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Where else should Terrence visit on his tour? Post in the comments below.
An American Food Tour
Sep 3 2009, 1:35 pm
Stops Along An American Food Tour
View An American Food Tour in a larger map
Where else should Terrence visit on his tour? Post in the comments below.
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Terrance should stop somewhere along the Chesapeake Bay for seafood - specifically crabs. I see there are two stops, but neither is seafood-related. Anywhere along the Bay in Maryland or Virginia is critical! One suggestion: the town of Crisfield, Maryland, which hosts an annual "Hard Crab Derby" in early September.
I love crabs. But I cant a decent crab meal that isn't crap near my place. I would take on your suggestion.
BromaCleanse
Flexarite
Phillips Crab House in Ocean City, MD (the original location). They're rightfully legendary. Other locations listed here: http://www.phillipsseafood.com/index.cfm?page=menus
I can't say I'm a fan of Phillips, though that is really directed at their packaged crab meat which is often not from the Chesapeake Bay. As far as crab houses go, mind you, during the off season any crab house that is open will have to get crabs from outside of the Chesapeake (Maryland or Virginia).
That said, everyone along the Chesapeake has their favorite places for eating crabs (always steamed, never boiled). Faves of mine and/or people I have talked to include Obrycki's, LP Steamers and the Costas Inn.
Inn at Dos Brisas in Brenham TX. First-rate farm to table operation.
http://www.dosbrisas.com/
You seem to be lacking in Louisiana stops. How about Middendorf's just west of New Orleans for fried catfish?
Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh for the famous "garbage sandwich." http://www.primantibros.com/
I absolutely insist you hit Chicago's very best fried chicken. Kanye and the entire South Side of Chicago agree: Harold's Chicken Shack is where it's at. Make sure you order extra mild sauce for this fried to order south side delicacy.
I forgot to add that Barack himself loves Harold's so much he chose to live right across the street from Hyde Park location on 53rd and Kimbark while at the U of C.
http://baselle.savingadvice.com/2008/11/17/a-salute-to-harolds-chicken_45220/
While you're in Austin, stop by Chinatown restaurant for some yummy dim sum!
I'm a little biased as my dad owns the place, but there are some unique finds as well as tasty traditional treats in the carts. Plus table-side mimosas and bloody marys.
Say Ronald's daughter sent you, and make sure to try the coffee-glazed ribs.
http://www.chinatown-mopac.com/
Also, if you're going to be in Cambridge/Boston, MA, I would personally hit up Oleana over some of the other options you have on the map now.
I'm leaving the country for a while and have already decided that this will be my last meal in Boston.
The same chef/owner also has a bakery/cafe called Sofra.
www.oleanarestaurant.com
www.sofrabakery.com
Bear with me...this list is long.
El Paso, TX- L&J Cafe-Maybe the greatest Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas in the Southwest. Gotta check it out. Also, Chicos Tacos. Get the double order with green chile and some fries.
Las Cruces, NM- El Sombrero Restaurant. Best salsa on the planet. Also check out Tiffany's Deli for the Pastrami Sandwich.
Portland, OR- The Country Cat. Get the fried chicken. Pok Pok Whiskey Soda Lounge. Go for the Fish Sauce Chicken Wings...and anything else on the menu. Toro Bravo for awesome tapas. Taco Salsa in Gresham for some authentic lengua tacos and the tamales de elote.
Varied I know. But all worth checking out.
1. If you make it to Vermont, The Blue Benn, in Bennington, is definitely the best diner that I have ever been to (in a double-wide trailer, with specials written on pieces of paper stuck all over the walls, homemade donuts, etc. this is not a greasy joint at all; they really make fine fin food. they aren't open for dinner though, and you may have a wait for breakfast some days)
2. For BBQ in TX, Smitty's is definitely the spot. when BBQ is practiced at the highest levels, what separates places is the ambience/scene, and Smitty's takes the cake. the smoking room is something to behold, though watch out for the open pit fires on the floor.
3. For BBQ outside of TX, you ought to hit 'Brothers in Law BBQ' in san francisco. the sauce is great and spicy, and it is about as no-frills as you can get.
