Roadfood Rapture- The Best of 2012

Dale,
   I have to comment on the fine quality of both Yours and Cliff's food photos. If you go back to look at some of trip reports from 6 or 8  years ago, you will notice how much the QUALITY of the photo records has improved. You guys have set new standards for the rest of us to follow. Congratulations on a fine report with excellent graphics !

WJ, I was pleased to see Wagon Wheel on your list.  I love that fried squash, but I realize that it's not for everyone.    Chris

wanderingjew


4. Gilbert's Chowder House Portland ME
last visited 2010

 

If airfare wasn't so expensive I'd be on a plane to Portland this afternoon!

Glad to see my hometown represented, especially in time for Super Bowl visitors.  Hope you had an oyster loaf with that 'lil cup of gumbo.

Al
 
Getting a new camera helps too!  
 
This is the very first digital food photo I ever took back in May 2006 at  Carolina's Mexican Kitchen in Phoenix
 

 
Ayersian,
 
I'm still bummed that they didn't serve banana pudding during the week. BTW do you know of any other places  in Charlotte that serve fried squash. Sandra is interested in trying some. Unfortunately Wagon Wheel will be too out of the way for us.
 
Screaming Brad
 
If only Chickens can fly
 
 
BelleReve
 
Stay tuned!
 
 
 
 

Mississippi Madness
 
 
After spending some time in Mississippi last February I can certainly see why this is Buffetbuster's favorite state
 
These two Roadfood restaurants truly deserve a separate category....
 
Although the main dishes at The Dinner Bell in McComb were ordinary to just plain bad....the sides were second to none...
 

 
On the other hand, although the sides at Two Sister's Kitchen in Jackson were nothing special and the banana pudding unfortuntely was nothing like I remembered, the Fried Chicken was still probably some of the best I had all year.
 
 

 
 
 

ScreamingChicken

wanderingjew


4. Gilbert's Chowder House Portland ME
last visited 2010

 

If airfare wasn't so expensive I'd be on a plane to Portland this afternoon!

That is a beautiful bowl of food.

wanderingjew

Ayersian,

I'm still bummed that they didn't serve banana pudding during the week. BTW do you know of any other places  in Charlotte that serve fried squash. Sandra is interested in trying some. Unfortunately Wagon Wheel will be too out of the way for us.

 
WJ, the only other place I know of that's still open (?) is Gus' Sir Beef on Monroe Road.  This place used to be the premier meat-and-three in town, but I haven't been there in 20+ years.  My father swore by it for the longest time, but I don't think that even he has been there in a number of years.  I'd definitely call ahead to see what the deal is.  They do have a FB page but it hasn't been updated since 2011!  Copal Grill (now closed) used to be great, too.  And we both lament the passing of the Coffee Cup!    Chris

ScreamingChicken

wanderingjew


4. Gilbert's Chowder House Portland ME
last visited 2010

 

If airfare wasn't so expensive I'd be on a plane to Portland this afternoon!

Brad
 
I did that once , MANY YEARS AGO, was in the mood for chowder and got a morning flight out and came back later that day after getting my fill.  Expensive chowder, but hey it was a bucket list item.

WJ-
While I undoubtedly have a sincere love for Mississippi and I am very much looking forward to spending some time there before Glee Club, New Mexico is actually my favorite state.  Great photos from Two Sisters and Dinner Bell!
 
After seeing that fabulous chowder, have you considered doing a review for Gilbert's?

Buffetbuster
 
And I think you picked a very fine state as your favorite, as New Mexico is one of my mine too.
 
Unfortunately as we've discussed previously, I'm pretty much retired from doing restaurant reviews. It's just way too time consuming for me, I won't even be doing a trip report for   our drive from Charlotte to Mobile and back....
 
I did promise one more restaurant review and that will be Miss Myra's Pit BBQ in Birmingham. I don't even know when I'll do that.

The first time I went to Guy's Gumbo Shack in Fairhope, AL, it had fantastic gumbo. A few years later, after being on DD&D, I went back and it was mediocre. I gave it one more try in 2010 and at lunch time there was only one other table, close enough that I heard them talking about DD&D recommending the place. The gumbo was flavorless. I don't know if it was the publicity or what, but it had gone from great to awful.I feel your pain.
 
BTW, great report! Come on out to CA again soon----I've got new places to take you!
 

wanderingjew

kaszeta

mar52

Sorry to hear about The Gumbo Shop.  I have a bowl of gumbo at every place I can when in New Orleans and The Gumbo Shop was always up there with the best.  I can tell just by the picture that things have changed in the kitchen.

Yeah, this one surprised me.  I haven't been there since 2008, but my Shrimp Etouffee was really good:


Always sad when a formerly reliable place has a downturn.

Kaszeta,

Although they're been a  select few hit hit and misses with Roadfood recommended restaurants, this is probably the first time I walked into a place and felt truly ripped off..... I still don't think I insulted the place enough in my rotten tomatos list..

<message edited by EdSails on Mon, 01/21/13 3:09 PM>

EdSails
 
Thanks, unfortunately I do not have any plans to visit California in the near or distant future.  Things change but I just don't see it happening.  However please let me know when you can make it out to New England!
 
