My Year in Roadfood (2012)

So much fun! I find myself giggling at all your experiences......

Here are some of the foods I tried for the very first time in 2012:
 
Albondigas Soup - El Charro (Tucson, AZ)
 
 
Bobbie - Capriotti's (Las Vegas, NV)

 
Burnt Ends Hash - RJ's Bob-Be-Que Shack (Mission, KS)

 
Charlie Chaplin - Mike's Candy Shop (Buffalo, NY)
 
 
Cheese Dip - Stoby's (Russellville, AR)

 
Chocolate Covered Datil Pepper - Luvin Ovens Hot Shot Bakery & Cafe (St. Augustine, FL)
 
 
Coca-Cola Cake - Marcy Jo's Mealhouse (Columbia, TN)

 
Crab Fluff - Seaside Restaurant & Crab House (Glen Burnie, MD)

 
Date Ice Cream - Shields Date Gardens (Indio, CA)

 
Dutch Lettuce - Coffee Cup Cafe (Sully, IA)

 
Fried Peaches - AQ Chicken House (Springdale, AR)

 
Frogmore Stew - Bowen's Island (Charleston, SC)

 
Guarapos - El Palacio de los Jugos (Miami, FL)

 
Hoppin John - Crooks Corner (Chapel Hill, NC)

 
Lady Lord Cake - Holiday Snack Bar (Beach Haven, NJ)

 
Mamey Batido - Latin American Cafeteria (Miami, FL)

 
Media Noche - Mario's Latin Cafe (Homestead, FL)

 
Nutella Pie - Pie Lab (Greensboro, AL)

 
Pig in a Pup - Mecca Restaurant (Raleigh, NC)

 
Pink Lady Peas - Jim Stalvey's Restaurant (Covington, GA)

 
Pit Beef - Chaps Pit Beef (Baltimore,MD)
  
 
Possum Pie - Stoby's (Russellville, AR)

 
Pot Roast Hash - Barbara Jean's (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)

 
River Herring - Cypress Grill (Jamesville, NC)

 
Rutabagas - Bum's Restaurant (Ayden, NC)
 
 
Steamed Cheeseburger Omelet - The Lunchbox (Meriden, CT)

 
Sugar Cream Pie - Nick's Kitchen (Huntington, IN)

 
Sweet Corn Ice Cream - Broom's Bloom Dairy (Bel Air, MD)

 
Vanized Potato - Van's Pig Stand (Shawnee, OK)

 
Yuca - Mario's Latin Cafe (Homestead, FL)

 
Zelnik - Sykora Bakery (Cedar Rapids, IA)

I miss El Charro.

I love Agua fresca, especially made with local fresh fruit. my favorite is melon and I's hoping will be serving some at a family gathering in Victorville , California this weekend.

BB, besides crab what's in the Crab Fluff from Seaside?  I don't see anything resembling celery and that alone makes it that much better...

LadyLord Cake-Now THAT is what I am talking about.......

You'd never eaten rutabaga before?

Yes, Mr. Hoffman- I love it. Funny story-Dad would threaten rutabaga if i was naughty-I looked him in the eye and said I loved it. And i did/do!

ann peeples


Yes, Mr. Hoffman- I love it. Funny story-Dad would threaten rutabaga if i was naughty-I looked him in the eye and said I loved it. And i did/do!

Ann, my question was to Buffetbuster. One of the first time ever pictures was of rutabaga.

Rutabaga is near the very bottom of my veggies of choice. We always had to have a serving spoon of 'No Thank You Helpings' of everything served at the holiday dinners. AND Rutabaga would be my last choice every time.
I love Van's Pig Stand !!!
 
Mr Chips- Take lots of photos of the VV/Hesperia area  please. That's not only my home town...but the location of my second start in life back in the 80's. I taught in Hesperia and at Victor Valley College.  The desert back in the 50's was a very interesting place to grow up.

Al, I love rutabagas. I always have. Mashed is my preferred way of eating them, and they're a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with turkey and everything. I thought I knew delicious mashed rutabagas, and then I ate the ones lleechef made. A whole other world of flavor and texture. And that world is a better one.

The only way I would accept a rutabaga would be to feed it to a fine beef cow...then eat the cow !
 
But enough of this tangent on BB's thread... There are some fine dinner portions in the photos above.

