West Coast Food Safari: US Hwy 101

Howdy... 
 
Would anybody be up for a food safari, looking for small places to eat along US Route 101 on the West Coast...???

Downhome instead of upscale...???  More good & funky instead of "exotic"...???  Plate lickin' good, not "fru fru" food...???
 
History of US 101
US 101 was one of the original US highways, and in many ways it shares the same uniqueness as US Hwy 66, or the highway that started it all: the Lincoln Highway...
 
At times it's several miles inland, and at others it's along the shoreline. It was first commissioned in 1926, as a highway taking travelers and commuters between the Mexican Border south of San Diego ,through the many towns and cities along the Central Coast in California, all the way up to Olympia, Washington. 
 
The highway was completely wiped out during the "Christmas Flood" of 1964 in Mendocino and Humboldt counties where entire communities were wiped off the map along the Eel River (this was due to a "Cut-Off Low" type storm, which often park themselves off the California Coast and pumps in huge amounts of rain & snow in continious storm fronts for long periods) and although the highway itself has been rebuilt (some parts are still 2 lane in this area) some towns struggled to get re-established...there is a marker along the highway between Redway & Scotia that shows the high water mark for that section...at least a dozen feet above the roof of your car...

The scenery IS superb and photogenic, the small towns in the north are often less than 5,000 population where you can see the stars unimpeded and go to sleep with the sounds of crickets, and in the southern part and the SF Bay Area a wide variety of entertainment & cultural interests can be found...and then there's the Pacific Ocean...and in the southern part of California the waters are warmer than the rest of the route that is next to the sea (surfers use wetsuits the further north you go)

 
Many sections of modern day Interstate-5, which runs a similar route to US 101, were once a part of US-101.
 
Highway 101, running north-south through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, along the West Coast of the United States, is at various point also anointed with secondary local names... It is also known as El Camino Real (The Royal Road) where its route along the southern and central California coast approximates the old trail which linked the Spanish missions, pueblos and presidios. It merges at some points with California Highway 1. North of San Francisco it's also known as the Redwood Highway...

I don't know that much about organizing a road trip like this, but it's not like we need to invent the wheel again: Airstream WBCC, Ham & CB radio clubs, travel caravans, etc have done this as have many of YOU good folks out there on previous FOOD road trips...
 
Many travel groups will have a capable "wagon master" and assistants...
 
I was also thinking about LOCAL GUIDES...regional residents to help us with their knowledge... 
 
Alternate IDEA:  AMTRAK
 
I wonder IF a train trip would work. Perhaps as another Food Safari ... ???
 
Or as a RETURN Trip...Hwy 101 northbound, AMTRAK southbound back to the starting point...??? Would this interest anybody...???
 
Yet ANOTHER idea:
Is a trip up (or down) US Hwy 395, east of the Sierra & Cascade mountains, in desolate places than range from desert to mountains, small towns. Mule Days in Bishop...???  Vist the Alabama Hills (hundreds of movies filmed there) & Death Valley or watch a movie at the Lone Pine Film Museum after picking up some vittles...??? 
I'll post these two alternate ideas in separate topics... 
Meanwhile, back on topic about HWY 101: 
NOMINATIONS:  would anybody like to be a Regional Guide...???  
STOPS & ITINERARY:  Suggestions of places to eat...???  What route versus time of day to plan well timed meals (breakfast at breakfasttime, lunch at unchtime, dinner at dinnertime, etc)
 
My initial thoughts are to start at the southern end in APRIL and work our way north...
 
Here's a few links about Hwy 101:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_101
http://gbcnet.com/ushighways/US101/index.html
 
 
 

I like the idea though i would be far more interested in joining the food tour  en route, possibly in Eureka, Ca and traveling along in Oregon. I know lots of places between Florence and Astoria, oregon.

Sounds good...and you might like to act as a local guide...???
 
Welcome aboard...
 

PS...I'm having trouble with the (almost) WYSIWYG editor...my original post was supposed to look WAY different...I'm on a very slow dial up connection deep in the mountains, so I feel lucky most days to even be able to get *any* words to stick to the screen...  (sigh)   
 
"someday I'll get broadband"
 
 

Places I'd like to nominate:
 
Hayward-Banchero's-Italian-(little known obscure FACTOID: the East Bay at one point was "US HWY 101-E") - dinner...
 
Berkeley-Top Dog-Near UC Berkeley (Go Bears !!!)
 
Santa Rosa-Fosters Freeze-soft cones dipped in chocolate-burgers
 
Geyserville-Catelli's-lunch-dinner
 
Cloverdale-Hamburger Ranch-BBQ & Pasta...
 
Cloverdale-Pick's Rootbeer-rootbeer & lunch...
 
Ukiah - The Broiler Steakhouse-American-dinner after 4:oo PM
 
Willits-Al's Redwood Room-American & Thai-lunch-dinner...
 
Willits-Taqueria Bravo-lunch-dinner...
 
Garberville-WildRose Cafe-breakfast
 
Garberville-Calico's-lunch-dinners
 
Phillipsville-Riverwood Inn-lunch?-Mexican dinner-music
 
Samoa-(Eureka area)-Samoa Cookhouse-genuine loggers cookhouse-lunch-dinner...quirky in that there are only 1 or 2 menu items per day...call ahead for menu any particular day...
 
 
What other places would folks like to nominate...???
 
 

Sounds like fun but some comments. I would suggest you research some new places not just list the ones you know. There are way better examples of almost every thing you list.
 