4. speaking of SF, I can't believe nobody has mentioned Taqueria Cancun in the Mission. this place is legend, and will never do you wrong. the 'Mojado' Burrito is ridiculous and the fresh ingredients (including an entire avocado per burrito) make this place incomparable.
5. if you get down to san diego, there is great seafood: Fish Tacos/Fish Sandwiches at Point Loma Fish Market, and also at Pelly's Fish Market a little bit north in Carlsbad.
6. Back to TX: in Houston (since i see there is no h-town love yet) head over to Captain Benny's and definitely try the stuffed jalapenos (stuffed with crab meat and fried - no cheese, don't worry) and the Gumbo is top-notch as well. Gulf oysters area also a great deal. a 'dozen' is not a set number over there; they'll just fill up a plate. to top it off, the place is shaped like a boat, and they only have
If you are interested in local and road-trip appropriate food in New Mexico:
1. In Albuquerque, stop at the Frontier Restaurant (http://www.frontierrestaurant.com/) on Central Ave (Route 66, across from the University of N.M.) for a breakfast burrito and a giant cinnamon roll. (Don't worry, they are both available 24/7)
2. The best roadtrip fast food in New Mexico is a green chili cheeseburger at Blake's (http://www.lotaburger.com/). The fries are fresh and excellent. You'll see them all along the highways.
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In Los Angeles, believe the hype of the Kogi truck. It may not be worth the long lines (I drive right by if the lines are long), but the food is GOOD. And the lines are not always long. (And don't be fooled by the rival "Calbi" truck.) On the other hand, it's been reviewed by 1,000,000 hipsters and others, so...there are a billion other places to try. Maybe you should skip LA because there's no way to narrow it down.
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If you are going to Waterbury, VT, then you should definitely go to Michael's on the Hill (www.michaelsonthehill.com).
Michael was named "Vermont Chef of the Year" and the food is absolutely wonderful!
If you want the ultimate SF list, check out all of these. http://7x7.com/content/eat-drink/big-eat-sf-100-things-try-you-die
Fun to see the various choices, but it seems like two things are really missing. First, the cheap eats. For example, the plethora of ice creameries in the Bay Area such as Ici, Humphry Slocombe, Sketch, Bi-Rite, etc. or other spots like the Donut Plant in NY or Dynamo Donuts in San Francisco. Second, don't forget the wide world of amazing coffee worth sampling in between each of these fabulous meals. Almost any major city has something to offer. I can't help but suggest my own blog for some tips, but also check out CoffeeGeeks boards or the many other coffee bloggers or tweeters who are full of good tips on top spots around the country. Certainly don't miss hitting up some of the big spots like any of Intelligentsia's cafes in Chicago or LA, Stumptown's cafes in Portland or Blue Bottle, Ritual or Four Barrel in San Francisco.
For ice cream in SF, don't miss Mitchell's.
That's a proper sampling of South Texas barbecue. The sausage and Luling sauce at City Market are the real deal.
For a spot in DFW...
Spiral Diner & Bakery (two locations): it's a vegan diner, a nice respite after a South Texas meat-a-thon. Most all diner classics, only all vegan. I'm partial to the Ate Layer Burrito and a Martha The Librarian (delicious shake made with their homemade soy ice cream).
what? doing an american food tour with no stops at all in tennessee, kentucky, mississippi or arkansas? but thats the heartland of whats left of american food traditions! fried chicken, barbeque (the texan kind pales in comparison!) burgoo, soupbeans and cornbread, green tomatoes, boiled peanuts, sweet potatoes, greens... please!
if you´re not doing this trip, i will. in fact, thats a thought... want to split the itinerary? with a little luck i´ll be in the states in september...
maggie
Hi, Maggie -- we are definitely hitting that neck of the woods. There's a slight map problem right now because I added so many places to eat, so it spills over to a second map page, but you can see it here:
http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&num=200&start=200&msa=0&msid=102344136851680722472.0004661de6cd6497520a0&ll=36.835668,-86.748047&spn=4.562775,9.854736&z=7
We'll be in Louisville and Lexington this week and would appreciate any suggestions you have, particularly for barbecue. Thanks for reading!