Michael Hoffman

Al, I love rutabagas. I always have. Mashed is my preferred way of eating them, and they're a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with turkey and everything. I thought I knew delicious mashed rutabagas, and then I ate the ones lleechef made. A whole other world of flavor and texture. And that world is a better one.

 
Is it a NE thing??  My cousin I can't stand is originally from up state NY and she loves Rutabaga and it was always her request to have it at the holidays.  She said she grew up with it.  She also made the most disgusting "Cheesecake" ever, this thing was so bad Jello Brand cheesecake is better.

CajunKing

Michael Hoffman

Al, I love rutabagas. I always have. Mashed is my preferred way of eating them, and they're a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with turkey and everything. I thought I knew delicious mashed rutabagas, and then I ate the ones lleechef made. A whole other world of flavor and texture. And that world is a better one.

Is it a NE thing??...

Funny you should think of it as a NE thing, because I've always associated rutabagas with Southern Cuisine.  My first exposure to mashed rutabagas was at Wishbone, a Southern style restaurant, here in Chicago.
 
Occasionally I'll mash rutabagas and regular potatoes together (maybe even toss in some turnips and parsnips) for a winter root vegetable mash.  The trick is to boil each tuber separately because they cook at different rates.
 
Buddy

Michael Hoffman


You'd never eaten rutabaga before?

Hard to believe, but this was the first time, although I did eat it again later on in the year with wanderingjew in Atlanta.  Around here, I don't ever remember seeing rutabagas on a menu. 

CajunKing

Michael Hoffman

Al, I love rutabagas. I always have. Mashed is my preferred way of eating them, and they're a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with turkey and everything. I thought I knew delicious mashed rutabagas, and then I ate the ones lleechef made. A whole other world of flavor and texture. And that world is a better one.

Is it a NE thing??  My cousin I can't stand is originally from up state NY and she loves Rutabaga and it was always her request to have it at the holidays.  She said she grew up with it.  She also made the most disgusting "Cheesecake" ever, this thing was so bad Jello Brand cheesecake is better.

A New England thing? Probably not, as in New England rutabagas are called turnips. I was in my 20s before I learned that the turnips I'd been eating all my life were really rutabagas. By the way, they're also known as Swedes.

Michael Hoffman

A New England thing? Probably not, as in New England rutabagas are called turnips. I was in my 20s before I learned that the turnips I'd been eating all my life were really rutabagas. By the way, they're also known as Swedes.

Hmm, up here in NH we've clearly got both turnips and rutabagas around here, and I've never seen them confused.   Same when I was in MI, when rutabaga was the obligatory ingredient for a proper Cornish pasty (with turnip or carrot clearly inferior substitutes)
 
I did have to explain to my British sister-in-law, however, what a rutabaga was, since she only knew them as "Swedes"

kaszeta

Michael Hoffman

A New England thing? Probably not, as in New England rutabagas are called turnips. I was in my 20s before I learned that the turnips I'd been eating all my life were really rutabagas. By the way, they're also known as Swedes.

Hmm, up here in NH we've clearly got both turnips and rutabagas around here, and I've never seen them confused.   Same when I was in MI, when rutabaga was the obligatory ingredient for a proper Cornish pasty (with turnip or carrot clearly inferior substitutes)

I did have to explain to my British sister-in-law, however, what a rutabaga was, since she only knew them as "Swedes"

Well, I'm from southern New England, and while we had both turnips and rutabagas, rutabagas were known as turnips. In fact, my mother was furious with me when I told her that those turnips we always had at Thanksgiving and Christmas were actually rutabagas. She insisted that I was calling her a liar. Of course, she was just as angry when I told her that the first McDonald's didn't open in 1934 on Whitney Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut.

buffetbuster

Michael Hoffman


You'd never eaten rutabaga before?

Hard to believe, but this was the first time, although I did eat it again later on in the year with wanderingjew in Atlanta.  Around here, I don't ever remember seeing rutabagas on a menu. 

I don't believe I've ever seen rutabagas on a menu anywhere.

I grew up in New Jersey and they were called yellow turnips and we always had them on Thanksgiving. I hated them!  I now call them rutabagas and love them!  Great report BB!

My Dad grew up in Indiana,-moved to Michigan in his youth-30's, i think.He was, honestly obsessed with rutabagas, as a joke. He hated them. Mom served them on occasion-I loved them-as i do most root vegetables. Mr. Hoffman, LOL as I thought you were questioning my rutabaga experience.Of course you knew better......