Examples:  Fosters Freeze is truly a dreadful chain with horrible food. In Santa Rosa one might choose Five Guys or In and Out or Phyllis Giant Burger, or Carmen's Burger Bar, or Jacksons for hamburgers.
 
Or Mexican, El Salvadorean, Thai, etc.
 
Cloverdale. The Hamburger Ranch is truly mediocre.
 
Ukiah  The Broiler Steah House is mediocre. In Santa Rosa Starks would be better. Monty's Rotisserie would be far better.
 
Petaluma- A suggestion  Pete' s Henny penny. better burgers, breakfasts, etc than anything you have listed. Also check out Mikes at the Yard for hot dogs.
 
Willits- Al's is a bad restaurant.
 
There are great restaurants all through California. While I would argue that the most distinctive regional food to be found here is not burgers, or hot dogs, or pizza, but California cuisine, Asian, Mexican, fusion, etc. there are certainly much better examples of food you seem to choose to be found, Explore!
 
 
 

BackRhodes


Places I'd like to nominate:

Hayward-Banchero's-Italian-(little known obscure FACTOID: the East Bay at one point was "US HWY 101-E") - dinner...

Berkeley-Top Dog-Near UC Berkeley (Go Bears !!!)

Santa Rosa-Fosters Freeze-soft cones dipped in chocolate-burgers

Geyserville-Catelli's-lunch-dinner

Cloverdale-Hamburger Ranch-BBQ & Pasta...

Cloverdale-Pick's Rootbeer-rootbeer & lunch...

Ukiah - The Broiler Steakhouse-American-dinner after 4:oo PM

Willits-Al's Redwood Room-American & Thai-lunch-dinner...

Willits-Taqueria Bravo-lunch-dinner...

Garberville-WildRose Cafe-breakfast

Garberville-Calico's-lunch-dinners

Phillipsville-Riverwood Inn-lunch?-Mexican dinner-music

Samoa-(Eureka area)-Samoa Cookhouse-genuine loggers cookhouse-lunch-dinner...quirky in that there are only 1 or 2 menu items per day...call ahead for menu any particular day...


What other places would folks like to nominate...???

Smokestack Lightening
 
Unlike facebook ,there is no option on roadfood to "like"  your comment, but I would if I could.
 
I'm almost "afraid" to ask what BackRhodes defines as a "fru-fru" restaurant

wanderingjew


Smokestack Lightening

Unlike facebook ,there is no option on roadfood to "like"  your comment, but I would if I could.

I'm almost "afraid" to ask what BackRhodes defines as a "fru-fru" restaurant

 
Hi WJ,
 
Thanks. I was thinking of your comments about Southern California and smoothies and sushi rolls are roadfood in SoCal not burgers and hot dogs.

I was going to call my self US 101 but it turns out I 95 owns the rights to that moniker too. A truly bi-coastal guy.

1bbqboy

I was going to call my self US 101 but it turns out I 95 owns the rights to that moniker too. A truly bi-coastal guy.

 
Because you are a friend, he said you can have this one....

Why would you want the Interstate by Fort wayne? heh. heh!

smokestack lightning


Sounds like fun but some comments. I would suggest you research some new places not just list the ones you know. There are way better examples of almost every thing you list.

Examples:  Fosters Freeze is truly a dreadful chain with horrible food. In Santa Rosa one might choose Five Guys or In and Out or Phyllis Giant Burger, or Carmen's Burger Bar, or Jacksons for hamburgers.

Or Mexican, El Salvadorean, Thai, etc.

Cloverdale. The Hamburger Ranch is truly mediocre.

Ukiah  The Broiler Steah House is mediocre. In Santa Rosa Starks would be better. Monty's Rotisserie would be far better.

Petaluma- A suggestion  Pete' s Henny penny. better burgers, breakfasts, etc than anything you have listed. Also check out Mikes at the Yard for hot dogs.

Willits- Al's is a bad restaurant.

There are great restaurants all through California. While I would argue that the most distinctive regional food to be found here is not burgers, or hot dogs, or pizza, but California cuisine, Asian, Mexican, fusion, etc. there are certainly much better examples of food you seem to choose to be found, Explore!

BackRhodes


Places I'd like to nominate:

Hayward-Banchero's-Italian-(little known obscure FACTOID: the East Bay at one point was "US HWY 101-E") - dinner...

Berkeley-Top Dog-Near UC Berkeley (Go Bears !!!)

Santa Rosa-Fosters Freeze-soft cones dipped in chocolate-burgers

Geyserville-Catelli's-lunch-dinner

Cloverdale-Hamburger Ranch-BBQ & Pasta...

Cloverdale-Pick's Rootbeer-rootbeer & lunch...

Ukiah - The Broiler Steakhouse-American-dinner after 4:oo PM

Willits-Al's Redwood Room-American & Thai-lunch-dinner...

Willits-Taqueria Bravo-lunch-dinner...

Garberville-WildRose Cafe-breakfast

Garberville-Calico's-lunch-dinners

Phillipsville-Riverwood Inn-lunch?-Mexican dinner-music

Samoa-(Eureka area)-Samoa Cookhouse-genuine loggers cookhouse-lunch-dinner...quirky in that there are only 1 or 2 menu items per day...call ahead for menu any particular day...


What other places would folks like to nominate...???

