My year in Roadfood (2010)

Gorgeous Cliff!  Now my tummy is growling. :)

billyboy
 
It seems as though fried chicken and pies have made inroads here in the Big Apple.  if you make your way here this here we should conduct some investigative research.

High on my list of things to do this year is to make it back to NYC.  Hard to believe it has been since 2004.  Needless to say, sharing some meals with you will be a priority as will be Peter Luger's and the rice pudding restaurant.  And whatever pie shop you come up with!
 
Nancy-
No, I have unfortunately never had the roast beef hash at Hob Nob Hill.  As a matter of fact, I don't think I have ever had roast beef hash anywhere.  But, if I am going to try it somewhere, it will be at the great Hob Nob Hill!  And thanks for all the kind comments.  

Buffetbuster,
 
I'm glad to see that Stubby's made your  new (to you) top 10 list. I recall really enjoying it on my visit in 1999 and was beginning to wonder why it seemed to be getting ignored in the more recent Roadfood books.
 
And of course you know how much I love Joe's Stone Crab
 
I've never been to Andino's  and almost regret heading to NYC that Sunday (but at least I was  enjoying the 2nd Avenue Deli) but it's certainly very local for me (about 20 minutes away) to head up there one day.
 
Oh and I'll forgive you for not including Mama Mary's
 

buffetbuster


Looking back through my photos, I made a mistake on my best non-pie dessert list.  The ice cream

from Jeni's Fresh Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio should have been high on the list.  The trio in the photo includes (clockwise from top) salty caramel, brown butter almond brittle and dark chocolate peppermint.  The last flavor was especially memorable. 

 
I live about a mile from a Jeni's and when I saw this I was very close to jumping in the car.  You picked a couple of my favorites though I like the gravel road better than the salty caramel (same ice cream with smoked almonds added).  The last time I was there I had one that was sweet potato with torched marshmallow and one that was Gouda with Vodka-Plumped Cranberries.  Both excellent.  That small dish is now $5 though which makes it an occasional treat.

hatteras04-
I am a big fan of Jeni's.  Almost everything I have had there has been excellent, although a couple fruit flavors like the cherry lambic sorbet have been too intense for me.  That sweet potato with torched marshmallows sounds wonderful!

Some things I got to try for the first time in 2010:
 
Date Shake - Shields Date Garden (Indio, CA)

 
American Chop Suey - Becky's (Portland, ME)

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

 
(Low Country-Style) Lima Beans - Bertha's Kitchen (North Charleston, SC)

 
(Hot) Mett - Mr. Gene's Dog House (Cincinnati, OH)

 
Cheesefurter - Shady Glen (Manchester, CT)

 
Shrimp Remoulade - Bozo's (Metairie, LA)

 
Chimichanga - Mi Nidito (Tucson, AZ)

 
Coffee Jello - Durgin Park (Boston, MA)

 
Pasty - Dobber's Pasties (Iron Mountain, MI)

 
Del's Lemonade - Del's Lemonade (Newport, RI)

 
Oreille de Couchon & Gateau Sirop - Cafe des Amis (Breaux Bridge, LA)


 
Iowa Chop - Machine Shed (Urbandale, IA)

 
Water Ice - John's Water Ice (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Green Chile Mac & Cheese - Standard Diner (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Goetta Breakfast Sandwich - Eckerlin Meats (Cincinnati, OH)

BB, WOW, glad I was eating my lunch while reading this! 

A bowl of those lima beans from Bertha's would make a great lunch today!
 
Brad

I always remember the Date Shakes from driving to California from Arizona.  Stopping in Dateland, AZ for a Date Shake was a traditional (there's pretty much nothing else to do, and nowhere to stop between Gila Bend and Yuma).

I am not a hamburger person, so I thought I wouldn't appreciate the food as Shady Glen.  But I adore the Cheesefurter!  (And the Almond Joy ice cream.)  

What is Oreille de Couchon & Gateau Sirop???

I want green chile mac and cheese right now!
 
Food, I think those translate as ear of the pig and syrup cake--NOLA specialties?

Nancypalooza

I want green chile mac and cheese right now! 

Come on Nancy!  I know that it is really that coffee jello you are jonesing for!
 
rumaki-
I also really liked the cheesefurter.  Almost as much as I like saying cheesefurter.
 
ScreamingChicken-
A different photo should probably be used for the lima beans.  ChiTownDiner and I tried it in four places total and Bertha's Kitchen was the only one where it was so soupy.  It was still delicious, though!
 
kaszeta-
The date shake was much sweeter than I was expecting.  Still, it was wonderful.  I ended up drinking them on four different occasions during the two days in the area.  And I did discovery just how desolate that area was, when I realized I was low on gas. 

