Travel Channel spotlights Idle Spurs, Harvey House

BARSTOW • America will be inroduced to Idle Spurs and the Harvey House tomorrow night on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food Nation.”

The TV show visited Barstow on July 17 as part of its Route 66 episode, which highlights food and activities along the historical highway. “Man vs. Food Nation” follows the host, Adam Richman, as he travels the country eating local favorites and is a spinoff of “Man vs. Food,” where Richman tries local food challenges.

The show shot the episode’s introduction at the Harvey House, where Richman checked out the retired railroad cars on display. Then he finished off a 24-ounce porterhouse steak at Idle Spurs.

“He put away a pretty good one,” said Bill Comb, the husband of Idle Spurs General Manager Brenda.

Comb said the production crew was at the restaurant for more than ten hours, interviewing guests and the chef and shooting footage of the food and atmosphere.

“They were a good crew, very easy to work with,” Comb said. “I think they made the guests they interviwed pretty much at ease.” The crew asked patrons about their favorite Idle Spurs dishes, but aside from the interviews, Comb said the customers tried to carry on naturally around the cameras.

“I think everyone had a really good time,” he said. The restaurant will have the show on Wednesday night for patrons to watch.

Travel Channel representatives did not return calls for comment.

Laura Moraco, from the Barstow Film Office, said she’s not sure how “Man vs. Food Nation” chose to spotlight the Harvey House and Idle Spurs on its Route 66 tour but that her office has sent releases to the Travel Channel before about the city. She said Barstow’s goal to market the city and its Route 66 connection makes it a “really good fit” for the episode.

“America loves Route 66,” Moraco said. “Idle Spurs really plays out for Barstow and has that local community and atmosphere.