I like the chocolate dipped cones at Fosters...it's always a part of my journey on Hwy 20 through Lucerne...the food part varies by location...
 
Too bad you think Broiler Steakhouse in Ukiah as mediocre...we sure like it and have for 50 years...but then again, you seem to think many of my suggestions as mediocre (you use that word a lot)...but there's also a chance I might not like some of your places either, even though they might be good suggestions...
 
I'm trying to AVOID that damned "California Cuisine"...I totally disdain it...I bet the person who coined that overused term would be happy with a horse turd on a stick IF it was labeled as "California Cuisine"...and Wandering Jew that is what I consider "fru-fru" food... 

To celebrate my gal's birthday we're heading north, and then east on Hwy 36, in search of a steakhouse she heard advertised on the radio, with the Samoa Cookhouse as a backup, Porter Street BBQ (Eureka) as 3rd choice...
 
Porter Street BBQ used to be a 3 unit outfit, with one in Rodent Puke (Rohnert Park), Ukiah, and Eureka. The one in Ukiah was sold and is owned by a Mexican fella that has a few other restaurants (Paco's Tacos, The Wheels Cafe, and another one)...I don't know about the one in R.P....but at least the one in Eureka is still open...

BackRhodes


I'm trying to AVOID that damned "California Cuisine"...I totally disdain it...I bet the person who coined that overused term would be happy with a horse turd on a stick IF it was labeled as "California Cuisine"...and Wandering Jew that is what I consider "fru-fru" food... 

If that's the case then you have an extremely limited definition of what Roadfood is.
 
Fru Fru food to me is a place you won't be able to step foot in without a tux- not a jacket mind you- but a tux - there are some Roadfood restaurants where a jacket is required - Galatoire's in New Orleans comes to mind-

Too bad you think Broiler Steakhouse in Ukiah as mediocre...we sure like it and have for 50 years...but then again, you seem to think many of my suggestions as mediocre (you use that word a lot)...but there's also a chance I might not like some of your places either, even though they might be good suggestions...

I'm trying to AVOID that damned "California Cuisine"...I totally disdain it...I bet the person who coined that overused term would be happy with a horse turd on a stick IF it was labeled as "California Cuisine"...and Wandering Jew that is what I consider "fru-fru" food... 

 
You are missing the point. Or points. Roadfood is about regionally distinctive food. Not simpley hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza. You seem to have a few issues here. One, just because you rember a place from decades ago and like it does not make it roadfood, or even interesting food. Fosters Freeze is a mediocre fast food chain. Nothing of interest.
 
Secondly, I recommended some places for the type of food you seem to like that you might find better than what you have chosen.
 
Third, there are many many places that you woudl call frou frou that are wondeful examples of roadfood.  G
 
Again, California has wonderful roadfood, but your definition of roadfood eliminates most of them.

Why can't we all just get along?

i hereby freely admit to being a food snob!  First-If it isn't any good---i don't like it-chain local whatever-it HAS TO TASTE GOOD
Secondly--i dont like processed foods--which leave a lot of places--esp. but not exclusively--chains.
Thirdly--ALWAYS eat locally produced, regional.

tiki


i hereby freely admit to being a food snob!  First-If it isn't any good---i don't like it-chain local whatever-it HAS TO TASTE GOOD
Secondly--i dont like processed foods--which leave a lot of places--esp. but not exclusively--chains.
Thirdly--ALWAYS eat locally produced, regional.

 

wanderingjew

tiki


i hereby freely admit to being a food snob!  First-If it isn't any good---i don't like it-chain local whatever-it HAS TO TASTE GOOD
Secondly--i dont like processed foods--which leave a lot of places--esp. but not exclusively--chains.
Thirdly--ALWAYS eat locally produced, regional.

Me too!

BackRhodes


I appreciate your suggestions...that's the point of this thread...

We all self define what "roadfood" is...our definitions do NOT need to coincide in order to be valid...is there some "orthodox" rule ...???

Opinions are just that, subjective...

Perhaps I'm just wasting my time on this web site because I have favorites that you seem to disapprove of...what makes your opinion more correct than mine...???

Take your "regionally distictive food" and stick it...I'm outta here...you're a bunch of food snobs but in denial of it...My favorites aren't worth sh!t to you, because you obviously know much better than I...

I think needing to wear a tux (I own 3 of them) to eat at a "roadfood" establishment is a non sequiter...

Lets see what I find if I google "roadHOUSE food"...perhaps folks with minds that are more open than y'all...

We share opinions on these fora and i realize that. Some people will disagree with what I think some will not. WJ and I have disagreed on some things but if he likes a restaurant, i have usually found his opinion to be valid. Disagreement is a difference of opinion and to disagree is not to make a personal attack. I am definitely not a food snob and i like a wide variety of ethnic and regional dishes and i have no idea which opinions of these northern California spots are more valid. Let's just understand that people can experience a place differently 

BackRhodes


I appreciate your suggestions...that's the point of this thread...

We all self define what "roadfood" is...our definitions do NOT need to coincide in order to be valid...is there some "orthodox" rule ...???

Opinions are just that, subjective...
 


Perhaps I'm just wasting my time on this web site because I have favorites that you seem to disapprove of...what makes your opinion more correct than mine...???

Take your "regionally distictive food" and stick it...I'm outta here...
 
My reply.
Yes, opinions are subjective. But you have gone way over the line by telling me to stick it. Huh?
You are absurd dude. Chill out. We are talking about roadfood. 
 
