A Little History

The following email was received on Septemebr 19, 2007, by Guy's grandson Rob from a long-time user of Guy's Seasoning:

Rob,

It is such a small world out there it is hard to believe how things unravel sometimes. I imagine it freaked you out when you started telling me about your grandfather’s steak seasoning and I was able to complete the details and history of the product. From my end, you should have seen the look on your face when I told you the product name, at what restaurant it was sold at, where the restaurant was located, and to round off the surprise a complete description of the surrounding properties.

I assume you know that the “Guys” steak seasoning was sold in the Weingarten’s Chain before it was bought out by Randalls. Having learned to cook streaks using this spice in the late 50’s, I had to go through withdrawal symptoms in the 80’s (I believe) when I couldn’t find the spice on the shelves at the store anymore. In fact, this loss of this “known brand” had such an impact on me that I find myself today looking for the product every time I go near the spice section of any store. Let’s say your grandfather and father left a lifetime impression on my taste buds.

Speaking of stranger than strange, when my dad passed away in 2003, I was forced to clean out his house, and of course, throw out all of the out dated food products on the shelves. Being a depression baby, my father was in the habit of buying and stocking up on his favorite things regularly. You guessed it; when I unloading the shelves I found two or three jars of “Guys” from the 70’s. The funny thing was I started to open them to see if the spice was still good, but the 30 years of rust on the metal lids kept me from completing the task. The little guy with the chief hat did catch my attention.

I know you have enjoyed the remembrances of your family restaurant, but for me it was “that spice of life” that has intrigued me. How could such an insignificant item in life such a spice open up such fond memories of the many nights my great family went to “Guy’s Family Steak House” for a good meal and trot next door to partake in a friendly round of Putt-Putt where I would stomp my sister into the ground? How about the many good times I had using your spice doing cook outs with my dad? My dad, being of a sound mind and somewhat full of B S, embellished on several occasions the fact that the seasoning he used on his steaks was a family recipe handed down from generation to generation. I guess that makes us brothers?

Thanks for the memories.

Clark Alley