Best Desserts (Non-Pie Division)
 
10) Bauder Pharmacy - Des Moines, IA



My trip to Des Moines was in July, which meant Bauder's Pharmacy had peach and strawberry ice creams available.  If I was a good friend, I would have waited for The Travelin Man, due into town later in the afternoon, before heading over to Bauder's.  But the temptation was too great and I found myself at the counter eating a scoop of that creamy fresh peach.  Not satisfied there, I then ordered a couple scoops of the peppermint ice cream, covered in hot fudge, trying to approximate Bauder's famous peppermint ice cream bars, which are only available at the Iowa State Fair.  Once meeting up with TTM, our first stop was back to Bauder's, where I ate another couple of scoops of peach, while sampling his fresh strawberry.  That was a good ice cream day!
 
9) Niecie's - Kansas City, MO

Niecie's has so many great things on their menu, it is easy to forget about their desserts.  This chocolate cake was sinfully rich and the perfect follow up to our breakfasts.  They only bad thing is that I had to share it with Cousin Johnny and TTM.
 
8) Pie Wagon - Nashville, TN

We arrived at Pie Wagon just before they closed for the day and the pie selection was picked over until there was almost nothing left.  Luckily, they still had this beautiful, sugary sweet blackberry cobbler to reduce the sting.
 
7) Flip's - Wilmington, NC

There are heavy, dense banana puddings and light, frothy ones.  The version they serve at Flip's is the latter kind.  It is whipped to the point where there is nothing to chew on.  The owner told us he just made it that morning and tasted wonderfully fresh.
 
6) Josie's German Cakes & Market - Mechanicsburg, PA


A small store that serves divine German plate lunches, Josie's was the best Roadfood place I found on my own in 2012.  The desserts weren't as good as the other food we sampled, but still plenty good enough to be on this list.  The soft, sweet apple streudel was a German classic, but it was the plum cake that really won my heart.
 
5) Dr. Mike's - Bethel, CT


The rich chocolate and seasonal pumpkin flavors were the best ice cream we had all year.
 
4) Meers Store - Meers, OK

 
If we were grading on size alone, the gargantuan desserts served at Meers Store would easily be #1.  The banana pudding is the heavy, dense version, with a dozen or more vanilla wafers mixed in.  The cherry cobbler has four scoops of made-in-house vanilla ice cream on top.  Neither Cousin Johnny or I came close to finishing these, despite how good they were.
 
3) Stroud's - Kansas City, MO

These cinnamon rolls are so good, especially when served hot from the oven, that they can sometimes outshine the pan fried chicken, which only happens to be the best in the country.
 
2) El Mago de las Fritas - Miami, FL

The flan is not a dessert than I typically like, but I have sampled quite a few over the years since Cousin Johnny is a fan and orders it often.  This version, with everything including the caramel sauce made-in-house, has made me a flan fan.
 
1) Hominy Grill - Charleston, SC

It is undoubtedly boring to sometimes see the same names on these lists year after year, but the chocolate pudding at Hominy Grill never lets me down.  It is none too sweet and tastes like the pure essence of chocolate.  Believe it or not, (divert your eyes now CajunKing!) I would choose this over any pie out there. 

Over ANY pie?!?!

Oh, it is the end of days! Cats and dogs living together! Mass hysteria! THUD!!!

Sorry billyboy, should have told you to divert your eyes, too.  I will feel terrible if you had nightmares last night!

Buffetbuster
 
I haven't been on the boards much as I haven't been feeling well these last couple of weeks.....I can't believe you have never had rutabaga prior to this year..
 
Those pink eyed peas  are also going to be on my list for regional food tried for the first time his year...
 
It's been over a week since I've updated my list, I hope to do so tonight....

WJ-
I was wondering wandering about you and where you have been.  Hope you are feeling better.  Rutabagas are something that wasn't served in my house while growing up and you never see it in a restaurant around here.  Just one of those things I missed.

Wow. I am surprised to not see Broom's Bloom on your dessert list. I always love their ice cream - or were you throwing them a bone in the previous post?

TTM-
I certainly loved Broom's Bloom, but the ice cream at Dr. Mike's was even better.  Besides, Broom's Bloom will be getting several mentions on here.