And yes Roadfood has much to do with regionally distinctive food. Think Grouper sandwiches in Florida, conch in Florida, the wonders of New Orleans food and Louisiana food including boudin, coffee with chicory, etc, Chicago hot dogs, Lobster Rolls in Maine, Fish frys  in Wisconsin, Onion Burgers in El Reno, OK, Memphis BBQ, Green chile cheeseburgers in NM, smoothies and sushi rolls and Mission burritos in California.
 
And yes I care about what I eat. And drink. Good food. Good wine. Good beer. Good coffee. etc.   I can be happy at a stand on a street or at a 5 star restaurant.  BUt I choose not to eat at McDonalds or Fosters Freeze or drink Budweiser or bad coffee. 
 
I dont care what you like. I suggested some places for the kinds of food you seem  to like because your suggestions were old or for chains or in my opinion not very good. 
 
By the way your idea of California food is silly. And very limited. Check out HRD on 3rd street in SF. As non frou frou as you can get. And as Roadfood as you can get. And as cheap as you can get. And as California fusion as you can get!
 
Or as I suggested check out some of the good places to eat burgers and dogs in Sonoma county.
 
 
 
 
 

Mr Chips:  I agree about differences in opinions, but...
 
All I wanted was suggestions, not condescending negative comments about EVERY suggestion I made...and yet, that was all one person was capable of...
 
Somebody mentioned that this webby site is for more that burgers and dogs, and that's obvious...but I guess I was assuming when I suggested a chocolate dipped soft serve cone...who doesn't like one of those...???  (those who don't means more for me)...
 
We tried a new place for Lyn's birthday dinner: Shamus T Bones in Carlotta (Cal Hwy 36, 5 miles east of US Hwy 101)...their web site doesn't seem to work...good food...their bottled bbq sauce has raspberry in it, and is fairly noticable...didn't notice it in the sauce on the table...kinda odd...not sure what to do with it...I'd go back there again...Dinner to 2 was about $50...this place is decorated with a very strong cowboy theme (I'm a rancher and railroad type guy) with lots of pictures and mounted trophies on the walls...our backup was going to be the Samoa Cookhouse, (which is one of our favorites)...

You wanted suggestions and I gave you suggestions. I offered my opinions on what I consider to be mediocre restaurants at best. Since you seemed to be interested only in burgers and dogs and steaks I gave you suggestions for way more interesting roadfood places in your area. Both WJ and I also pointed out that the food you chose to discuss was not very representative of what is interesting about California roadfood.
 
Btw I am not against ice ceam cones dipped in chocolate. Just don't care for mediocre versions of chain fast food ice cream or chocolate. One thing california does well is that there is good ice cream and good chocolate.
 
Eat what you like of course. Yes, there are different opinions here. About burgers, dogs, beer, coffee, and everything else. But if you post suggestions for restaurants yes people will give opinions.
 
If you limit your suggestions to places you remember as you have done and ignore what others have discussed or new places then yes you will get opinions that differ than yours.Try some new ideas.
 
Try some new places
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You're overlooking that I ASKED for suggestions...I wouldn't have asked IF new places to explore weren't desired...
 
You could've offered your good suggestions without all the negative poo-poo...and yes, you were negative about EVERY suggestion I made (go back and read it)...
 
Places become "old favorites" for a reason...some folks might like my favorites, some won't...and I might like other's favorites, maybe not...without going into negative territory saying everything is mediocre...
 
Remember: others don't have to like what we like, for it to be valid for us...
 
Please refrain from calling everything mediocre...let folks make up their own minds...huh...???
 
Some of your suggestions might quite well be "winners", but I just don't get down south to the Bay Area anymore...I don't leave my local area much, except when I do railroad work, and I'll probably retire from that soon (maybe this next year will be my last)...I'm getting to be an old fart (& have a back injury) and travel is getting harder to do...and I just don't have any reasons anymore to go any further south than Napa & Slonoma counties so that leaves occassional planned "food safari" trips combined with other travel events...
 

When we had our vineyard (Twinwillow Vineyard) in Healdsburg, we used to love Catelli's in Geyserville. Back then, it was just local folks but lately, it's been "discovered".
 
And for God's sake, don't miss The Olema Cafe (a true "roadfood" gem) in Olema (have the fried oyster po-boy) and, the Hog Island Oyster co. in Tomales Bay. Both in the magical Point Reyes area of the most northern part of Marin County. Lot's of other good "roadfood" oyster joints up that way in Dillon & Marshall. We visited this area often and always would say on the drive home, "this was one of the best days of our life".

And oh, I forgot. If you do find yourself on Hwy. 1 (nothing to rave about on 101 in that area) in Mendocino County, be sure to stop in Elk. It's a tiny little (don't blink) town on the coast. I don't remember the name but, there is a gas station/restaurant on the east side of the road that serves delicious home made soups and lunches. Their pies are amazing. STOP THERE! Sit outside in the sun looking at the Pacific while you eat and listen to a strange noise you haven't heard before. It's your blood pressure coming down!

Actually the choices you made ( except the Samoa Cookhouse which is a fine place for breakfast) were, in my opinion mediocre at best. Foster's Freeze is a horrible chain on the level of McDonalds. If you are going to tout restaurants then people will comment on them. Als Redwood Room in Willits has been a bad restaurant for decades.
If you say you like Budweiser someone will comment that it is bad beer. This is a food site. People have opinions. Deal with it.

joerogo


Why can't we all just get along?

