/ CULINARY / Side Trips to Sip 1. Feather River Vineyard, North Platte 308-696-008, feather-river.com Grab a rocking chair on the porch to enjoy award-winning wines and expansive views of the southern Platte Valley. Prairie Plate Restaurant 10405 Branched Oak Rd., Waverly 402-786-2239 • prairieplaterestaurant.com While traveling the world with the U.S. Navy, Jerry and Renee Cornett cultivated an appreciation for local terroir, the conditions unique to a geographic area that enhance the qualities of its food. So when the couple followed Jerry’s Nebraska roots to Waverly, they brought with them a farm-to-table concept so pure, their restaurant and farm operate on the same grounds. In fact, certified-organic Lakehouse Farm provides nearly all of the produce presented at Prairie Plate Restaurant. Meats, additional produce and other items are sourced from regional growers and artisans. Visit the restaurant to take in pastoral and lake views as you dine on selections that change with the harvest; at a minimum, the Cornetts update the menu weekly. Past selections have included grass-fed bison meatloaf with sweet corn spoonbread and roasted Brussels sprouts, shiitake stroganoff featuring house-made fettucine and steelhead trout with buerre blanc and roasted potatoes. —Editorial staff 2. Junto Wine, Seward 402-646-0515, juntowine.com Junto means to “join together.” Bring a friend and pair wines with meats and cheeses in these cozy-but-modern digs. 3. Mac’s Creek Winery, Lexington 308-324-0440, macscreekwines.com Red or white, sweet or dry, these wines embody Nebraska’s terroir, blended from thriving regional grapes. Shirley’s Diner 13838 R Plaza, Omaha 402-896-6515 • shirleysdiner.com At Shirley’s Diner, rock ‘n’ roll music and warm aromas fill the air—the kind of aromas that tell you this is a place that knows comfort food. It won’t surprise you, then, to learn that Shirley’s is family-owned and -operated, and that it offers some combination of breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week. What should you order? In Nebraska, it’s never too early for chicken-fried steak. Try yours—hand-breaded, naturally—with sausage cream gravy, eggs and hash browns. For lunch or dinner, keep it simple with a BLT or cheese Frenchy (Shirley’s uses Swiss and yellow American cheeses, battered in crispy Corn Flakes and golden-fried, to create Nebraska’s indulgent spin on the grilled cheese sandwich). Or, go with Shirley’s nostalgic flow: Daily specials like the roast beef dinner represent classic home cooking, while “The King” burger calls on Elvis Presley’s favorite flavor combination: peanut butter and bacon. —Mike Whye and editorial staff 4. Papa Moon Vineyards and Winery, Scottsbluff 308-631-8380, papamoonvineyards.com Visit for the brand-new tasting room and annual events like Harvest Party, when you can help pick grapes. 5. Sage Hill Vineyard and Winery, Parks 308-423-2062 Make yourself at home in this valley of vineyards and wild land—the Winemaker’s Loft is available for overnight stays. 6. Silver Hills Vineyards and Winery, Tekamah 402-374-1602, silverhillswinery.com Regular jam sessions and wood-fired pizza top off the experience at this welcoming vineyard. 7. Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery, Farnam 308-569-2501, 3brothersvineyard.com Celebrate a pioneering spirit and love of tradition with free tours, dollar tastings and sunset views from the patio. SAGE HILL VINEYARD AND WINERY, PARKS 4 1 5 7 3 2 6 FEATHER RIVER VINEYARD, NORTH PLATTE 22 VisitNebraska.com
Nebraska Official State Travel Guide The Official 2019 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide: Page 26
