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It’s 38 years and counting for Whitings
Published 11:07 a.m., March 11, 2009
Glenn and Helen Whiting have owned the Vining Palace since Nov. 6, 1970. For close to four decades the specialty of the house has been broasted chicken.
It’s been a family-run business over the years. The Whitings were assisted by their four daughters during their growing up years. On Saturday daughter Lynda and the Whitings’ son-in-law, Ron Rubink, worked at the restaurant after driving from their home in Avon, near St. Cloud.
Ron works for an investment company in his regular job and Lynda formerly worked in the insurance business.
“Lynda and I have been coming here to help out at the restaurant over the past 24 years,” Rubink said. “It’s been a pleasure to get to know many of the loyal customers who patronize the Vining Palace.”
They’ve also helped prepare and serve their fair share of broasted chicken inside the building that’s painted purple. The numbers of chicken dinners served on a weekly basis speak volumes.
“During the summer months we go through 20 to 25 cases of chicken each week,” Whiting said. “There’s 112 pieces of chicken in each case. So if we go through 25 cases, that’s 2,800 pieces of chicken per week.”
Whiting and his employees also offer burgers and other food, in addition to beer and various beverages. The Vining Palace also has an off-sale liquor license.
Broasted chicken is a cooking process trademarked by the Broaster Company of Beloit, Wis. It requires the use of the Broaster, a large commercial stainless steel pressure fryer made for the restaurant industry and not available for home use.
Broasting is a high-pressure cooking method that’s designed to make chicken moist and juicy on the inside and — like at the Vining Palace — crispy on the outside. The meat is not unlike fried chicken, but not as greasy, either.
The process is not only one of frying chickens under pressure, but includes a special marinating process not available to home cooks.
The Broasters and the seasonings are sold only to restaurants and the food trade, so Broasted chicken is a brand name that’s available to you only when you dine out.
“Today (Saturday) has been another good day, with most people coming here for the chicken,” said employee Mary Larson of nearby Clitherall who has worked at the Vining Palace for 10 years. “People also like the relaxed atmosphere here.”
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The most famous customer in recent years has been astronaut Karen Nyberg, daughter of Phyllis and metal sculptor Ken Nyberg of Vining.
Karen Nyberg graduated from nearby Henning Public High School and later on received degrees from the University of North Dakota and University of Texas.
“We’re proud of Karen,” Whiting said. “It’s wonderful to see what she’s accomplished with NASA as an astronaut.”
The Nybergs feel the same way about the Whitings.
“We’ve enjoyed our associations with the Glenn, Helen, their daughters and all of the employees at the Vining Palace over the years,” Phyllis Nyberg said.
It’s a safe bet that when the 39th anniversary arrives for Vining Palace later this year, broasted chicken will still be the main attraction — along with service from friendly people.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by normqwest (Steven Stoa) on March 11, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is nearly the exact story published by the Journal a year-and-a-half ago, on October 29, 2007. The very same quotes about how many cases of chicken the restaurant uses each week in the summer; the very same blurb about "the Broaster Company of Beloit, Wis."
What is the point of "updating" this story? Are you not, in effect, plagarizing from yourself?
Posted by toad3 (anonymous) on March 11, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It may be the same story who cares. They are great people and have the best chicken of anyplace in these parts!
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on March 11, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not plagiarism. I believe they call it fluff or filler for a slow news day. Granted, they'll probably be reporting on the kidnapping for the next six months, since nothing else really happens in this sleepy ol' town.
Posted by Thomas (Tom Hintgen) on March 11, 2009 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many newcomers to the county, or even current residents, may not have seen the previous story and will find today's story interesting......something positive with some added recognition for the Whiting family whose son-in-law wasn't featured in the previous story.....and who is happy to help his in-laws at the restaurant and meet some people from the Vining area.....also new references to Vining native and astronaut Karen Nyberg.....
Posted by horseygirl (Geri Hammer) on March 12, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glen and Helen are two of the kindest, nicest and hard working people I know. Helen happens to be my cousin but when we take my grandkids for lunch or supper to the infamous Purple Palace, it's Papa Glen and Grandma Helen. There are always tootsie rolls for the little ones. If you haven't been to the Palace, you should go. If you have been to the Palace, chances are 100 to 1 that you will go again and again and again.
Posted by jollyrancher (anonymous) on March 12, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this was a great article. I don't care if there was one published previously. My mom has worked at the Vining Palace for over 30 years and I worked there during high school. It a great place to eat and offers good prices. The Whitings have tried not to raise the prices too much even thought the price of food keeps rising. The chicken is the best around and peolple drive from far to eat it. If you haven't tried it then I suggest you do. Keep up the good work Glenn and Helen!!!
Posted by normqwest (Steven Stoa) on March 12, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
>Thomas<
Not to nit-pick, (but I guess I am) but there was nothing new about NASA Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg that didn't also appear in the previous article. In fact, the latest article didn't even mention that Ms. Nyberg has actually now been in space, nor that she was only the 50th woman to achieve that status.
It really doesn't matter how good the chicken is or how nice the people are- it doesn't excuse sloppy or careless or pointless journalism. For those subscribers who actually throw good money at the Journal for a hardcopy, you'd think that they would at least give them something NEW to read in their NEWSpaper.
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