 
But, he's so damned ugly!

When??

BackRhodes


Places I'd like to nominate:
Berkeley-Top Dog-Near UC Berkeley (Go Bears !!!)
 
What other places would folks like to nominate...???

 
ANYONE who both likes Top Dog and says "Go Bears!" in his post is a new RF friend of mine!!!! (Belated welcome to you, BackRhodes, I am infrequently on RF these days due to school/work!)
 
I'm originally from California and my parents own a place in Boonville... so, I must add that if you have not had the Mexican food at Libby's in Philo, then you have not lived!!!!!  And beer at AVBC in Boonville!!!
 
Wish I could join you. 6,000 miles is too far away...

wanderingjew

BackRhodes


I'm trying to AVOID that damned "California Cuisine"...I totally disdain it...I bet the person who coined that overused term would be happy with a horse turd on a stick IF it was labeled as "California Cuisine"...and Wandering Jew that is what I consider "fru-fru" food... 

If that's the case then you have an extremely limited definition of what Roadfood is.

Fru Fru food to me is a place you won't be able to step foot in without a tux- not a jacket mind you- but a tux - there are some Roadfood restaurants where a jacket is required - Galatoire's in New Orleans comes to mind-

Ummmm... pot/kettle?!?!?! WJ you know you limit your definition more than most of us!
It's all about perception and we each - as we well know - have our OWN definitions of Roadfood. (We have been down this path many times...)
 
That said, for me 'fru-fru' is a fancy place, a place I can't wear jeans, but not always a place I have to get super dressed up for - a tux is extreme, IMO!
Edit to add that I'm sad about the foul language and the conversation I clearly missed, but always wish people would respect others' opinions! As far as I can tell, BackRhodes has respected others' opinions and I can clearly see why the judgmental and, frankly somewhat mean, posts have upset him. It's one reason I have been infrequent here this last year or two. We used to all show mutual respect and it degenerated. (I'm happy to blame the economy, but it doesn't excuse folks insisting that their opinion is the 'right' one! We all have valid opinions, thank you.)

Cecif ~ I am very familiar with the Mexican food at Libby's in Philo. We ate there as often as we could. 
She originally cooked at the (forgot the name) hotel restaurant in Booneville. Correct?
Her food is fantastic! Sometimes we'd drive all the way from Healdsburg just to have lunch there. 
 
I wanted to mention Libby's earlier on this thread but I forgot the names and places. But, I never forgot the wonderful food she served. And this coming from someone who lives in Dallas and is exposed to some incredible Mexican food.
 
Thank you for writing about Libby's.

i know this is an old message but I just saw it...   Foster's Freeze is NOT dreadful and the food is NOT awful...  just like any chain some are better than others....  but here in the Central Valley of California its a beloved local chain, and I think the food is yummy.  We've been eating at various Fosters for over 30 years now.

Pismo Beach: Splash Cafe's for their onion rings & bread bowl clam chowder, The Cracked Crab for their bucket (on the table cracking) and fish tacos, Honeymoon Cafe for their breakfast, Giuseppe's Express Deli for a beach picnic, and 
Avila Beach: Joe Mama's coffee, Woodstone Marketplace (Monday - prime rib night!), and The Avila Valley Barn for olallieberry tarts.
San Luis Obispo: Another outpost of Splash Cafe that is great for breakfast, San Luis Fish and BBQ for their halibut and chips (not sure what the BBQ part is), New Frontiers for juicing, Madonna Inn for their hash, Spirit of San Luis at the Airport for their burger, Petra's ironically for their pepperoni pizza, Breakfast Buzz for all day breakfast, and Blue Sky for their beignets. 
Oceano: Old Juan's Cantina for some yummy mexican before or after you drive on the beach.
 

Twinwillow


Cecif ~ I am very familiar with the Mexican food at Libby's in Philo. We ate there as often as we could. 
She originally cooked at the (forgot the name) hotel restaurant in Booneville. Correct?
Her food is fantastic! Sometimes we'd drive all the way from Healdsburg just to have lunch there. 

I wanted to mention Libby's earlier on this thread but I forgot the names and places. But, I never forgot the wonderful food she served. And this coming from someone who lives in Dallas and is exposed to some incredible Mexican food.

Thank you for writing about Libby's.

Boonville Hotel!   Had fabulous food!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
And Jennifer re: Foster's Freeze, I'm with you on that... I have great childhood memories of stooping at FF in Oakdale (almost) every summer!!!
 

Bnavarre:  Excellent suggestions...Thank you...!!!
 
Jennifer: It's a magic moment when you get a chocolate dipped cone and the chocolate is still warm and soft...I like the one in Lucerne, but have not been to the one in Lower Lake for many years because I thought they massacred the milk shakes by scraping the walls of the wax paper / plastic cups with the mixer blade...the burgers at the Santa Rosa Fosters on 4th near Farmer Lane always had very good burgers...
 
To the lady that asked "when?" No definate date but perhaps Springtime...???  I don't have any experience at running a food safari, and perhaps somebody who has can offer suggestions...the concept is just too pregant with possibilities to not consider...My idea was to do it and possibly write a book about it... 
 
The hidden backstory:
 
Philo:...I'm "Long John", one of the original DJ's at KZYX-FM, usually heard on my Tubby Tunes radio show, and sometimes in the past as a News Dept reporter when Annie Esposito was N.D.
 