Come visit the Golden Age Cheese factory in Woodhull, NY. We'll give you a Mozzarella or Cheddar cheese making lesson, and of course some free samples. Look us up at http://www.goldenagecheese.com
For something different, and not a full huge meal......try Shady Glen in Manchester CT. They have cheeseburgers with crispy cheese, this is unique rather than gourmet.
oh c'mon, go to toledo! It's on the way from cinci to detroit, the new bridge is pretty, you'll hardly notice that Sunoco refinery and you never know when the mayor might do something funny. But most important - it has Tony Packo's. The sausage, the sweet-hots, the German potato salad, the Jamie Farr memorabilia - it's so worth it.
Swing through Burlington, Vermont on your way from Montreal to the southern part of the state and get a sandwich at Four Corners of the Earth Deli, on Pine Street. A quirky lunch spot, local favorite. To the extent of my knowledge, does no advertising. Good luck deciphering the handwriting on the walls' menu. Besides, it's the kind of place where it wouldn't be worth asking what's on the "Jamaican Avocado" or the "Iraqi Turkey" anyway - eat as intended. Only trust they will treat you well.
Since Florida is a little slighted, I would recommend a trip to Apalachicola to pick up a bushel of oysters from the bay. I don't think that one can find oysters better, or in a neater little town, anywhere.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/15/us/from-apalachicola-bay-oysters-rated-the-best.html
If you can't make it all the way to Apalachicola, just cruise through Tallahassee and go to Barnacle Bill's (on North Monroe!) for the best fresh oysters right out of the bay. While I was in school there, we downed more than a few bushels, and I have never tasted finer.
While you're in Philadelphia, definitely make sure you take in some of our beer culture. The region has a wealth of excellent craft breweries and they are readily available in the city's many beer bars and gastropubs. The Standard Tap (901 N. 2nd St.), Johnny Brenda's (1201 Frankford Ave) and Memphis Taproom (2331 E. Cumberland St.) are some of the best, with terrific food to accompany the local brews.
http://www.standardtap.com
http://www.johnnybrendas.com
http://www.memphistaproom.com
Great to see you've got Philly on your list.
If you're going to check out DiNic's in the Reading Terminal Market (good choice by the way) I'd suggest the roast pork with provolone and greens, washed down with a cold one at the indoor beer garden. While you're there at the market, you could also do a compare and contrast with a cheesesteak from Carmen's or Spataro's. You could order both at the same time, pick them up, then walk both over and have a seat at the bar.
My personal favorite cheesesteak however is Tony Luke's, which is located on Oregon Ave just off of I95 in South Philadelphia:
http://www.tonylukes.com/
Another great place for cheesesteaks is John's, also in south Philadlephia, but it's only open weekdays from 7 am to 3 pm:
http://www.johnsroastpork.com/
Personally, I'd avoid Pat's and Genos, located at "cheesesteak corner" at 9th and Passyunk. It's fun to stand in line and soak up the atmosphere, but they're big tourist spots now, and the quality of their product has suffered somewhat. Not that they aren't good, but you can do better.
Enjoy your trip.
Must visit in Toronto is Blackhoof. Started a year ago as little more than a bar that serves charcuterie, I think it provides one of the best all around dinning experience in town regardless of the type of food, price range, setting, location. Everything is house made, although it is common nowadays, but every morsel on the charcuterie plate is well conceived, carefully prepared, it is really setting the standard here. There are usually a couple of sandwiches, cold dishes and hot dishes on hand as well. As with the charcuterie, balanced flavor, great execution in everything. I swear I don't know the guy, I just been eating there.
Harvest Table, Meadowview VA. Right off RT.81 after Roanoke and before Abingdon (Both really good browsing places whether it's for history, culture or stuff).
