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April 06, 2014

Food Thread: Unexpected Treasures [CBD]
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It's simple to find good food in major metropolitan areas. Getting a great meal in New York or Chicago or San Francisco or Miami or, my personal favorite Charleston (suck it NYC!), is an issue only of money if you have no time, or a little time for research if you have no money. Outside of many cities it is difficult to find great restaurant cooking. And before you get all huffy and call me am egg-sucking, sheep stealing, one-eyed son of a stuffed monkey (Platinum membership for the first to identify that quotation), I am not talking about good, solid food that makes you happy. I am talking about that rare meal or dish that makes you want to dance with joy, or order another plate of it.

In a crappy neighborhood on the North side of Charleston, on the way in from the airport, there is a sandwich of such ethereal, glorious, fattening magnificence that everything else on the menu of this solid roadhouse pales in comparison. It's called a duck club, and it's made with confit of duck, excellent bacon and some smoked cheddar on a surprisingly sweet Hawaiian bread. The Tattooed Moose is worth braving the neighborhood. Hell...it's worth a flight to Charleston just for that sandwich.

Heading in the other direction, in a nondescript little town in central Vermont lives the perfect rural cafÃ©. We were in the area for a long weekend and stopped in for a late breakfast our first day...and then our second day...and then our third day...and then our last day. I think they were embarrassed for us and gave us a locals discount that last day. The Hatchery, in Ludlow Vermont does everything well. They have nothing complicated on the menu, but everything is made exactly how it should be. Fresh eggs, fresh bread, great bacon and sausage and ham, and short-order cooks who know what they are doing and take pride in a job well done.

The restaurant is in ski country, where there is plenty of money and lots of beautiful inns with fancy and expensive restaurants, all catering to the dinner crowd, but the meals at this simple place beat anything in the area.

So.....where are those little gems that thrill you and surprise you? Nothing in a metro area or anywhere where you would expect good food. And nothing regional, like great BBQ in the middle of nowhere...that's exactly where it's supposed to be.

Cheddar Ale Soup

4 T. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced
2 carrots, peeled and finely diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups milk
1 3/4 cups chicken stock
1 bottle (12 fl. oz.) ale (Use something with flavor and a little bite)
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 1/4 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Salt, to taste
Cayenne pepper, to taste

In a stockpot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and whisk in the milk and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 10 minutes.

Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl.

Return the mixture to the pot and set over medium heat. Add the ale, Worcestershire and mustard and simmer for 5 minutes. Whisk in the cheese 1/2 cup at a time, letting each addition melt before adding more; do not allow the soup to boil. Season with salt and cayenne.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and serve immediately.

Serves 4 to 6.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:00 PM | Comments (157)
Post contains 671 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Sandwich and recipe look yummmmy!

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at April 06, 2014 01:04 PM (bCEmE)

2 I've really been into my city's newish food truck trend. Ive had some really great food from food trucks recently. It's decently priced, I haven't had a bad meal yet, and they have flavor combinations that I hadn't yet considered but tried with my own cooking at home afterwards.

Posted by: caunotaucarius at April 06, 2014 01:08 PM (SHvfC)

3 Any recipes for dog?

Posted by: Preznit Urkel X at April 06, 2014 01:08 PM (jucos)

4 It's called a duck club, and it's made with confit of duck, excellent bacon and some smoked cheddar on a surprisingly sweet Hawaiian bread. The Tattooed Moose is worth braving the neighborhood. Hell...it's worth a flight to Charleston just for that sandwich. Wow. I'm a duck confit fan. Make it myself (time consuming and takes up a lot of fridge space). And, just ran out not too long ago. I make a big batch when I do. I'm also in Charleston a lot. Lots of family there. Will definitely check this out this year. Thanks for the tip.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:08 PM (IXrOn)

5 Mmmm, beerÂ…

Posted by: Beer is good. at April 06, 2014 01:09 PM (AymDN)

6 Yes, Charleston has some good restaurants. And speaking of that, wifey just got back from Charlotte and stocking me up with high class victuals from the Harris Teeter there. They closed out HT and the only thing we have left is a shitty Walmart.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at April 06, 2014 01:09 PM (T2V/1)

7 mmmmm, food pron . . .

