On our way to the ferry in Anacortes, DeGroot and I stopped for breakfast at a place recommended to us the night before – Dad's Diner A-Go-Go. Co-owner Fletcher McLean greeted us warmly and pointed to the chalkboard menu, saying "Or just tell me what you want and we'll make it happen."
I'm easy, so I ordered eggs over, bacon and biscuits. When I complimented Fletcher on the bacon, I learned that they fennel-rub it before smoking over applewood. Dad's makes all its own charcuterie including sausages, briskest, smoked hams and pastrami. They even mix up several varieties of their house-brand "Badassco" hot sauce.
Then he offered me some country gravy for my biscuit. How good was it?