What The Drummond Family Really Likes To Order At The Merc

Ree Drummond, a.k.a. "The Pioneer Woman," has built a culinary empire from her Oklahoma farm. Some things, like her cookbooks, issues of her magazine, and her Pioneer Woman kitchenware, are available for fans across the world to snatch up. However, if you're a superfan interested in getting the full Pioneer Woman experience, you'll need to pop by Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where Drummond has opened a storefront: The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, known colloquially as The Merc.

As The Pioneer Woman Mercantile's website demonstrates, there's a huge range of items you can pick up, from clothing to kitchenware to your very own Drummond Ranch hat, in case you want to feel like you're truly part of the family. However, in addition to the store component, The Pioneer Woman Mercantile also has a deli and bakery where you can enjoy a meal or a sweet treat.

The Mercantile's menu is packed with options. If you're stopping by early in the day, you can sample family-inspired fare such as Edna Mae's pancakes, which are crafted from Ladd Drummond's grandmother's favorite recipe. Or, you can chow down on comfort food like queso and chips, your soup of choice with grilled cheese dippers, a fried chicken sandwich, chicken pot pie, or even a Southern staple, shrimp and grits. If you find yourself unable to decide, though, you may want to consider inspiration from some Mercantile regulars and likely culinary test subjects: Drummond's own family.

Ree Drummond surveyed her nephew, two daughters, and son-in-law in order to get their go-to dishes whenever they stop by The Merc, as The Pioneer Woman reports. 

Her daughter Paige is apparently all about comfort food and lists the Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers as her must-have meal, with the Ranch-style Chicken Tenders coming in a close second. Drummond's nephew Stu, likewise, picked a hearty, comforting staple, albeit one with more of a Southern flair. According to Stu, "the Chicken Fried Steak is hands-down my favorite Merc meal."

Drummond's other daughter, Alex, and her husband, Mauricio, apparently are as compatible when ordering at The Merc as the lovebirds are in real life. For Alex, The Merc's must-have dish is the Turkey Bacon Club, which features a pile of turkey slices paired with basil mayo and bacon. Likewise, Mauricio flagged the Turkey Bacon Club as a favorite before ultimately selecting the Parmesan Garlic Fries, the perfect side for a sandwich.

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile certainly has a sizable fan club already, with 625,000 Instagram followers who frequently drool over the delectable food shots. And it seems many of the customers would agree with Paige on her selection: A post from January about the Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers received 63 comments, with one follower commenting "it's delicious" and another agreeing that "I have eaten this and it was my favorite meal at the restaurant."