'Cheesefurter' also fits nicely as a substitute for 'figaro figaro figaro.'  It should be the unofficial Roadfood aria.  Cliff, the coffee jello did make me sit up and raise my eyebrows.  I don't think I'd ever thought of that combination before.  Please tell me it was really sweet.

Durgin-Park's coffee Jello has been on my must-try list for decades.  I think the Sterns' writeups have said it is totally UNsweetened.  Is that right, Cliff?

Sorry Nancy, Bruce is correct.  The coffee jello was not sweet at all.  Still, even as someone who does not drink coffee, it was very enjoyable.

Some other regional specialties enjoyed in 2010:
 
Cheese Curds - Curly's Pub (Green Bay, WI)

 
Boudin - Boudin King (Jennings, LA)

 
Jonnycakes - The Barn (Adamsville, RI)

 
Fried Shrimp - H & R Sweet Shop (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

 
Breaded Pork Tenderloin - Nick's Kitchen (Huntington, IN)

 
Fried Pie - Family Pie Shop (De Valls Bluff, AR)

 
Bratwurst - Mihm's Charcoal Grill (Menasha, WI)

 
Tamale - Tucson Tamale Company (Tucson, AZ)

 
Mutton Barbecue - Thomason's Barbecue (Henderson, KY)

 
Lobster Stew - Sea Basket (Wiscasset, ME)

 
Five Way Chili and Cheese Coney - Chili Time (Cincinnati, OH)
 

 
Gullah Rice - Gullah Cuisine (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

 
Indian Pudding and Clam Cakes - Aunt Carrie's (Narragansett, RI)


 
Slaw Dog - Haught Diggity Dogz (Morgantown, WV)

 
Fruit Smoothie - O.B. Smoothie Bar (Ocean Beach, CA)

 
Black Eyed Peas - Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House (Savannah, GA)

 
Beef on Weck - Schwabl's (West Seneca, NY)

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

 
Polish Boy - Freddie's Southern Style Rib House (Cleveland, OH)

 
Maryland Crab Soup and Crabcakes - G & M Restaurant (Linthicum Heights, MD)
 
 
 
Shrimp de Jonghe & Chicken Vesuvio - Myron & Phil's (Lincolnwood, IL)


 
Cheesesteak - Lorenzo's Pizza (Philadelphia, PA)

 
Crawfish Pizza - Dean-O's (Lafayette, LA)

 
Hoppel Poppel - Benji's (Milwaukee, WI)

 
Stuffies - Twin Oaks (Cranston, RI)

 
Shrimp and Grits - 82 Queen (Charleston, SC)

 
Dutch Letters - Jaarsma Bakery (Pella, IA)

 
Pork Barbecue Sandwich - Leonard's (Memphis, TN)

 
Sauerkraut Balls - Mike's Place (Kent, OH)

 
Green Chile Cheeseburger - Standard Diner (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Italian Beef - Johnnie's (Elmwood Park, IL)

 
Crawfish Etouffee - Poche's Market and Restaurant (Breaux Bridge, LA)

 
Burgoo - Moonlite Bar-B-Q (Owensboro, KY)

 
Kringle - Larsen Bakery (Racine, WI)

 
Coffee Milk - Olneyville NY System (Providence, RI)

 
She Crab Soup and Boiled Peanuts - The Wreck (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
 
 
 
Stuffed Ham - St. Mary's Landing (Charlotte Hall, MD)

 
Fried Clams and Lobster Roll - Bob's Clam Hut (Kittery, ME)


 
Dry-Rubbed Ribs - Rendezvous (Memphis, TN)

 
Buffalo Wings - Buffalo Brewpub (Williamsville, NY)

 
Seafood Gumbo - Soop's Seafood and Steakhouse (Maurice, LA)

 
Sopaipillas - Sadie's (Albuquerque, NM)

 
Ham Biscuit - Greer BBQ and Fine Foods (Greer, SC)

 
Pepperoni Rolls - Country Club Bakery (Fairmont, WV)

 
Deep Dish Pizza - Lou Malnati's (Elk Grove, IL)
 
  
Hot Brown - Lynn's Paradise Cafe (Louisville, KY) 

 
(Clear) Clam Chowder - Champlin's Seafood Deck (Narragansett, RI)

 
Cracklins - Don's Specialty Meats (Scott, LA)

 
Torte - Schulz's Restaurant (Sheboygan, WI)

 
Lobster Bisque - Abbott's Lobster in the Rough (Noank, CT)

 
Loose Meat Sandwich - Canteen in the Alley (Ottumwa, IA)

 
Frito Pie - Five and Dime General Store (Santa Fe, NM)
  
  
Collard Greens - PK's Homestyle Cooking (Spartanburg, SC)
 
 
Livermush - Tony's Ice Cream (Gastonia, NC)

 
Breaded Steak Sandwich - Freddie's (Chicago, IL)
 
 
Beef Brisket - Goode Company Texas Bar-B-Q (Houston, TX)

 
Fish Tacos - Juanita's Taco Shop (Encinitas, CA)

 
Catfish - Murry's (Hazen, AR)

 
Fried Green Tomatoes - Magnolia's (Charleston, SC)
 
 
Horchata - El Guero Canelo (Tucson, AZ)

 
Chicago Dog - Wolfy's (Chicago, IL)

Buffetbuster
 
Yoo da' man!
 