Tubby Tunes is in homage to both (the late) KFAT-FM-Gilroy (LINK) and Warner Bros cartoons...humor is my main motivation...I'm semi retired from it now (I moved to KMUD-FM-Garberville 11+ years ago) but still do fill-ins...KFAT is credited with inventing the "Americana" music format, (and to a lessor extent KVRE-Santa Rosa)...
 
December 19th on KMUD (LINK) I'll be doing my annual Tubby Tunes Holiday Music Massacre...I'll eventually post it on my webby page (LINK) ... This is not yer typical Bing Crosby type of Xmas music, but rather the strange alternatives...I've been doing it since 1989 when KZYX first went on the air...
 
Calistoga was my hometown for quite a long time...Cal Hwy 128 is an old friend...I used to go up to The Geysers when it was still open to the public, and I feel at home whenever I see Mt St Helena...I'll be lunching in Calistoga in 2 days at Cafe Sarifornia...this used to be the Village Green cafe... Friends of mine used to own Nance's in Calistoga...
 
A friend of mine is a caterer based out of Healdsburg...
 
Yeah, MA, UK, & Dallas ARE a long ways away, but it's wonderfull to hear from folks familier with "Mendoland" and "Slow-noma"...
 
BTW...Huell Hauser did a piece about  the origins of Fosters on his California's Gold tv program...I think I still have in on my DVR or on a DVD disk...
 
When we lived in the East Bay, and special company was over, it was take out from Banchero's followed with soft serve from Fosters (2 blocks away)...everybody was happy, and less kitchen cleanup ...
 
Finally, I stumbled across DDD (Drive-in's, Diners, & Dives) by random chance last night, and was watching DDD # 19 (2007) and one of the 3 places he featured was Willie Bird Turkey over there by Sabast-o-apple (Cal Hwy 12 between Santa Rosa & Sabastopol)...they're always top notch and a favorite at the Thursday Night Market (Santa Rosa) which was moved to Wednesday nights...grilled premium turkey drumsticks...not cheap but worth it... they have a dining room on Hwy 12, besides supplying turkeys to regional supermatkets...
 
Boogie onward folks...
 

Outside of Healdsburg in the Alexander Valley, we always enjoyed the "Jimtown Store" in Jimtown.
Mostly sandwiches and a sorta, grocery store selling unique food items.
You could eat there on their outside patio or, take out.
We think they made the best ham around and would always order ham sandwiches with strong Dijon mustard on their delicious french rolls and drive to a nearby winery, buy a bottle of wine and have a picnic. Again, we'd hear that strange noise of our blood pressure coming down.
Click on the link to see this unique vintage store in its current incarnation. NOT SPAM!
http://www.jimtown.com

Ah yes...Jimtown...gateway to 1 of the 2 routes up to The Geysers...
 
Back in the 70's & 80's, before it's current incarnation, it was a very fun, funky country store, crammed to the limit with all sorts of odd stuff...buy a hat, a postcard, a sandwich, or ammunition...
 
In those days BOTH stores in Jimtown catered to us locals, not the tourists like today...
 
(Starting in the in the mid 1980's the tourists were flocking to the "wine country" ALL year long, not just in the summer, and many downtown areas of places like Calistoga, St Helena, Healdsburg changed in look, feel, and function)
 
In it's current incarnation, it's not the same, but it's still very unique, and highly suggested...sometimes you can see vintage cars out front...and vineyard campesinos still eat there and also at the Alexander Valley Store (the other store) ...
 
After the influx of tourists 24/7/365 in the 1980's, we lost the cobbler, baker,  auto parts store, and a few other businesses oriented to the LOCAL Calistoga population...they were replaced by businesses that catered ONLY to the tourist trade, so what were self sufficient towns are now only a shadow of their formers selves... (on a side note: one of the new businesses was a chocolate specialty store that had the disaster of an airconditioning failure during the very hot days of July)
 
But the beautiful  scenery is still there, watched over by Mt St Helena, and yes, it's still is good for city folks to decompress, and for those who dig into the HISTORY there are amzing stories...
 
If one goes in back of the stores in Calistoga you can still see the giant iron window shutters in back of the old Wells Fargo office, used to protect against boom town wildfires (similar to Columbia, CA)...this is on the north side of Lincoln Ave, between the Napa River bridge and Washington St, and an alley leads to the back of the buildings...and the founding of Calistoga IS closely linked to the opening of the west coast frontiers, the Mormans, and the Gold Rush...
 
Although Calistoga has a unique place in our history, there are hundreds of towns along the backroads of our state to explore...
 
And by golly, we sure do need to eat a few times a day during these excursions...
 
PS...just north of Sabastopol on Cal Hwy 16 is Mom's Apple Pie...Yum
 
Another good place for pie is in Murphy's (can't remember the name) in the Mother Lode area of the Sierra's...

A radio guy?  What happened to the trains?
 
I happen to love Foster's Freeze.  It was a treat when I was very little and I was devastated when they closed "my" location.  It's a part of my past.
 
With those wonderful chocolate dipped cones, it's a race against the drips!

I still play with trains, but those days might be ending...my lower back is going downhill again (up and down like a yo-yo...some days are good, some aren't)...so I might apply for "Restricted Fireman" status...I don't know about the Santa Trains in December... cold winds at 20* or less is not good for my back...we'll see what shape my body is in, along with what shape my Jeep is in, plus there's the possibility of being "snowed in" (i'm in the "snow belt" area of  mountains of Mendo Co)...
 