Oh, that chocolate pudding looks *amazing!* 
 
I loved your picture of the Great River Road, too.

BB
There is nothing in this world like fresh WARM homemade chocolate pudding. I will forgive you this one time, for I too would eat a gallon of warm chocolate pudding over pie.

One dessert I look for if and when we head to the Northeast is Indian Pudding. HOJO's used to make it and sell cans in their restaurants and we have run across it now and then. That gritty cornmeal/molasses mixture with some vanilla ice ctream on it is a real 'regional' treat to us.

Here are some of the regional specialties I was fortunate enough to eat in 2012:
 
Banana Pudding - Arnold's Country Kitchen (Nashville, TN)

 
Barbecue Slaw - Barbecue Center (Lexington, NC)

 
Barberton Chicken - White House Chicken (Barberton, OH)

 
Beef on Weck - Laughlin's (Buffalo, NY)

 
Biscochitos - Golden Crown Panaderia (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Biscuits - Sylvan Park (Nashville, TN)

 
Blackberry Cobbler - Swett's (Nashville, TN)

 
Black Eyed Peas - Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House (Lynchburg, TN)

 
Boiled Peanuts - The Wreck (Mount Pleasant, SC)

 
Bratwurst - Bratworks (Bucyrus, OH)

 
Breaded Pork Tenderloin - B & B Grocery (Des Moines, IA)

 
Brunswick Stew - Manuel's Tavern (Atlanta, GA)

 
Buffalo Wings - Gabriel's Gate (Buffalo, NY)

 
Buffalo Wing Soup - Peter K's (Cheektowaga, NY)

 
Burnt Ends - LC's Bar-B-Q (Kansas City, MO)

 
Buttered Noodles - Katie's Kitchen (Ronks, PA)

 
Cabbage - Ron's BBQ & Fish (Antioch, TN)

 
Carnitas - Roque's Carnitas (Santa Fe, NM)

 
Catfish - Ezell's Fish Camp (Lavaca, AL)

 
Cheese Crisp - El Torero (Tucson, AZ)

 
Cheesesteak - Steve's Prince of Steaks (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Chess Pie - Swett's (Nashville, TN)

 
Chicharrones - El Palacios de los Jugos (Miami, FL)

 
Chicken Fried Steak - Classen Grill (Oklahoma City, OK)

 
Chicken Paprikash - Belgrade Gardens (Barberton, OH)

 
Cinnamon Roll - Cecil's Cafe (Marshalltown, IA)

 
Collard Greens - Bum's (Ayden, NC)
 
 
Conch Fritters - Ernie's BBQ (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

 
Coney Island - National Coney Island (Detroit, MI)

 
Coney Island (El Reno Style) - Johnnie's Grill (El Reno, OK)

 
Corned Beef (& Pastrami) Sandwich - Carnegie Deli (New York, NY)

 
Cornbread - Ye Olde Colonial Cafeteria (Madison, GA)

 
Country Ham - Loveless Cafe (Nashville, TN)

 
Crab Cakes - Faidley Seafood (Baltimore, MD)

 
Crab Claws - Highland Bar & Grill (Birmingham, AL)

 
Crab Soup - Broom's Bloom Dairy (Bel Air, MD)

 
Cuban Sandwich - Latin America Cafeteria (Miami, FL)
 
 
Date Shake - Hadley Fruit Orchards (Cabazon, CA)

 
Deviled Crab - The Wreck (Mount Pleasant, SC)

 
Dobos Torte - Tulipan Hungarian Pastry and Coffee Shop (Wooster, OH)

 
Dutch Letters - Jaarsma Bakery (Pella, IA)
 
 
Fish Sandwich - Original Oyster House (Pittsburgh, PA)

 
Fish Taco - G's Juice (Playa Del Rey, CA)

 
5-Way Chili - Camp Washington Chili (Cincinnati, OH)

 
Flan - Latin America Cafeteria (Miami, FL)

 
Flounder - Magnolia's (Charleston, SC)

 
French Dip - Philippe the Original (Los Angeles, CA)
 
 
Fried Apples - Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House (Lynchburg, TN)

 
Fried Bologna Sandwich - Anderson's Grill (Tar Heel, NC)

 
Fried Chicken - Bertha's Kitchen (North Charleston, SC)