Posted by: Peaches at April 06, 2014 01:10 PM (8lmkt)

8 >>So.....where are those little gems that thrill you and surprise you? One of our fondest memories of a meal that exceeded expectations was when we were in Taos and stopped at an off-the-beaten path place in the afternoon. The lunch diners were gone and dinner hadn't arrived yet. It was basically just us in the restaurant. The chef/owner came out and explained they were out of a lot of things, then offered to make something for us based on what he had. I do not remember what we had, but I remember it was magical. Another magical meal for me was when I traveled to Strasbourg on my own for the day after spending several stressful weeks in Germany (trying to get some experiments done). I had not eaten well in Germany and was exhausted from my daily grind there (long story). Anyway, after walking around the center of Strasbourg, I found a very small cafe. Again, off-hours (mid afternoon) and empty. I ordered a house wine (excellent), escargots in a blue cheese sauce, and an onion tart. Outstanding. My only regret was that my husband wasn't there.

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:14 PM (zDsvJ)

9 I wonder if anyone has been to the new(er) version of Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon (Cali)? A few days back we were talking of vegans and such, and it reminded me of this place. It was gifted to me once, a Sunday Brunch, but, back then it was macrobiotic. Just plain yuck. The setting was always what attracted people. Just gorgeous. Hard to explain how beautiful I checked their website, and it's all new cuisine. Looks tasty. A nice place to bring a date.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:14 PM (IXrOn)

10 Special Instructions to Players

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 01:15 PM (QeH9j)

11 If you ever find yourself in London, the Borough Market has a wonderful duck confit sandwich. Too bad I don't get there too often!

Artisanal'ette, is it really hard to make or just time consuming?

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 01:15 PM (NqhG2)

12 Lots of great resturants in and around Wilmington NC, but I need a great BBQ joint around there. Any recommendations.

Posted by: Tmitsss at April 06, 2014 01:17 PM (Pa9vP)

13 Other than playing Diablo, we spent the other half of the day putting out the patio furniture, heater, grill, etc. We grilled for the first time this year, Knackwurst. Yum. Tonight we are going to do some simple burgers. I love grilling!

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:17 PM (IXrOn)

14 Artisanal'ette, is it really hard to make or just time consuming? Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 05:15 PM (NqhG2) Not hard at all (like most things), just very time consuming. And, you need a lot of duck fat.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:18 PM (IXrOn)

15 The Garbage Plate at Frank's Diner. World famous. The staff is crazy. http://franksdinerkenosha.com

Posted by: grammie winger at April 06, 2014 01:19 PM (oMKp3)

16 Oops. Wrong. Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 01:19 PM (QeH9j)

17 >>> Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi Sheep stealing, etc?

Posted by: fluffy at April 06, 2014 01:20 PM (Ua6T/)

18 I wonder if anyone has been to the new(er) version of Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon (Cali)?

Wow, artisanal'ette, used to go there all the time. Not for quite a few years now, but the food was always good (was not aware of a macrobiotic bent) and the setting is lovely. Nice place for a brunch, for sure.

Posted by: Peaches at April 06, 2014 01:21 PM (8lmkt)

19 Speaking of great food trucks the Flowers Seafood Company truck out of Edisto Beach has great locally caught food.

Posted by: Tmitsss at April 06, 2014 01:21 PM (Pa9vP)

20 Posted by: fluffy at April 06, 2014 05:20 PM (Ua6T/) Yes

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 01:22 PM (QeH9j)

21 CBD the soup sounds grand. Fresh brats, potato salad & coleslaw here tonight. Snow is still here but the Weber is screaming

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 06, 2014 01:23 PM (HVff2)

22 Jasper's Porch, right off I95 in Jasper, SC just before the GA line, has some of the best home style cooking I have ever found. Greens, blackeyed peas, mashed taters . . . But the fried chicken made me think I'd died and gone to Heaven. After accidentally discovering it years ago, my wife and I plan our trips south so that we hit Jasper at lunch time.