Fosters STARTED in your area...
 
And yeah, it was a contest between licking the chocolate top, and the drips going down from the cone top and running down your hand...
 
I'm now racking my brain to remember where I've had hard packed icecream dipped in chocolate...this might be in the part of my brain that no longer works...I know I've had this but just can't remember where...
 
BTW...have you eaten at a place down there called the "5 Cent Diner"...???   I saw it on DDD last night...
 

5 Cent Diner is on my list of must tries.  Don't think I'll be having a bacon topped donut.
 
I still have a Foster's Freeze near me, but it's just not "mine".  I like their fried burritos which are trash food, but oh so good.
 
Back pains are the worst.  I'm already worried about being able to stand the entire time it takes to dice an onion.

BackRhodes


Ah yes...Jimtown...gateway to 1 of the 2 routes up to The Geysers...

Back in the 70's & 80's, before it's current incarnation, it was a very fun, funky country store, crammed to the limit with all sorts of odd stuff...buy a hat, a postcard, a sandwich, or ammunition...

In those days BOTH stores in Jimtown catered to us locals, not the tourists like today...

(Starting in the in the mid 1980's the tourists were flocking to the "wine country" ALL year long, not just in the summer, and many downtown areas of places like Calistoga, St Helena, Healdsburg changed in look, feel, and function)

In it's current incarnation, it's not the same, but it's still very unique, and highly suggested...sometimes you can see vintage cars out front...and vineyard campesinos still eat there and also at the Alexander Valley Store (the other store) ...

After the influx of tourists 24/7/365 in the 1980's, we lost the cobbler, baker,  auto parts store, and a few other businesses oriented to the LOCAL Calistoga population...they were replaced by businesses that catered ONLY to the tourist trade, so what were self sufficient towns are now only a shadow of their formers selves... (on a side note: one of the new businesses was a chocolate specialty store that had the disaster of an airconditioning failure during the very hot days of July)

But the beautiful  scenery is still there, watched over by Mt St Helena, and yes, it's still is good for city folks to decompress, and for those who dig into the HISTORY there are amzing stories...

If one goes in back of the stores in Calistoga you can still see the giant iron window shutters in back of the old Wells Fargo office, used to protect against boom town wildfires (similar to Columbia, CA)...this is on the north side of Lincoln Ave, between the Napa River bridge and Washington St, and an alley leads to the back of the buildings...and the founding of Calistoga IS closely linked to the opening of the west coast frontiers, the Mormans, and the Gold Rush...

Although Calistoga has a unique place in our history, there are hundreds of towns along the backroads of our state to explore...

And by golly, we sure do need to eat a few times a day during these excursions...

PS...just north of Sabastopol on Cal Hwy 16 is Mom's Apple Pie...Yum

Another good place for pie is in Murphy's (can't remember the name) in the Mother Lode area of the Sierra's...

 
We discovered Jimtown Store when we bought our vineyard very shortly after they opened.
As a matter of fact Carrie and her late husband catered our open house. 
Back then it was as you described. A quirky little store catering to locals but, with an eclectic, somewhat sophisticated edge the tourists liked.
After looking at the store now on their website, I see the hordes of tourists descending on them as they do everywhere in Napa and Sonoma nowadays.
It's certainly not the quaint little store it was back in the early nineties. But that said, I would still encourage our Roadfood friends to visit them if they're out that way.
 
Btw, we used to shop at the Wholefoods in Sebastopol (they bought out the terrific little organic market that was there before) and while in Sebastopol, we stopped at Mom's Apple Pie often for an afternoon treat. 

In the 60'a & 70's, walking into the Jimtown Store was like a time machine into the pastprobably hadn't changed for decades until it changed owners in the 1980's (?)...BTW...the way I blew out my lower back was working as a Press Operator (Ironically I don't drink alcohol anymore)...had back surgery over 20 years ago, need more...the good news is that I've always had several "careers" running concurrently...(now I'm just a hillbilly, which is a full time job with 8mm of disk pressing into my spinal cord)...
 
I spent a large part of today working on my webby site, adding stuff to it, so I'm ready to pull the plug...
 
Boogie Onward...

Jimtown is roughly 5 miles east of US Hwy 101...take the Lytton Springs exit and go east, dogleg south at the "T" to Alexander Valley Rd, then east...
 
Hwy 101 does go through Alexander Valley, but the real soul of it is OFF the freeway, along cal Hwy 128...
 
I was there a few days ago on my way to a lunch date in Calistoga (at Cafe Sarafornia). I had an excellend CFS (Chicken Fried Steak) and a vanilla milkshake...
 
Passing by the Jimtown Store...this looks like an old Ford F1 pickup from the early 1950's...(I first walked in the Jimtown Store around 1957 as a young kid)...
 

 
In the old days (pre-1980's) is was a white colored building, and NO antiques whatsoever (that didn't happen until the yuppy-fication of the 1980's) and was crammed to the ceiling with every type of fishing lure and gun ammo imaginable...
 
meanwhile...
 
The fall colors are getting real intense...these photo's are near Red Winery Rd & Hwy 128...
 

 

 
The REAL magic of US Hwy 101 is often found just a handful fo miles off the highway...
 
This is why I think that REGIONAL guides are a great idea...tell us what's in YOUR backyard...
 
I know Mar knows the LA area pretty good...does anybody here know the San Diego area fairly well (good enough to be a guide)...???
 
