“And, uh, what can we add to the menu? Some specials, maybe?”
Upon hearing that M.T. Wentz is coming to town in Twin Peaks Episode 2004, Hank Jennings asks Norma Jennings what items can they add to the menu as he plans to trick the Double R Diner out like Christmas on the Fourth of July. He suggests that they should add some specials and Norma replies she always wanted to try some regional dishes. This was the starting point for my research into the many specials offered at the diner in all three seasons of Twin Peaks and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Starting with the Pilot Episode, there were a variety of deals and meals offered throughout the series. Grab a napkin and let’s dig in.
The first “special” to appear in Twin Peaks is found in the Pilot Episode as the camera pans to follow Heidi’s entrance. We catch a glimpse of an A-Frame sign advertising “All You Can Eat Spaghetti” on Saturdays. Most likely this was an sign for the actual Mar-T Cafe, the North Bend, Washington film location for the Double R Diner in the Pilot Episode, Fire Walk With Me and Season 3.
The Pilot episode also contains a sign advertising a special price for “Children Under 12 and Senior Citizens.” Again, this was probably a real deal offered at the Mar-T Cafe.
In Episode 1001, Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry S. Truman speak with Shelly Johnson and Norma Jennings at the Double R Diner. Behind each of them you may notice the top of a sign advertising “Today’s StockPot Soup.” It’s the same sign seen in the first image of this article. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see what soup was being offered during this episode but I will be referencing it throughout the rest of this story.
Big Ed visits Norma in Episode 1002 and we can see the top of the StockPot Soup sign next to the giant ice cream cone.
The first soup offered is Split Pea as seen when Norma approaches Audrey Horne later in Episode 1002.
I thought we might get a look at the sign from Episode 1001 when quick flashbacks happen during the Tibetan Rock Throwing scene. But we don’t and the soup from that episode remains a mystery.
In Episode 1004, the soup appears to be Gazpacho (since that’s the only soup I know that ends with “acho.”)
You can see the StockPot Soup sign still turned toward the previous camera angle when Maddy Ferguson arrives. This scene also offers a look at several signs along the back wall above the kitchen window. There is the Double R Diner menu in red, a square sign advertising The “Double” R meal, and a red rectangle sign that offers “Special for Today.”
Thanks to TwinPeaksArchive, we get a closer partial look at the menu and a great look at the “Special for Today” sign – a “Douglas Fir Burger for $2.95(?).”
As Maddy and James leave the Double R, the camera angle picks up a corner of the StockPot Soup sign.
Very Vegetable soup is the StockPot soup of the day in Episode 1006.
It’s still Very Vegetable when Cooper and Truman arrive to check on Hank Jennings.
Hank must have wanted Cooper and Truman to see the soup de jour as the sign is slightly turned toward the camera in this close up shot of Hank.
It remains at the angle from the previous shot with Hank when Shelly Johnson gets cups of coffee for the duo.
In the final episode of the first season, the soup has changed to Lobster Bisque. Fresh coffee is also only $.25 a cup and they offer free refills.
Hot damn that StockPot Soup sign moved again by Episode 2001.
It’s still Lobster Bisque though as we see Bobby Briggs exchange looks with Hank Jennings.
Later in the episode, the soup remains the same as before – Lobster Bisque.
A rectangle sign advertising the “Lumberjack Pancake Stack Special for $2.95″ is seen in Episode 2003 (just before Lucy Moran and Dick Tremayne have lunch.”
By Episode 2004, the StockPot Soup sign moved again and is now advertising Rabbit Chili. We also can see signs behind Norma Jennings as she speaks on the phone.
Thanks again to TwinPeaksArchive, we can see an alternate angle to the previous still image from the Double R Diner. A charbroiled “Bark-Burger” with fries is only $3.95!
Norma and Hank discuss M.T. Wentz, which offers a closer look at the Rabbit Chili sign.
Later in Episode 2004, you can briefly see the sign for The “Double” R which includes two eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausage links, two pieces of toast for $2.00!
After Hank and Norma decorate the Double R Diner in anticipation of M.T. Wentz’s arrival, they use the StockPot Soup sign to advertise the fact they have specials. At this point, I’m offering a slight departure as this sign has a cool connection to the Pacific Northwest.
I’ve been unable to locate a replica sign like the one above on the internet or online auction sites. I did, however, learn that StockPot Soups was founded in 1981 by Kevin Fortun who, “was purchasing director for Schwartz Brothers Restaurants in Bellevue, Washington.” In August 1998, Campbell’s Soup Company acquired StockPot Soups as part of it’s “Away from Home” division. I think the sign was a neat little detail that added to the authenticity of the show.