Posted by: That SOB van Owen at April 06, 2014 01:24 PM (GLmwR)

23 @14 Artisanal'ette, thanks! I looked up recipes over the winter and couldn't decide if I should try it. It's looking better that I should. I think the New York Times had a good version, where did you find your recipe?

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 01:24 PM (NqhG2)

24 The Breakfast Club in Tybee Island is worth the trip for surfer cheffed omelets .

Posted by: Tmitsss at April 06, 2014 01:25 PM (Pa9vP)

25 Although it was featured on Diners Drive ins an Dives, Pueblas Cemitas in West Humboldt Park (Chicago) fits the bill for a place you will risk the neighborhood for the food. The tacos arebes are simply outstanding. Apparently the town of Puebla Mexico attracted a contingent of Lebanese settlers and they fused the idea of pork on a spit with some traditional Mexican flavors. It's sweet and savory and spicy in all the right ways The owner is great but, it is a bad, bad, neighborhood so go for lunch,or dinner with a police escort

Posted by: Roberto Luongo at April 06, 2014 01:26 PM (gJeEJ)

26 EC, you around?

Posted by: DC in Towson at April 06, 2014 01:28 PM (Pvcl5)

27 Can I get a witness for the cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster? Hollah! /cough/ I'm now a big fan of sous vide cooking. It's the thing where you put food in a plastic ziplock, and dunk it it temperature controlled water. I hacked mine together using an electric griddle and a Johnson Controls temperature controller ($80 from Amazon) - A hotel pan fits the griddle perfectly. Cook the steaks to medium rare in the sous vide. You can hold the steaks for a couple of hours. Fire up the grill and then sear the steaks. Perfectly done. Every.Damn.Time. Plus the missus - who usually wants steaks well-done because of food safety concerns - is okay with medium to medium-rare steak/burgers cooked sous vide because the process pasteurizes the food (it's in the FDA guide). And I give this technique my approval having both a gas grill and an ugly drum smoker at my disposal. .

Posted by: BumperStickeristto at April 06, 2014 01:30 PM (4CVLy)

28 Food-related: which of the "review" apps/programs/databases do you prefer for finding restaurants and why? I've been doing TripAdvisor for many years, but their iPhone app is extremely slow and unstable, so I'm thinking of abandoning it for one of the others. Leaning Urbanspoon.

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:30 PM (zDsvJ)

29 Here in Jax, the best sandwiches are miles from duck confit, just your usual ingredients, but done right. Tom and Betty's is practically an institution around here. My fave is the Laser, which is turkey, roast beef, and ham on three slices of French toast. Eat with lots of mayo. Yum.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at April 06, 2014 01:31 PM (DmNpO)

30 I take my steaks, waving them in front of a hot grill for two seconds, and eat them.

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:32 PM (zDsvJ)

31 Blog-whoring FTW (for the wife) http://www.thekitchenwitchblog.com/ Now to read the post McGyver, Out

Posted by: McGyver at April 06, 2014 01:33 PM (Aa8Kx)

32 Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 05:19 PM (QeH9j)

And we have a winner by a nose!

No ampersands for you though.....

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 06, 2014 01:34 PM (QFxY5)

33 re: database - I've used Yelp and UrbanSpoon mostly. I find Yelp has good search options plus the reviews tend to be accurate - not too much techno foodie, not too much fanboy of the restaurant. -

Posted by: BumperStickerist at April 06, 2014 01:34 PM (4CVLy)

34 Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 05:30 PM (zDsvJ) I wish I could offer an opinion, Y-not, but I don't eat out at restaurants except for very rare occasions such as a special birthday, and then only if someone else has invited me. I'm cheap that way. So I've never searched for restaurants.