Also...more suggestion are welcome...
 
 

PS...the Alexander Valley Store (and bar) at the junction of Alexander Valley Rd & Cal Hwy 128 is no longer there...
 
It's now a drab grey colored (wine) tasting room...from the outside it has little appeal...

BackRhodes


PS...the Alexander Valley Store (and bar) at the junction of Alexander Valley Rd & Cal Hwy 128 is no longer there...

It's now a drab grey colored (wine) tasting room...from the outside it has little appeal...

 
Tch, tch, tch. How typical. They didn't stand a chance after as you say, the yuppification of the Jimtown Store and the whole general area starting in the early nineties. We got there in the late eighties. I can still remember shops for stationary supplies and other regular household necessities around Healdsburg's square. Not any more, I'm afraid. 

The same thing happened in Calistoga...the local shops and services that made for a fairly self contained town dried up and blew away when the price of retail space doubled...and some like 49 Minute Photo died due to digital cameras...
 
I remember Healdsburg from the old days...and Cloverdale went through major changes when th efreeway bypass went in...
 
I was driving down Hwy 101 last week on my way to Calistoga, and Just as a lark I truned off on Independance Dr to criuse down "Old Red" ( the old Redwood Hwy) and where Souvereign used to be is now Francis Coppala winery (I assume the restuarant is still functioning there). I remember when he got his first start south of St Helena...
 
Now it's winter, the tarp is on my grill, and I'm doing my cooking indoors again...But...this is the time of year I start getting ideas...dangerous ideas...ideas about road trips...I like to really plan things out yet still leave room for sidetrips and explorations...
 
But not today...I have a bunch of stuff to edit from the old KFAT-FM, my 23rd Annual Tubby Tunes Holiday Music Massacre, and soem custom Xmas dvd's, so it's round up time at the digital corral...
 
And lunch will involve Turkey leftovers...
 
 

Speaking of Healdsburg...did anybody enjoy Angelo's Pizza just of Hwy 101 at the south end of town...???

YES! We used to eat there all the time! Our home and vineyard was about 2 miles away from Angelo's. On Grapevine Lane off of East Side Road just 1/6 of a mile south of where Old Redwood Highway connected with East Side road.

I used to work at Piper Sonoma...

I'm getting the urge to head up Hwy 101 to scout a few places to eat in Humboldt & Del Norte counties...

I sure do miss that part of the country. Especially the huge Redwoods.

They're still here anytime you want to see  them again...
 
Just head west until you hit US Hwy 101...
 
Go north until you see a bunch of big  trees...
 
The trees don't get up and walk around at night so I'm fairly certain they'll still be here...
 
Lunch at Catelli's...???
 

Spoke to my good friend in Healdsburg tonight. He owns the big shopping center in Cloverdale. The retail stores there are doing poorly but you can't move in Healdsburg because of all the "one percent" tourists clogging the stores and restaurants.

Furber...???
 
The same thing happened (for a while) in upper Napa Valley...St Helena was clogged with "visitors" and Calistoga still had a bit of "elbow room" inspite of the visitors...
 
I had lunch in Ukiah at a place I have not been to: Ellie's Mut Hut & Vegitarian Cafe on So State St, less than a mile west of Hwy 101 (across from the old Fosters)...and I've driven past this place *many* times, and I was in the mood and in the area yesterday...
 
Hot dogs and vegitarian under the same roof...???  It turns out they serve MANY meat dishes along with vegitarian selections, and they also have a breakfast menu...
 
I had the Polish dog (which had a nice snap to it, was juicy and flavorful) plus a vanilla milkshake...
 
I'm intrigued by this place I've passed by so many times, and think I'd like to try more eats there...

Yes. (Craig) Furber. He was my "next door" neighbor on the lane we lived on in Healdsburg. We've remained good friends and talk as often as we can and still exchange Christmas goodies. Ham's, cookie's, etc. He was telling me his shopping center retail tenants are really having a tough time.

Downtown is probably worse...I remember buying Clover milk at the Clover Market in Clover-dale when I lived there...

My next target in Ukiah is Henny Penny...just west off Hwy 101 at the Gobbi exit...
 
I've eaten there before but can't remember a thing, so I guess it wasn't  good or bad last time I was there, or else I'd remember...
 
 

Santa Cruz has a really nice Italian restaurant, Caffe Lucio. Good food, very entertaining atmosphere and very nice Tiramisu.
 
I know I am the new guy here, but suggesting Foster's Freeze and In and Out for a food safari? Seriously? I thought the goal was to avoid chains. I know it is always my goal.
 
As far as doing 101, do you mean 101 or HWY 1, with 101 when necessary? If so, what are the most north and south you would want to do? How long do you want to spend at it?
 

GotBaddog


I know I am the new guy here, but suggesting Foster's Freeze and In and Out for a food safari? Seriously? I thought the goal was to avoid chains. I know it is always my goal.


Welcome to Roadfood. If you read the entire thread you will see I have already made the comments about In and Out and Foster's Freeze. You will find many different views and tastes here. Some people are interested in revisiting the places they are nostalgic for regard;less of whether they are chains or mediocre.
 
You will also find people who think Roadfood has to be cheap, and are not interested in much beyoind burgers, dogs, pizza, etc.
 
In California, sushi, Mexican food, Asian food, etc is much more interesting than chains for dipped cones that can be found anywhere.
 
Just my opinion.