 
Fried Clams - Denmo's Snack & Dairy Bar - (Southbury, CT)

 
Fried Green Tomatoes - Hominy Grill (Charleston, SC)

 
Fried Okra - Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House (Lynchburg, TN)

 
Fried Shrimp - Hyman Seafood (Charleston, SC)

 
Frito Pie - Hamburger King (Shawnee, OK)

 
Frozen Pudding Ice Cream - Shady Glen (Manchester, CT)

 
Fruit Smoothie - G's Juice (Playa Del Rey, CA)

 
Fry Bread Taco - Fry Bread House (Phoenix, AZ)

 
Fry Sauce - Marv's Drive In (St. George, UT)

 
Fudge Pie - Swett's (Nashville, TN)
 
 
Game Pie - Farnsworth House (Gettysburg, PA)

 
Garlic Salad - Nu Way Cafe (Wichita, KS)

 
Goetta - Camp Washington Chili (Cincinnati, OH)

 
Graham Cracker Pie - Summit Diner (Somerset, PA)

 
Green Chile Cheeseburger - Owl Cafe (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Green Chile Stew - Rancho de Chimayo (Chimayo, NM)
 
 
Green Corn Tamale - El Torero (Tucson, AZ)

 
Gumbo - Weidmann's Restaurant (Meridian, MS)

 
Ham Biscuit - Dotson's (Franklin, TN)

 
Hominy Stew - Fry Bread House (Phoenix, AZ)

 
Horchata - Teresa's Mosaic Cafe (Tucson, AZ)

 
Hot Chicken - Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (Nashville, TN)

 
Hot Fish - Ed's Fish & Pizza House (Nashville, TN)

 
Hot Links - Lockhart Smokehouse (Dallas, TX)

 
Hot Sauce - Belgrade Gardens (Barberton, OH)

 
Huevos Rancheros - Garcia's Kitchen (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Hushpuppies - Lexington Barbecue #1 (Lexington, NC)

 
Iowa Chop - Breitbach's Country Dining (Balltown, IA)

 
Jewish Apple Cake - Night Kitchen Bakery (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Key Lime Pie - Whitey's Fish Camp (Orange Park, FL)

 
Kolaches - Sykora Bakery (Cedar Rapids, IA)

 
Lake Perch (and Walleye) - Jolly Rogers Seafood House (Port Clinton, OH)

 
Lemon Ice Box Pie - The Bright Star (Bessemer, AL)

 
Lima Beans - Bertha's Kitchen (North Charleston, SC)
 
 
Lobster Roll (Cold) - Tony's Clam Shop (Wollaston Beach, MA)

 
Lobster Roll (Hot) - Denmo's Snack & Dairy Bar (Southbury, CT)

 
Loganberry Juice - Ted's Hot Dogs (Tonawanda, NY)

 
Loose Meat Sandwich - Taylor's Maid-Rite (Marshalltown, IA)

 
Macaroni & Cheese - Hannibal's (Charleston, SC)

 
Matzoh Ball Soup - Carnegie Deli (New York, NY)

 
Menudo - Teresa's Mosaic Cafe (Tucson, AZ)

 
Migas - Classen Grill (Oklahoma City, OK)

 
Minorcan Chowder - O'Steen's Restaurant (St. Augustine, FL)

 
Onion Burger - Robert's Grill (El Reno, OK)

 
Oysters - Bowen's Island (Charleston, SC)

 
Paleta - Palateria Michoacana de Paquime (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Peach Cobbler - Blue Willow Inn (Social Circle, GA)

 
Peanut Soup - Southern Kitchen (New Market, VA)

 
Pecan Pie - Pie Wagon (Nashville, TN)

 
Pella Bologna - In't Veld Meat Market (Pella, IA)

 
Pinquito Beans - Shaw's Steakhouse (Santa Maria, CA)

 
Pole Beans - The Colonnade (Atlanta, GA)

 
Polish Boy - Hot Sauce Williams (Cleveland, OH)
 
 
Pork Barbecue Sandwich - Anderson's Grill (Tar Heel, NC)

 
Pork Roll - Stewart's Drive-In (Vineland, NJ)

 
Pretzels - Philadelphia Soft Pretzels (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Pumpkin Fritters - Farnsworth House (Gettysburg, PA)

 
Raspados - Oasis Fruit Cones (Tucson, AZ)
 
