before we left, I asked for Jessie Lee Cates’ autograph. I believe she’s a real comer! (Long Note: I asked Judy about the restaurant name, because my practically lifelong friend Nancy Hitt had recommended we check out “Ray’s,” emphasizing to me that “It’s not Joel Ray Sprowls, but a different Ray.” This had caused me some confusion since I could not find any “Ray’s” mentioned on the Internet, but had finally determined that the listing for “Hodgenville Grill” was, indeed, the place Nancy had visited and liked. I mention this to save you from similar confusion. Judy explained that the other co-owner is Ray DeSpain who once had a restaurant in Elizabethtown and the locals had started calling this restaurant Ray’s, so they tacked his name on the front and sides of the building to help people know that it’s officially “Ray’s Hodgenville Grill.”)
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 07:57:36 +0000
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