Harvest Table is open for lunch (call and check) maybe Tues. thru Sat. and dinner all but Sunday. Locally grown food (owned and run by husband of author Barbara Kingsolver). Really good country home food. Really good. I like to eat there for lunch if I go out (this is chain restaurant country. Lunch including drink and dessert under 20. Beer and wine.
Also, if you want modern (as in Alinea) there's the TownHouse in Chilhowie, a little north but still on 81 between Roanoke and Abingdon. These are 2 chefs from Seattle/Chicago that have settled here in SW VA. I can't afford it, but the menus sound good and it looks like they have a good wine cellar. They also do once a month meals celebrating a local grower/produce (think cheese, meat, maybe produce...my remembrance is about 55-75 + 20 for wine selection.
Boy, am I straight on jealous of your 'retirement!' It's as though you're living out my dream!! When you get to San Francisco & the Bay Area, here are a few essential stops.
- Ubuntu in Napa. You've never been to a vegetarian restaurant that is like this. Napa Valley sensibilities, California cuisine, worldly vision of the future of food done locally.
- Bourban & Branch or Cantina (or both) in San Francisco for luscious cocktails. Bourban & Branch for its speak easy reverant take on the past & bringing it into today. They have amazing mixologists but if they have Thad Volger visiting, he is at the top of his game. Got to Cantina for its ability to put the farmers market in your glass & for simply the best cachaca drinks to be had in North America. Have Duggan McDonnell, the owner make your drinks (though you'll hardly go thirsty if anyone else makes them.) Drinks as food. Who knew it was possible?
- Ferry Plaza farmers' market. Saturday mornings alson on Tuesday & Thursdays during the summer. It may not have been the epi-center of the Slow Food movement but the reality is that is has built on that movement, Alice Waters & has encorporated all the changes you'll be seeing, tasting & smelling in your tour across America.
- Cow Girl Cheese in Point Reyes. American artisinal cheese making at its best.
- Niman Ranch or any of the grass feed/grass finished ranchers in the Bay Area.
- Outstanding in the Field farm dinners (now held throughout the U.S.) Ever envision tasting what the color green is? Try eating Green Nettle Pasta cooked in the middle of a field on a rolling hill of a farm with 150 or so other food lovers sitting at the longest outdoor dining table. Scrumptious.
- June Taylor conserves, marmalades, fruit cheeses (oh my god), fruit butters, etc. At the Ferry Bldg farmer's market but also in the East Bay at her kitchen.
- Boulette's Larder, San Francisco. In the Ferry Bldg. Straight forward clear clean food with distinct farmer's market tastes in each bite. A working kitchen to pick up unusual spices & supplies. Amaryl & Lori will take care of you & your palette.
- Omnivore Books, San Francisco. Not quite eating but simply the biggest collection of new, collectable & vintage books on all things cooking, food & drink.
- The new, incredible, street food trucks mostly in San Francisco:
Creme Brulee Cart and Magic Curry Kart, Dolores Park and other Mission District locations.
Left Coast Smoke rotates among several Mission District bars. Find them on social networking Web sites.
El Huarache Loco, Alemany Farmers' Market, 100 Alemany Blvd., San Francisco. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays (farmers' market) and Sundays (flea market).
El Tonayense taco truck, San Francisco, Locations include Harrison Street near 19th Street (until June 9) and 22nd Street.
Ferry Plaza Thursday market. weekly 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with several farmers and street food vendors using local produce. www.cuesa.org.
Fruitvale pushcarts, International Boulevard and Fruitvale neighborhood, Oakland. These sell foods like fresh-cut fruit and tamales. Signs reading "A.C.A.F." indicate they are part of Oakland Association of Pushcart Vendors.
Liba Falafel truck, De Haro and Alameda streets, San Francisco. Starting in June. Check "libasf" on Twitter.
Mobile Pho Truck, San Francisco and Millbrae. Serves Vietnamese noodle soup from a truck. Follow "whatthepho" on Twitter.
San Francisco Street Food Festival, Folsom Street, late August (tentative). Check www.lacocinasf.org ("streetfoodsf" on Twitter) for updates. (not certain when you'll be out here)
Spencer on the Go, 300 Seventh St. (Oil Can Henry's), San Francisco.