 
Roast Pork Italian - Tony Luke's (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Santa Maria Barbecue - BBQ Land (Santa Maria, CA)

 
Scrapple - Pat's Colonial Kitchen (Newtown, PA)

 
She Crab Soup - Hyman Seafood (Charleston, SC)

 
Shoo Fly Pie - Katie's Kitchen (Ronks, PA)

 
Shrimp and Grits - Hominy Grill (Charleston, SC)

 
Smothered Pork Chops - Poe Boy Luncheon (Nashville, TN)

 
Sonoran Dog - BK's Carne Asada & Hot Dogs (Tucson, AZ)

 
Sopaipillas - Rancho de Chimayo (Chimayo, NM)

 
Sponge Candy - Mike's Candy Shop (Buffalo, NY)

 
Steamed Cheeseburger - K. LaMay's Steamed Cheeseburgers (Meriden, CT)

 
Sweet Potatoes - Jim Stalvey's Restaurant (Covington, GA)

 
Tamales - El Charro (Tucson, AZ)

 
Tamale Pie - McClard's Bar-B-Q (Hot Springs, AR)
 
 
Texas Red - Tolbert's Restaurant (Grapevine, TX)

 
Texas Tommy - Steve's Prince of Steaks (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Topopo Salad - Los Olivos Mexican Patio (Scottsdale, AZ)

 
Turkey Devonshire - Union Grill (Pittsburgh, PA)

 
West Indies Salad - Jubilee Seafood (Montgomery, AL)

 
White Clam Pizza - Zuppardi's Apizza (West Haven, CT)

That Cuban is winking at me!  Nice stuff bb!

Absolutely amazing.  You should write a book.  I am in awe.

I am starving now..........

That crabcake from Faidley's is killing me.

Love it

going to Santa Fe first week of Feb. Bobcat Bites we are on the way.

Good looking Women

WOW!!!!

Heading to Bobcat Bites

rneiner


Heading to Bobcat Bites

I hate you.
 
I also envy you.

lleechef-
You are much too kind!
 
rneiner-
Lucky you heading to Bobcat Bite.  Please report back and tell us how you liked it.

BB,
After experiencing all those wonderful Foods, I hope you're not disappointed when you get to Heaven, (Assuming that's where you're going!)

Incredible pictures!

When you posted that picture of the Polish Boy from Hot Sauce Williams, you must have known in the back of your head that I would reply: "You shoulda gone to Mt. Pleasant BBQ."
 
Maybe this is your year....
 
Buddy

ann peeples


I am starving now..........

I totally agree and still 4 hours until dinner....
 
Guess that means... SNACK TIME!!!

Thanks for these mouth-watering pictures.
 
All those photos from Nashville almost make me miss being in law school at Vanderbilt.  (Almost.)
 
The biscuits at Sylvan Park look exactly as I remember them, and I'd almost forgotten about fudge pie, which I loved.  Never had it at Swetts, but did have it at the now-defunct Irelands's chain, usually with steak biscuits.
 
Everything looks delicious, but what I really want to try is some of that Barberton chicken!  I have friends in Akron -- so I'm going to have to go visit them soon, I think!
 

BuddyRoadhouse & rumaki-
Very timely posts considering where I went today.  I started with breakfast at Slyman's in Cleveland and followed it up with Barberton chicken and chicken paprikash at Belgrade Gardens.  What are the chances!

I didn't think they allowed Martians in Ohio on Mondays.

BB:  Your travels were outstanding.  A little side note as one of my managers family owned the famous original chicken place in Barberton, OH and I visited Manuel's in Atlanta many times when I opened our business there.  What were you doing in Vineland, NJ?  You gotta go there to get there.
 
Your variety of foods tried was outstanding and the pics were even better..  You should publish them PDQ.  I started to count the restaurants you pictured and I had visited.  I lost count after about 50 pics.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul-
Cousin Johnny and I talked about the fact that we hadn't eaten at the great White House Sub Shop in many years, so we stopped in Vineland on the way back to our hotel in Philly.  I am not surrpised that you have been to so many of those restaurants and it is a shame that we didn't have more of those meals together. 

BB: I have been in Vineland several times.  Once on business and several times traveling to Cape May, NJ for their annual birding migration each spring.  One of the best birding spots in the USA during migration.
 