This shot of Hank in Episode 2004 gives another look at the sign.
Coffee is still on $.25 a cup in Episode 2007. The sign appears to have moved from a previous episode.
When Big Ed and Nadine Hurley visit the Double R in Episode 2007, the soup is Split Pea and Lamb.
In Episode 2008, the soup has changed to Potato and Spam.
French Onion soup is the flavor of the day in Episode 2011.
Another mystery soup appears in Episode 2012 as we never get a good look at the StockPot Soup sign behind Norma.
As Norma returns to the counter after speaking with Ed in Episode 2012, we can see the sign advertising The “Double” R special was moved to the front of the restaurant.
Episode 2013 features Spring Wheat and Barley as the soup of the day.
Pete Martell blocks the StockPot Soup sign in Episode 2015 so we never get a look at what is being offered for the day.
Rabbit Bisque is the soup in Episode 2016.
I believe Walleyed Pike is the soup(?) of the day in Episode 2017. I can’t imagine that as a soup so maybe it was meant to be a meal.
In Episode 2018, the StockPot Soup sign performs a magic trick. The scene opens with Agents Cooper and Cole arriving at the Double R Diner with Sheriff Truman. There is a scene with Shelly Johnson brining the Log Lady more pie. The soup of the day appears to be Cream of Cantaloupe (which is actually a thing!).
When Gordon Cole approaches Shelly Johnson, the StockPot Soup sign has disappeared (“IT’S GONE!”). Perhaps no one liked Cream of Cantaloupe.
Coffee decanter Annie Blackburn walks by the Fresh Coffee sign in Episode 2019. You can see additional signs from previous episodes in the background.
I’m surprised Special Agent Dale Cooper didn’t order the Hearty Beaver Broth in Episode 2019.
As the camera slowly zooms out during Cooper and Annie’s conversation in Episode 2020, we can see the Fresh Coffee sign that was strategically placed in Episode 2007 is missing. It also appears the Specials for Today sign has been updated with Squirrel Loaf. Yum!
The final StockPot Soup of the day from the entire series appears to be Cream of Eggplant as seen in Episode 2021.
In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the crew returned to North Bend, Washington to shoot scenes inside and out of the Mar-T Cafe. It looks like they recycled the same rectangular signs that were used on the Double R Diner set. The signs appear in the windows of the diner when Laura Palmer is outside speaking with the grandmother and her grandson. I believe they were strategically placed in that window to block the reflection of the camera and crew. You can catch a glimpse of the crew in the window to the far right.
Twenty-five years later, we returned to the Double R Diner in Season 3 on Showtime. In Part 5, we get a first look at a new rectangular sign advertising a charbroiled burger and fries for $8.95. The charbroiled “Bark-Burger” and fries from Season 2 was only $3.95.
In Part 6, we can see that “Hot Coffee” (not “Fresh Coffee”) is now $2.49 with refills. The “Double” R meal has also increased in price, from $2.00 to $6.00.
In this publicity shot by Suzanne Tenner for Showtime, we get an outstanding look at the RR2GO menu on the counter by the ketchup.
The Lumberjack Breakfast special is only $3.95! They offer soup du jour but no indication if Potato and Spam or Hearty Beaver Broth is available. You could order a charbroiled burger for $3.95 and fries or onion rings for $1.95 which is a better deal than the one advertised in Part 5. Odd.
Part 11 offers a better look at The “Double” R meal sign.
For the final appearance of the Double R Diner interior in Part 15, I spotted a similar “Special for Today” sign on the far right side of the diner. It’s difficult to tell what is being offered though. I love that the sign is similar to the one from the first two seasons.
For those playing along at home, here is a breakdown of the StockPot Soups featured in each episode.
- 1001 – Unknown
- 1002 – Split Pea
- 1004 – Gazpacho
- 1006 – Very Vegetable
- 1007 – Lobster Bisque
- 2001 – Lobster Bisque
- 2004 – Rabbit Chili / “Ask About Our Specials!”
- 2007 – Split Pea & Lamb
- 2008 – Potato & Spam
- 2011 – French Onion
- 2012 – Unknown
- 2013 – Spring Wheat & Barley
- 2015 – Unknown
- 2016 – Rabbit Bisque
- 2017 – Walleyed Pike
- 2018 – Cream of Cantaloupe
- 2019 – Hearty Beaver Broth
- 2021 – Cream of Eggplant
Stay tuned for a future article looking at the specials offered at Hap’s Diner in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Oh wait, they don’t have any.