Usually 6-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Check www.spenceronthego.com (or "chezspencergo" on Twitter) for exact times.
- And, finally, the underground dining scene which is actually now coming above ground. CookingwithJames.com; Mission Street Food at Lung Shan Restaurant in the Mission on Saturday nights.
I could keep going, bread, chocolate, suggesting specific plouts, candycots, etc. but unless you're planning on staying for quite some time, I think you'll be plenty busy enough. In fact, since you stayed as long as you did in Buenos Aires, which I agree is hardly a food lover's city, maybe you need to hang here just as long & really explore a true food lover's paradise.
FWIW in Denver:
if you’re thinking about going to the fort then where you really want to go is the [url=http://www.buckhornexchange.com/]buckhorn exchange[/url]. Neither is a world class culinary tour de force (both have good food though) but the Buckhorn is more honest in its pretensions and simply more fun. Plus, it has Colorado liquor license #1.
Oskar Blue’s check, check, check. Oh how I love Dale’s Pale Ale.
Otherwise, the main things to know about Denver are that it is basically a city of immigrants both ethnic/religious and regional and that it is a huge geographic area with different neighborhoods that cater to those different immigrant populations. Federal blvd (especially w/in 1mi north and south of Alameda) is pretty much prime time for the axis of food: Mexican - Chinese – Vietnamese. You could spend a looong time here eating at funky little ethnic joints, I got mine and won’t bother to even attempt their cataloging.
On the bistro end, it’s hard to argue against Table Six (get there early, no reservations unless you’re 6+).
For Seattle; I wholeheartedly concur with going to Salumi (again, get there early that place gets PACKED for lunch).
If you're looking for breweries then you absolutely need to stop at Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee on a Friday night. The beer, the tour, the atmosphere, the fish fry, the polka are not to be missed.
Humboldt County, California! Humboldt County, also known as the Lost Coast, is a jewel of the northern coast, where the Redwood National and State Parks are, gorgeous coastline, and in this small county of 150,000, there are 5 microbreweries! Eel River Brewing Co. in Eureka raises their own organic beef for their pubfare food, and brews a healthy list of certified organic, award-winning microbrews year round. Also check out Mad River Brewery, Six Rivers Brewery, Redwood Curtain Brewing and Lost Coast Brewery.
The highlight of any trip to Humboldt would be the Humboldt Bay Kumamoto Oysters. 70% of the oysters in California are grown in Humboldt Bay. The Kumamotos, originally from Japan, grow well here because of the moderate temperature and clean water. These gems, salty and sweet, take several years to grow to their full grown size. They are small, but that does not take away from the wonderful flavor they offer. They also appeal to oyster beginners as they are not quite as intimidating as larger oysters.
Don't miss out on the beauty of Northern California... not just San Francisco. There's a whole world above SF, before you get to Oregon. You can make it a stop on the way to Portland!
Cheers!
Shauna Carter
American brewers are on the forefront of the international craft beer movement, constantly pushing the envelope and redefining the meaning of beer. Nowhere is this spirit more evident than on Colorado's Front Range, where dozens of craft breweries are producing an impressive array of top notch beers. Any food and beverage tour of the US would be severely remiss to skip out on the brews to be found here.
As a hardworking employee of Avery Brewing Company (Boulder, CO), I strongly believe that Avery is undoubtedly one of the best to be found in Colorado, or anywhere in the country (As a side note, I'm not as biased as I sound: I got a job here because I thought so highly of the beer!). If you are interested in tasting beers that occupy the vanguard of the American Craft Beer movement, then search no further than Avery. Our Maharaja Imperial IPA is as close to a "style-defining" beer as there is (alongside Russian River's (CA) Pliny The Elder and Three Floyds (IN) Dreadnaught IPA). Small batch beers like Brabant, Voltron and De Vogelbekdieren (Flemish for Platypus) sprouting from our barrel-aging program are more complex and full-flavored then any wine you've tasted.