I enjoyed a seafood restaurant in Cape May that was on the water and was also a fish market.  Really good but I forgot the name.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN
 

BB-you are the man! And a monster of all trip reports. You are me hero! i cant do what you do!

BB: Was Stewart's the place that had Elvis McNugget?

Nah, I'm fairly sure that Mr. McNuggets was at a Weber's Drive-In.

In my best Ed McMahon voice I say "you are correct, sir!"
 
Maybe I should use my Vince McMahon voice instead.

It is hard to call this a great year for my hot dog eating considering I never made it to Charlie's Pool Room, but I still ate some really good ones in 2012.
 
Best Hot Dogs
 
10)  Super Duper Weenie - Fairfield, CT

My first experience at SPW a few years ago did not leave a good impression, but I had the opportunity to try them again on the Roadfood bus tour.  This went much better and I was particularly impressed by the New York dog, covered with sauerkraut, onion sauce, mustard and made-in-house hot relish.
 
9) Bill's Hot Dogs - Washington, NC

If there was an award for ugliest food I ate all year, the chili dogs at Bill's would win it going away.  And the ladies who waited on me were just as crabby as I had read they would be.  But, man did these taste good.  The wiener is deep fried and they cover them with a spicy white chili, with a peppery kick.  If you are in eastern North Carolina, you need to give this place a try.
 
8) The Nook - Columbia City, IN


The Nook is a charming little restaurant that serves wonderful chili dogs using the longtime family recipe.  Unlike most hot dog joints, the friendly ladies who work here assembled the chili dogs with care and precision.
 
7) Fab Hot Dogs - Reseda, CA

Fab Hot Dogs does their own version of the famed Rutt's Hut ripper, with the deep fried dog and their own relish that just may eclipse the original.
 
6) Chef's Dog House - Newington, CT


They offer some hot dogs with crazy combinations (the top photo is the Prairie Dog, which is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and covered with onion dip and frizzled potatoes), but it is the plain dog we liked best.  That is because we could then take advantage of their amazing condiment bar, filled with their homemade mustards, relishes, peppers, etc.
 
5) Polock Johnny's - Baltimore, MD

This is a favorite of Cousin Johnny, who took me here.  I absolutely loved my Polish sausage, with a thin tomatoey sauce, full of onions and peppers on top.
 
4) El Sinaloense 3 - Tucson, AZ

 
El Sinaloense 3 is a food truck that pulls up in an open lot and where no English is spoken.  But their Sonoran dogs are unbelievable! They offer a nicely toasted bun, fresh ingredients that work well together and Mexican cokes to drink.
 
3) Karl Ehmer - Danbury, CT


This one was a surprise.  We stopped at Karl Ehmer's to sample the summer sausage sandwich written up in 500 Things to Eat, but were informed they only have them on Thursdays and this was a Friday.  Instead, their special that day was a hot dog.  We walked back to the car dejected, until it hit me that a German meat market could probably put out a pretty good hot dog.  And this exceeded all expectations.  The bun was soft and the dark mustard and sauerkraut gave it some extra zing, but this slightly garlicky wiener, with a serious snap when bitten into, was fantastic!
 
2) El Guero Canelo - Tucson, AZ 

Not only are Sonoran dogs my favorite style of hot dogs, but they may also be the most visually appealing.  Everything here is exceptional, but I especially appreciate the super soft buns.
 
1)  Ted's Hot Dogs - Tonawanda, NY


It seems every visit to Ted's makes me love this place a little bit more.    They charcoal grill the Sahlen's wieners and top them with the unbeatable combination of onions, hot sauce, relish and mustard.  I did learn something new this year.  The manager I was speaking to told me that they use different wieners for the regular hot dogs and the foot longs.            

Sundancer7


BB: I have been in Vineland several times.  Once on business and several times traveling to Cape May, NJ for their annual birding migration each spring.  One of the best birding spots in the USA during migration.

I enjoyed a seafood restaurant in Cape May that was on the water and was also a fish market.  Really good but I forgot the name.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I know the one you mean.......just over the bridge,  Forgot the name as well but decent food.  Don't they also have a permanent "boat" moored outside for cocktails in warmer weather?

I always have a love for Ted's.  Most of my visits to either the Buffalo area, or Tempe AZ, result in a trip to Ted's.  Great onion rings, too.