Lubbock, Texas

If you ever find yourself in Lubbock, there are a few eateries you will not want to miss. Harrigan´s on 50th Street and Memphis Ave. has some of the best ribeyes you will ever eat. Their artichoke and spinach dip is quite amazing as well. For great Mexican food, Gloria´s is also a locally owned and more authentic establishment. They are located on 50th Street and Ave. Q. If you are a fan of salsas, bbq´s, jalapeños and such, you might visit www.texasinajar.com for specialty gourmet items.

Actually, the first thing you want to do in Lubbock is head down Highway 87 just south of the city to the Strip. (Lubbock is a dry city, and all of the liquor stores are located here, just outside of the incorporated city limits.) Go to Pinkie's Mini-Mart and head to the back for a pound of chopped. Pick up a package of Mrs. Baird's buns, bag of potato chips, beverages of your choice, and find a park with some picnic tables.

The second thing is to head to the university area and go to One Guy From Italy for a calzone. I pretty much lived on One Guy calzones while I was in high school and college, from the time the place opened in late '85. It used to be a tiny little hole in the wall without even room for tables, but it's now a big and bustling place that's always packed, and 75% of the people in there at any given time are eating calzones. And Jerry, the One Guy, still runs the place almost singlehandedly. And the calzones are still amazing.

If Gloria's is in the space that used to be Casa Ole, I would be vaguely scared to eat there -- my brother's company used to do Casa Ole's floors, and the kitchen at that time was horrifying. Cockroach central.