My trips just for 2012 alone will be few and far between. Other than the Glee Club event next month I have a week long trip planned to New Mexico and Oklahoma going through the northern panhandle of Texas... That will probably be it for the year.

That would seem like a limited selection from which to compose a Top 10 for next year.

The Travelin Man


That would seem like a limited selection from which to compose a Top 10 for next year.

 

 
I will accept charity contributions in the name of Roadfood

WJ-
You may have to include some Rhode Island places!

buffetbuster


WJ-
You may have to include some Rhode Island places!

 
I know, I may have to loosen my restriction on "non-local" 
 
And again, there will be weekend trips too. In fact in Mobile  I look forward to taking TTM aside to discuss a possible weekend in Miami  to see the new Marlins ballpark.
 
And then there is that weekend in Pittsburgh that you and I discussed for sometime over the summer. 
 
BTW I just got my final gainsharing check which I look forward to tendering to the Ocean Point Condomium Association.....

I know, I may have to loosen my restriction on "non-local"
 
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!  Hello, Ripley's?  Yeah, you're NEVER gonna believe this...

Sightseeing Highlights Along the Way
 
 Bourbon Street New Orleans LA
 


 
 
 Creole Queen Boat Tour New Orleans LA
 


 
 
 
 St Louis Cemetery New Orleans, LA
 


 
 
 Voodoo Temple New Orleans LA
 

 
 
 Vulcan Statue Birmingham AL
 
 



 William Faulkner's Grave Oxford MS

 
 
 Mountain Tower Hot Springs AR (yes I climbed this all by myself)
 

 

 
 
 San Xavier Mission Tucson AZ
 

 
  Tucson Mountain Park Tucson AZ
 
  
      
 Sabino Canyon Tucson AZ
 

 
 
 Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale AZ
 

 
 
 
 River Walk San Antonio TX



 
 
The Alamo San Antonio TX
 

 
Governor's Palace San Antonio TX
 

 
State Capital Austin TX
 

 
Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library and Museum Austin TX
 

 
 
Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue Austin TX
 
 

 
 

 
State Capital Columbia SC
 

 
Margaret Mitchell House Atlanta GA



 
 
Atlanta History Center Atlanta GA
 

 
 
Carter Presidential Library and Museum Atlanta GA
 

Always enjoy your reports WJ! Thanks for letting us enjoy some of you travels if only vicariously!

Well, our scenic destinations overlapped in Austin, San Antonio, and Scottsdale.  One of these days I'll run into you.

agnesrob
 
My pleasure,  this year I too will have to somewhat take a step back and live vicariously through folks like Buffetbuster.
 
kaszeta
 
Yes it did, I've been remiss in reviewing both your and Buffetbuster's end of the year report. I've had alot going on which has also delayed my completing my own report. Once I'm done with that I look forward to viewing your unbelievably fantastic photos.
 
I have a couple of things to add on this week and the grand finale (honorable mentions and top 10 new restaurants of 2012) next week
 
 

WJ-
The Margaret Mitchell House is a place I think I would enjoy, but have never been there.  Next time in Atlanta for sure.  Keep up the excellent report and we are looking forward to more. 

What's in store for 2013 ?
 
Not as much as the last several years.......Funds are very, very tight this year.....(TTM and Buffetbuster, I'm accepting donations for the sake of Roadfood )
 
- Glee Club Mobile in February (with drive from Charlotte to Mobile and back)
- Big Trip of the year- in July- Oklahoma- New Mexico & the northern Texas Panhandle 
- Possible weekend trip to the New Marlins Ballpark in Miami in the spring (via a free flight)
- Possible extended weekend roadtrip to Pittsburgh in the summer
- Woud love to do a weekend  Amtrak trip to DC in the Fall, but again that depends on funds.....we'll see...
 
 

Nice job WJ...always good stuff! 

The key to securing a decent price on your Amtrak ticket should be no problem for you - plan ahead. There is a huge fare difference is you book that route 21 days out. I plugged in some random dates in October (Fri-Sun) and found a $67 fare each way. Their standard AAA fare was about $87 each way, so this is the best deal you're going to get. You can always purchase your tickets now and lock in the fare (Amtrak can always raise their prices), because Amtrak has a much more generous refund policy than the airlines.

Another tip - PVD-WAS (Providence to Washington) is $67 each way. You can also stop at any station along the way and so long as you reboard a train heading in the same direction within 24 hours, there is no change in fare. In other words, PVD-NYP-PHL-BAL-WAS is also $67, if you were so inclined as to do that kind of crazy itinerary over the course of one weekend, provided you book each train less then 24 hours after arrival in each city. It might be fun to "stop off" in Philadelphia for a cheesesteak, and reboard a train for Baltimore in four hours, for instance.
 
Instead of my usual snarky comments, you get helpful info today. :) 

TTM-
Wait, are you saying that your snarky comments aren't supposed to be helpful?

My snarky comments are helpful to me.

The Travelin Man


Instead of my usual snarky comments, you get helpful info today. :) 

Actually, I was hoping for some $$, points, credits..... I'll take anything.....
 
Sandra has friends in DC so I thought it would be fun to do DC with her since we discussed  an Amtrak weekend excursion (or 3 day weekend excursion) to NY or DC previously.

Thanks for all that time and effort ... I thoroughly enjoyed your report.    I'm now craving pie!!!