Kozy Korner

1 S. Broadway, Winnett, MT - (406) 429-2621

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Posted By Michael Stern on 12/12/2005 4:06:00 AM

Petroleum County livestock were eating regally when we drove north of Billings midsummer to find pancakes supposed to be "the most humongous on earth." As the sun rose, we saw baled rolls of green hay impeccably marshaled in fields out to the horizon. The chlorophyll smell of cut grass was intoxicating. Where ranchers weren't yet haying, cows and horses browsed through prairie so tall the animals didn't need to bend their necks to feed.

A tipster had told us that the big pancakes were in the town of Winnett, and although his note said he couldn't remember the exact name of the restaurant that served them, he assured us we would have no problem finding it. Winnett is tiny, a mere crossroads of a town, but as we pulled in just after dawn, we saw no cluster of cars and pickups; indeed we saw no sign of life at all. Then a bicyclist rode up to what looked like a defunct gas station and shortly thereafter, the door of the place opened. The Kozy Korner was open for business.

The pancakes were not the biggest we ever have seen, but they were large and pillowy and easy to eat by the stack, with plenty of butter and syrup on top and a quartet of sausage links on the side.

The person who had told us about the pancakes also mentioned that the same restaurant was known for "damn good pies." As we paid proprietor Buck Wood for breakfast ($4 for three pancakes), we watched his wife Ellen at the kitchen counter cutting shortening into flour, adding salt and a dash of vinegar and cold water to make the dough for crust on that day's berry pies. We told her we were on our way to Great Falls, but if we happened to drive back through Winnett tomorrow, would she save us a couple of pieces of pie? Of course she would. We never made it back on that trip, but fully intend to!

Scorecard

Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace

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"A trio of plate-size buttermilk pancakes, just waiting for syrup"
Michael Stern

"There is no rush hour in the town of Winnett at dawn. The Kozy Korner (behind the camera) was the only place open for business."
Michael Stern

"The bicyclist in this photo is waiting for the Kozy Korner to open so he can carbo-load for his cross-country trip."
Michael Stern

"We spent the night 100 miles south in Billings. It appeared to us that the Winnett Hotel was no longer in business."
Michael Stern

"Just-cut hay was everywhere when we traveled north to Winnett mid-July."
Michael Stern