Besides Avery, there are plenty of other stellar Colorado breweries. Great Divide Brewing, in Denver, makes some great beers including their Yeti Imperial Stout. Modus Hoperandi from Ska Brewing, La Folie from New Belgium Brewing and Java Porter from The Mountain Sun Brewpub are all examples of the tremendous capacity that Colorado brewers have for creating great beers. Come to Colorado!
Hmmm, it's not clear who populated your map - are those your choices? If so please reconsider what's there for San Diego. This is not a foot destination but you can eat well here. BUT ... you need to be careful about Mexican. Despite our proximity to la frontera, there is a lot of schlock and Americanized crap out there. El Indio is legendary but not that good (it's in my neighborhood so I know wherefrom I speak). I don't know your other two but I would be wary of the authenticity of anything in Coronado. Lovely town, not exactly a Mexican stronghold. Here are some alternative choices for you, that are around the central city - SD is pretty spread out.
- El Cuervo Taco Shop at the corner of Washington St and First Ave. Burritos are basically an American invention but they are more authentic here - no rice or beans! Get the burrito al pastor, or the tacos al pastor for an taste of Mexican street food. (Pastor = shepherd's style - it's spicy roast pork with cilantro.)
- El Comal at 3946 Illinois St off University Ave. They have other locations but this is the one I know ... real Mexican cooking that goes beyond enchiladas. Try the goat.
- Cantina Mayahuel at 2934 Adams Ave near 30th St. This is basically a tequila bar - dozens of varieties - that serves some good food. It's a beautiful space, with a nice outside terrace, and the Friday night mole special is not to be missed - two kinds of homemade mole on a chicken breast. Bliss.
- Rubio's ... A fast food chain. San Diego is renowned for its fish tacos but a lot of places do them poorly. A bar called South Beach in a neighborhood called Ocean Beach got written up in Gourmet magazine, but don't bother. They make a foodie interpretation, not the real deal. Rubio's introduced them to San Diego so give them a try (but not at the ballpark, where they sit in a food warmer and turn to mush).
- Mariscos Chemel - My favorite fish tacos are south of the border in the town of Tecate at this little joint. You'll hear lots of reasons not to go south of the border, it's endlessly debated, but you can drive out to Tecate on highway 94, park in the U.S., walk across the border and walk three blocks to this place. Their ceviche and "cocteles" (shrimp cocktails) are great too. Tecate is a lovely town to hang out in, too.
- Super Cocina at 3627 University Ave. This place is amazing ... a steam table full of dishes that Mexican ladies make in the kitchens and bring in. It's different every night. You get two mains plus beans and rice for about $8. The lady behind the counter may not speak English, but she'll give you tastes of everything before you order!
Okay, now for a few other off-the-beaten-path local gems that are way better than most.
- Sab E Lee in a mini-mall at 2405 Ulric St. Better northern Thai food than you get in northern Thailand. They have about six tables and there's often a line. Buy your beer in the liquor store next door, the owner Koby will bring you a bottle opener. Be ready for hot food and order the renowned Green Papaya Salad.
- K Sandwich is a banh mi (Vietnamese/French sandwich) shop at 7604 Linda Vista Drive.
- Dumpling Inn in a mini-mall at 4619 Convoy St. Really good Chinese food, especially, um, the dumplings.
- Ba Ren serves smoking hot Sichuan food at 4957 Diane Ave.
- In-N-Out Burger ... what a burger chain SHOULD be. What McDonald's wanted to be and never was even before it became what it is (and I'm old enough to remember). Not gourmet, just really really good. Order a double-double and a chocolate shake.
Finally ... go to the Ocean Beach Pier Cafe, halfway out the pier, not because the food is great (although it's good), but you'll have to pick up some funky wonderful Ocean Beach vibe to get there, and it's so cool to eat out on the pier with the ocean beneath you, looking back at the city.
Since you're going to Minneapolis, you may as well stop by the Alexis Bailly Vinyard near Hastings, where proprietor Nan Bailly makes the world's best ratafia. Hers is so good she goes to Spain to teach the folks who invented it how to make it better.
