Seafood Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 can Cheddar cheese soup
- ¼ c. milk
- 5 English muffin halves, toasted
- 1 c. imitation crab meat
- 15 large shrimp, cut in half, cooked
- ½ c. fresh tomatoes, diced
Instructions
- Mix together cheese soup and milk. Spread cheese sauce sparingly on the bottom of small, individual casserole dishes.
- Place toasted English muffin half in each dish.
- Divide the crab meat and spread evenly over the muffins. Place six shrimp halves on each muffin. Divide and sprinkle diced tomatoes over the top. Cover each casserole with remaining cheese sauce.
- Bake the casseroles for 15 to 20 minutes at 350°. The dish should be golden brown on top.
About the Parker House
Location:
Mendota, Minnesota
Status:
Permanently closed
Dates active:
1939-1993
The Parker House opened as a bar and gambling hall in the late-1930s. The original owners, Willard “Buck” Parker and his wife, Alice, ran the establishment in a building on the main street of Mendota, Minnesota, that was once a Buick dealership. This strategic location on the main drag made it easily accessible to soldiers from nearby Fort Snelling, who could hop a short ride across the Mendota Bridge and be drinking and gambling at the Parker House in minutes.
With the influx of young, single men at the fort as the United States geared up to enter World War II, the Parker House began selling food along with their usual offering of beer, spirits, slots, and dice.
In 1943, jazz pianist William “Red” Dougherty purchased the business from the Parkers. He did away with the gambling (at least officially), and brought in top musicians from across the country to play at the Parker House. Newly recruited soldiers and officers from the fort mingled with local farmers and jazz fans from as far away as Chicago at the Parker House. It was known for bringing Black jazz musicians into town to play at a time when they were typically banned from other clubs.
By the time the war ended, the Parker House had a reputation for fine dining, great music, and a charismatic owner who wasn’t afraid to hop in and play host or the piano when needed to keep diners happy and entertained.
When Red passed away in 1982, his son Bill took over the business. With the world-class musicians coming by less frequently and fewer soldiers staying at Fort Snelling, business dipped throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Still, the restaurant continued until 1993, when it closed for good.
A short time later, the site was purchased by Linda Young and Charlie Burrows. Linda’s parents both worked at the Parker House (her mother was the head chef), and Linda had practically grown up in the restaurant.
Together, the partners remodeled the building and opened Axel’s River Grille, which operated until 2024.
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