My Love Language

You ever have one of those days/weeks where you just wish you could get a hug from your grandma (in my case, both of them), sit at their kitchen table, and have some of the food that only they could make?

Well, that’s me this week. I’m currently dreaming of Betty’s grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken & rice casserole and Margie’s pot roast & gravy, onion dip, and celery sticks (no one could make an ordinary celery stick taste like Margie did).

I was taught the love language of food early in life, by others whose love language was also food.

Because my week has been wonky and my emotions blue, I’m on a mission to find some good, down-home cooking to fill my weary soul. Which is how I found myself at The Sheep Camp in downtown Buckeye, late in the morning, on a dreary Wednesday.

Baaaa

If you ever do a search for the “best breakfast” in our area, I guarantee you The Sheep Camp will come up as a recommendation at least once (if not several times).

I’ve lived here 3.5 years and this is the first time I’ve been here.

Why? I couldn’t get passed the name or exterior.

Lesson: Don’t judge a book by it’s name or cover.

Getting There

It’s 11 miles from my house in Verrado to The Sheep Camp in downtown Buckeye; roughly 10 minutes in non-rush hour traffic. Straight shot down Verrado Way to MC85.

Parking was easy, got a spot right in front!

Once in the Door

It’s hard to know what to expect if you judge by the exterior. I’m pretty sure this qualifies as a “hole-in-the-wall” kinda place and, the looks of which, also caused my hesitation in visiting.

But, prior to coming today, I researched online and on social media and thought about other places I may go today for breakfast and NONE of them lived up to the ratings and ravings of The Sheep Camp.

Once in the door, I immediately notice how quaint and clean it is. It’s small, but roomy. Also, it’s not too loud - I have a huge pet peeve about eating where it’s so noisy that I can’t hear myself think. I find that very jarring and un-relaxing.

I could hear the people conversing next to me and am awfully proud of myself for not interjecting as I was highly interested in what they were discussing.

There are 12 tables total, 6 already occupied by other patrons. I’m directed to sit where I want and I immediately choose a booth by the window. Except the seat was too low and the table too close (to my body), so I hopped up and opted for a table with chairs, also near the window.

I love a table with a view, and in this case, it’s a view of MC85. It’s a dreary day, looking like it’s about to drizzle.

It’s nice to be out of the house, for a change of scenery and sustenance and human interaction before I get back here, to my desk, to write the remainder of the day. Plus, the Cholula on the table is a very good sign. (If you know, you know!)

But First, Coffee

My server is Nicci and she’s accommodating to all my quirks and questions.

The first of which is: “Can I have coffee, half-caff please?” She doesn’t bat an eye. I already like this place, rarely does anyone have a pot of decaf already brewed.

The Menu

Because The Sheep Camp doesn’t have a website, and it’s hard to find/read their menu online, I’m including it here:

I always check out the online menus of any place I visit. Often, the in-real-life menu is different than what I see online. In this case, it’s the same, probably because they don’t change the menu often. (That’s a good thing in my opinion, stick to what you know.)

Dreamin’

As I’ve written before, I have a gluten sensitivity, so that severely limits what I can eat (and today I really, really, really want sourdough toast). There are also several other things (including eggs, cheese & dairy), that I also have developed issues with but I seem to be okay if I only eat them occasionally. And today is going to be one of those occasions.

The menu is full of so many things I wish I could eat. Classic diner food, like:

• Belgian Waffles

• Short-Stack

• Breakfast Sandwich

• Biscuits & Gravy

• Tuna Melt

Hot & Hearty

Nicci’s back with my coffee and to take my order. I start with ordering sides but she tells me there’s a better way — "Less expensive if you order…” — and there she goes speaking my other love language: deals!

So, at her recommendation, I order the “Hot & Hearty” breakfast combo of Sausage (2) and Eggs (scrambled) with hash browns (extra crispy) and biscuit (to-go, for Mr. Buzz). [That biscuit has now sat on my counter all afternoon and has been calling to me since…. “Eat me…” Fluffy. Homemade. Sigh…]

Classic

My food arrives - FAST! It’s a classic breakfast - and it is delicious! Love at first bite.

It’s crazy to me that its so hard to find a simple breakfast like this, that’s actually cooked properly. The eggs are not overdone - they are perfect! The sausage is flavorful, not dry or too greasy! The hash browns are crispy on the outside (could’ve left them on the griddle even longer for more crisp throughout, but they were fine as is). It’s a good-sized portion and I can only eat half.

I finish and Nicci sends me on my way with to-go container of the other half of my breakfast and a to-go cup of half-caff for the road. I appreciate this, since $3.90 for one cup of basic coffee seems steep. So, essentially I got 2 cups for $2 each and I feel almost okay about that. All about the deal, remember.

Luckily, the coffee was good which is another thing I find places have a hard time getting right. [The last time I went out to breakfast, elsewhere, I sent my first cup of coffee back and the replacement cup wasn’t any better. How hard is it?!]

Sheep Camps

“Sheep Camps” are resting places for herders tending sheep. (Ohhhh, I get it now. What a perfect name for the restaurant. 😉)

The originals owners, the Echeverria family moved here, to Buckeye, in 1958, where Julia, her husband, Phillip, and their two sons became prominent sheepherders (said to have had 10,000 sheep!). 

Years later, after her husband passed away, Julia Aja Echeverria and her sons sold the family sheep business and Julia partnered with her daughter-in-law, Bonnie, to convert an old root beer stand into the Sheep Camp Restaurant (now known as The Sheep Camp).

Julia and Bonnie went on to serve Julia’s home-cooked breakfast and lunch to the community for the next 20 years.

Nicci told me that Julia was Basque and in my research found that those of Basque descent were known for being sheepherders. Fascinating further reading on this and the Arizona connection here.

The current owners are Leno Paliscios (who was cooking the day I was there), Elena Paliscios, and Mauricia Toribio, are all related and continuing on with the family-owned-and-run roots of the restaurant that run deep in Buckeye history.

In my research I learned that Julia’s sister was Virginia Youngker (the surname of another prominent and well-known family here in Buckeye).

I found this coincidentally funny, because when I left breakfast I went buzzing around to another business (Cotton Blessings) which is owned by a Youngker family descendent. Small town. Love that!

The Tab

Eating — whether it be at home or out — is expensive these days. The service and the food was excellent, so I feel the price was fair (especially given the cost of eggs, not that they have raised their prices to reflect that). Plus, it was enough food that I was able to eat my leftovers for a late lunch and that was a treat!

I also do find it important to support local businesses and feel good about doing my part by eating out and keeping the local economy circulating. You know, keeping those bucks in Buckeye.

Buzz Rating

I’m going to be dreaming about today’s breakfast for a long time… I bet I go back within the next week. Maybe even tomorrow! 🤫 

And, to The Sheep Camp, don’t change a thing! You are PERFECT just the way you are!

Food: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5)

Service: 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 (5/5)

02/01/25 - Update. I went back. Breakfast burrito to-go. Shouldn’t have the gluten but… I’m hungry and addicted. 10/10!

If you go, please tell them The Buzz sent ya! ❤️ 

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