Posted by: grammie winger at April 06, 2014 01:35 PM (oMKp3)

35 Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 05:30 PM (zDsvJ)

I use Zagat for information, then browse tripadvisor, yelp, and their ilk for comments.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 06, 2014 01:35 PM (QFxY5)

36 Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 05:32 PM (zDsvJ)

Overdone.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 06, 2014 01:36 PM (QFxY5)

37 I find Yelp has good search options plus the reviews tend to be accurate - not too much techno foodie, not too much fanboy of the restaurant. -- My hesitation with Yelp is two-fold. First, it feels like it's a younger demographic of contributors than I'd like. The reviews I've scanned often read very much like 30 and unders. With TA you can see the person's age range (if they've entered it) and the reviews usually read like an adult wrote them. And Yelp did nothing to stop the wave of negative reviews that the NoH8 crowd submitted when that LA restaurant owner (just a neighborhood place, iirc) gave $50 to Prop 8. In contrast, I have successfully gotten TA to remove clearly malicious or false reviews.

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:38 PM (zDsvJ)

38 >>Overdone. High five!

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:39 PM (zDsvJ)

39 Lobster Rueben washed down with a Yuengling beer at the Keys Fisheries Marathon FL in the Keys.

Posted by: Aviator at April 06, 2014 01:40 PM (3rrMW)

40 Wow, artisanal'ette, used to go there all the time. Not for quite a few years now, but the food was always good (was not aware of a macrobiotic bent) and the setting is lovely. Nice place for a brunch, for sure. Posted by: Peaches at April 06, 2014 05:21 PM (8lmkt) haha It's been a long time since I went there. Swearing I would never go back. There were just bowls of macrobiotic stuff laid out. I felt like an animal at a trough, really. lol I had no idea it even changed. Wonder why?

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:40 PM (IXrOn)

41 Threw some Conecuh sausage down in a bit of olive oil. Rendered it and drained the fat off. Added half an onion and sauteed until translucent. Added a can of Italian diced tomatoes and two cups of chicken stock. Put in 8 ounces of egg noodle pasta brought it to a boil, reduced heat and simmered for twenty minutes. Then topped it with shredded monterrey jack cheese and green onions. It's a great one pot meal that the kids will tear up. Conecuh sausage is one thing I will definitely miss about Alabama.

Posted by: no good deed at April 06, 2014 01:41 PM (vRCaC)

42 It's called a duck club, and it's made with confit of duck, excellent bacon and some smoked cheddar on a surprisingly sweet Hawaiian bread.

That is just all kind of awesome. The only thing that would improve it would be sourdough bread, or perhaps pumpernickel. Rye is good too.

So.....where are those little gems that thrill you and surprise you? Nothing in a metro area or anywhere where you would expect good food.

Wellllll. For Xmas, my daughters bought the pepwife and me a not-at-all-inexpensive dinner/dance cruise on the Potomac to see the sights of DC (on the Odyssey to be specific). We would never have dreamed of doing such a touristy thing, given that we live here and all, however, it provided spectacular views of a spectacular city, even if the Cherry Blossoms hadn't really opened, and it was cold and windy. That was the good part, and it was very good.

However.

The pepdaughters paid big bucks for a dinner cruise, and frankly, the dinner sucked on stilts. Service was lousy, and the food was cold and late. I held my tongue because the pepwife was so looking forward to this, but in any other venue, I'd have peeled the bark off the manager.

I can't say I was surprised, because I have an iron law. If an establishment is selling the view or the historical provenance, watch out, because the food will be at best a secondary consideration. Pep's Law remains unchallenged.

Posted by: pep at April 06, 2014 01:41 PM (4nR9/)

43 Hey 'rons! Made the chicken thigh/tarragon/Dijon/shallot/cherry tomato recipe from a few weeks ago. Awesome. Highly recommended.