And if you're looking for a dessert after Hell's Kitchen, I'd suggest a stop at Izzy's Ice Cream Cafe in St. Paul. The folks there have won some national awards, and Bobby Flay challenged the owners to a showdown.
Terrance consider visiting Prince Edward County which is 2.5 hours East of Toronto or West of Montreal. It is being hailed as Canada's Martha's Vineyard. Harvest Restaurant, Buddha Dog and County Cider Company are just three of the must tries.
You gotta go to Generous George's Pizza in Alexandria, VA. Best(American-style) pizza in the world. Right in the Atlantic's backyard. I don't even bother with toppings there. They detract from the awesomness of the pizza itself.
Denino's pizza on Staten Island for the city's best.
Paseo for cuban sandwiches in seattle.
Raku in Las Vevas for non-sushi japanese food.
Years ago I ran across a book that described, state by state, good places to eat when on a road trip. The states were listed in alphabetical order, so after reading about tasty grub in Missouri and Montana you turned the page and found a single, poignant sentence: "Don't eat in Nebraska."
So if any of you folks know where there's good food in the fine state of Nebraska, let's hear about it.
Also to validate my above comment,
In-N-Out
is
I am fairly certain that Save-On-Meats in Vancouver is now closed.
If you come back to New England in the fall, Terrence, we would love to have you judge our Pudding Hollow Pudding Contest, a true folk food event. It also features entertainment; if you'd like a part in the play, please let us know.
http://www.merrylion.com/master/events/events.html
Meanwhile, I would definitely suggest Corky's Barbecue in Memphis. Yum!
Happy trails. We're all jealous......
I see that you're coming out to Eastern North Carolina. I recommend seeing the Duck Rabbit Brewery in Farmville (although it's already been featured in The Atlantic).
http://www.duckrabbitbrewery.com/
Also Duplin County Winery would be great to go to. They are all about muscadine wines.
http://www.duplinwinery.com/index.php?page=tours
And if you want BBQ, in almost any city you go in in East Carolina, there will be whole hog getting cooked somewhere, so that won't be a problem. But good pick with Wilbur's.
No love for St. Louis, Kansas City, and Memphis, the great BBQ triangle? You'll also miss St. Louis delicacies like pork steak, brain sandwiches, St. Paul sandwiches, toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and St. Louis-style pizza. A shame.
We are headed to both St Louis and Kansas City in the next few weeks, southsidered, and have some spots picked out, but they are on page two of our map, you have to scroll down to get there (Memphis will probably be on the way back):
http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&start=200&num=200&msa=0&msid=102344136851680722472.0004661de6cd6497520a0&ll=38.908133,-90.307617&spn=8.869747,19.709473&z=6
And we would love any suggestions you have for St Louis, as we're thin on that city at the moment, particularly where we can find a brain sandwich and the other items you recommended.
In New York's Hudson Valley, be sure to check out Harvest Spirits - they make vodka and brandy from apples grown right on the farm.
http://www.harvestspirits.com
That's great news about St. Louis. Can't wait to see what you have to say about the weird delicacies of my hometown.
For St. Louis-style pizza extremely thin crust, Provel cheese, cut into squares, Imo's is the gold standard. Many locations throughout the area: http://www.imospizza.com/
Toasted Ravioli: any Italian restaurant on the Hill. Mid-price Rigazzi's http://www.saucemagazine.com/rigazzis/ or higher-end Charlie Gitto's http://www.charliegittos.com/ are favorites.
Gooey Butter Cake: Carondelet Bakery http://www.carondeletbakery.com/ for the original version, or Gooey Louie http://www.gooeylouiecake.com/ for a more contemporary style with varied flavors.
Brain sandwiches: the last place I know that still serves them is Dieckmeyer's http://www.diningoutamerica.com/restaurant.asp?ID=339.
Frozen custard: the one, the only Ted Drewes. Two locations, both in South City: http://www.teddrewes.com/.
Pork steaks will probably be on the menu at just about any BBQ place along with snoots, pig's feet, pig ears, etc. I like Smoki O's myself, just north of downtown. Here's a Google map of St. Louis BBQ places: http://tinyurl.com/mjrjjr.
