I know I’ve done this one before. Haven’t I? Did I get this far without telling the take of the Happy Chef?

Its Wikipedia entry has gotten sadder and sadder; now it reads "Happy Chef is a casual dining restaurant in Mankato, Minnesota. It is known for serving breakfast throughout the day and is similar to Denny's, Perkins, and IHOP."

The big difference? The Chef used to talk to kids.

The landmark 36-foot tall Happy Chef statue was an offshoot of a logo the Fredericks had used on the signs at their previous cafes. For years — until deteriorating wiring and trouble keeping it operational silenced it — kids could push a button on the base of the statue and hear a recorded message from the Chef.