Jimtown Store to get six minutes of fame

, the little store that could in rural Alexander Valley, is ready for the spotlight – again. Profiled in 2003 in an Emmy-award winning episode of “Martha Stewart Living,” the store is gearing up for an onslaught of celebrity-tracking foodies when Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” airs on the Food Network on Monday, April 11, at 9 p.m.

The DDD crew was in the store for two full 14-hour days of shooting last November, told me this weekend, all of which will be sliced, chopped and diced down to about six minutes of air time during the program, titled "Porktastic."

Several of chef Peter Brown’s country creations were demonstrated and co-cooked by host Fieri.

“We cooked our famous Chain Gang Chili, with a lot of wonderful smoked pork,” recalled Brown. “And then barbecue beef brisket on homemade rolls, with a little Dave’s Pickles and cole slaw.”

Chain Gang Chili has evolved locally from a recipe from the Manhattan Chili Company, but is thought to have originated in the Texas State Department of Corrections. It has not only smoked pork, but beef brisket, beans, and the usual assortment of secret spices.

Another dish to be featured on the show is thought to be Chicken Sopa, as the recipe appears on the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives website.

“What was fun about the sopa,” Brown recalled, “was that the crew had it for supper one night. And then the next morning when they came at 6:30 or so, they had it for breakfast. So that was a good testament to its popularity.”

“We’re really excited about being on the show. I know that Guy has a lot of friends all over the country, and I’m told that they’ll travel any distance to come and visit us! So we’re anticipating people from all over, which is great – and of course, many of our friends and neighbors.”

Brown and her husband, the late John Werner, took over the historic Jimtown Store almost 20 years ago, and with their emphasis on good fresh-cooked food and retro (if not oddball) gift items turned it into a favorite lunch stop for wine tasters and cyclists.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Brown said. “People keep asking us – are we a Diner? Are we a Drive-in? Are we a Dive? I guess we’re just ourselves. We’re just Jimtown.”