I'm making mental notes of places to go for my I70 and hopefully chicago/wisconsin venture later on this year.
 
 
Your photos confirm my memory of those Johnny cakes at the Barn. I  didn't like them- I thought they tasted "burnt"
 

Wow....great!!!!!

BB:  How many states did you visit in 2010?
 
Your photo collection is outstanding.  Your photography skills belong aside the Mayor;  In my opinion, you have something of value and perhaps you can figure out a way to market them, perhaps a bit like Jane and Michael Stern did.  You certainly travel enought to earn that.  It appears that your note keeping is outstanding and your journal would make a very good book if you including the several years that you have done your food hobby.
 
Outstanding
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer7

BB:  How many states did you visit in 2010? 

I visited 35 states, not counting Nevada, since all I did was make a connection on the way home from New Mexico.
 
As always, you are way too kind! 

buffetbuster

Sundancer7

BB:  How many states did you visit in 2010? 

I visited 35 states, not counting Nevada, since all I did was make a connection on the way home from New Mexico.

As always, you are way too kind! 

Outstanding:  I have visisted all 50 states, all of Canada, all of Central America, most of South America, and most of Europe but not in one year as you did.
 
Your Journal is a welath in information and as I indicated, you should publish your travels regarding your food hobby.  Nobody that I know of has ever done that.  If you did, I would purchase your first copy.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer7


BB:  How many states did you visit in 2010?

Your photo collection is outstanding.  Your photography skills belong aside the Mayor;  In my opinion, you have something of value and perhaps you can figure out a way to market them, perhaps a bit like Jane and Michael Stern did.  You certainly travel enought to earn that.  It appears that your note keeping is outstanding and your journal would make a very good book if you including the several years that you have done your food hobby.

Outstanding

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

 
What he said
 
 

I am on board with you, Paul and Joe!!

WOW BB, most don't have that in a life time................Great pictures....Thanks Bill

I enjuyed the whole  report but my  favorite part were the photos of  the cooks and owners and waitstaff that you met.  They all make it a really  great  eating  experience.

Obviously, there has to be more than just Roadfood on these trips.  Here are some of the best tourist attractions visited in 2010.
 
Joshua Tree National Park - California


 
Liberty Bell and Independence Hall - Philadelphia, PA


 
Windmill Island Gardens - Holland, MI


 
Susan B. Anthony House - Rochester, NY

 
Notre Dame University Football Game - South Bend, IN





 
Clemson University Baseball Game - Clemson, SC

 
Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame - Green Bay, WI

 
Two Lights State Park - Cape Elizabeth, ME

 
London Bridge - Lake Havasu City, AZ

 
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal - Cincinnati, OH


 
Iowa State Capitol - Des Moines, IA

 
The Breakers - Newport, RI

 
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park - Grand Rapids, MI

 
St. John's Cathedral - Lafayette, LA

 
Flood Wall Murals - Paducah, KY

 
Balboa Park - San Diego, CA


 
Helen Keller Birthplace - Tuscumbia, AL


 
William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum - Canton, OH

 
Greenfield Village - Dearborn, MI

 
John Marshall House - Richmond, VA

 
Mary Tyler Moore Statue - Minneapolis, MN

 
Cabrillo National Monument - San Diego, CA


 
U.S. Naval Academy - Annapolis, MD

 
Cleveland Zoo Butterfly House - Cleveland, OH

 
U.S. Space and Rocket Center - Huntsville, AL

 
Pima Air and Space Museum - Tucson, AZ


 
Louisiana State Capitol - Baton Rouge, LA

 
South Carolina Aquarium - Charleston, SC

 
World's Tallest Indian - Ironwood, MI

 
Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA

 
Vizcaya Mansion - Miami, FL

 
James Garfield National Historical Site - Mentor, OH 

 
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - Palm Springs, CA

That's a pretty dizzying array of dishes, and of places.  Nice work man!

Now you are just showing off!  You know I'm kiddin ya Cliff.  loved the whole report.  Joe

This was awesome, thanks for sharing it!!