St. Paul sandwiches are unique to the cheap chop suey places in St. Louis. This is not a dish you'll find at authentic Chinese restaurants - it's basically an Egg Fu Young patty on white bread with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. Park Chop Suey is one of the originators: http://www.parkchopsuey.com/menu.nxg.
Beer: you have to try a microbrew to see that we have more to offer than Budweiser. Schlafly http://www.schlafly.com/ operates two different brewpubs with straight-from-the-cask seasonal beers. I've heard good things about Square One Brewery & Distillery http://www.squareonebrewery.com/, who brew strictly for on-site consumption.
Keep in mind none of this is high cuisine, and all have their haters, especially the pizza, for some reason. But if you're looking for food you can't find anywhere but St. Louis, there you go. Trying even two or three of these local specialties will give you a good idea of what St. Louis tastes like.
Wow you hit all of my classic home town favorites, making me almost want to road trip home to St. Louis, I would add Lake Forest Bakery for a version of Gooey Butter Cake and if you BBQ your own pork steaks, nothing tops them like Maul's sauce.
When in Chicago area, you have to try Superdawg http://superdawg.com/ for the best car hop burgers, fries and dawgs still around, and for the nostalgia factor. If you go to Wilmette on the north shore, go to The Noodle for fresh cut pasta when you order and great seefood http://thenoodlecafe.com/ and Depot Neuvo http://www.depotnuevo.com/ and for the Pan Latin cuisine and great margaritas on the porch.
You must MUST stop for some Old Forge pizza in Pennsylvania. Old Forge is a town right outside of Scranton, PA, and the pizza there is legendary. There are a few places from which to choose, but the place to go is Brutico's, right on Main St. Make sure to get an order of the manicotti there as well -- it literally melts in your mouth. After the pizza (you'll need a tray of red and a tray of white) and the manicotti, you'll never be the same again. I promise.
Red Chili or Thai-Am. In Elizabethton and Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Red Chili is a Korean Restaurant in a town of about ten thousand in Tennessee. It is a serious culinary experience. Thai-Am is a Thai restaurant on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. Red Chili closes at four and isn't open on sunday or monday and Thai-Am opens at four and isn't open on sundays, mondays, and thursdays.
Templeton Iowa...stop and taste Al Capone's favorite Rye and Iowa's only distilled spirits
http://www.templetonrye.com/
It would be a shame to go through South Carolina and only sample the Lowcountry offerings. The midlands have their own distinctive pork bbq with a yellow mustard sauce that's to die for. If you go to Little Pigs off of Fort Jackson in Columbia, you can sample NC style, SC Midlands style, and GA style all at once. (http://www.littlepigs.biz/) For my money, however, the best bbq is at Big T's in Columbia, which has a mixed ketchup/mustard/hot sauce. You can read about them here: http://scbbq.blogspot.com/2006/01/big-t-bar-b-que.html.
In SF - I second Cowgirl Creamery, and add Colibri. (I've eaten a lot of Mexican, and this place is the best).
In San Diego - For farm-to-table food, try Market in Del Mar or the Linkery in North Park. Also recommend Cowboy Star for hand-butchered steaks.
In Boston - Antico Forno in the North End. And some Irish food (though I can't recommend a specific place).
It would be a shame to miss Wisconsin on your culinary tour! Madison has some outstanding restaurants including Lomardino's, L'Etoile, Harvest, Magnus ...
Then there are the shops, including Fromagination, which is one of the most outstanding cheese shops you'll find with an amazing array of artisinal cheeses made in Wisconsin. And there's Gail Ambrosius, who makes some of the best dark chocolates (from single-origin chocolates) that you'll ever experience.
What's happened to Terrance? It's been nearly a month since his last report. As we live in Portland, we were looking forward to his reports after Seattle. Hope everything is OK.
Oh, well. Guess this whole thing fizzled out. Time to delete this from my bookmarks. Nice idea, Atlantic. Too bad about the execution.