Posted by: Johnny I at April 06, 2014 01:42 PM (WIXTp)

44 Cowboy Steak and Red Eye Gravy - My favorite Clicky the nicky McGyver, Out

Posted by: McGyver at April 06, 2014 01:43 PM (Aa8Kx)

45 Oh, and one other thing. Perhaps I'm being obtuse, but does anyone else understand "short ribs" to mean brisket? Don't get me wrong, I love brisket (paging Howard Wolowitz). But still, don't hand me brisket and call it filet mignon, a**holes.

Posted by: pep at April 06, 2014 01:43 PM (4nR9/)

46 In terms of Salt Lake, I can recommend: Red Iguana, which is pretty dive-y (wrong side of the freeway) but features excellent moles and margaritas. It was featured on one of those "dives" type shows. Del Mar al Lago, which is located kind of no-where (south SLC) near some warehouses, but features the best cebiche I've found in this state and almost anywhere. It's Peruvian, so there are other things, but stick with the cebiche. Finally, Hong Kong Tea House is in a bum-riddled part of SLC, opposite a gay bar too, but it actually has some pretty darned good dim sum, which is very hard to find around here.

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:44 PM (zDsvJ)

47 I use to eat my steaks pretty rare but find that I prefer med-rare now. It also depends on cut and quality of the meat. Funny thing is I can eat steak tartare still, totally different animal, pun intended😃

Posted by: lindafell at April 06, 2014 01:46 PM (PGO8C)

48 Maryland Blue Crab fresh out of the bay steamed at The Crab Claw Restaurant in St Michaels MD. Summertime Silver Queen Corn to go along with it. Food Coma is guaranteed.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at April 06, 2014 01:48 PM (jucos)

49 48 I use to eat my steaks pretty rare but find that I prefer med-rare now. -- That's interesting. I wonder why. When I met/married Mr Y-not he was a well-done guy. I assume primarily b/c of poor cuts of meat cooked badly by his dear mother (and probably also an aversion to fat). He's now a rare or medium-rare dude, depending on his mood. Win!

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:49 PM (zDsvJ)

50 Short ribs are not brisket

Posted by: lindafell at April 06, 2014 01:49 PM (PGO8C)

51 49 Maryland Blue Crab fresh out of the bay steamed at The Crab Claw Restaurant in St Michaels MD. -- Ate there last summer with my dad. It was fun, but I thought Cantler's Riverside Inn was even better. Beer in solo cups! Eating on picnic tables on their deck.

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:50 PM (zDsvJ)

52 Dorido's Where you can get a huge fish sandwich with haliski and pierogies.

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 01:53 PM (QeH9j)

53 Artisanal'ette, thanks! I looked up recipes over the winter and couldn't decide if I should try it. It's looking better that I should. I think the New York Times had a good version, where did you find your recipe? Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 05:24 PM (NqhG2) I use the one in: garde manger The Art and Craft of the Cold Kitchen The Culinary Institute of America I've tweaked it a bit. They use their own version of the Quatre Epices spice blend, along with other spices. It depends what I have on hand. Theirs is black peppercorns, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, where traditional recipes may call for white pepper, nutmeg, cloves, ginger. It's a matter of taste. Also, they do not use juniper berries, or bay leaves or the full rub recipe, which are other variations, so again, it's up to you what rub you use. They use: salt, light brown sugar, quatre epices, thyme, garlic cloves (opt), and black peppercorns in their rub. And, I strain my duck fat with cheesecloth in a small wire mesh strainer before preserving the duck. So: 1) I trim the excess fat from the legs (very important) 2) rub the cure on the legs 3) cover, press and refrigerate the curing duck legs for 2 days 4) rinse the legs, blot dry, then simmer in the duck fat (fully covered) for at least 3 hours. 5) strain fat 6) then I put the legs back in, and let it cool to room temperature 7) then just cover, and refrigerate until you need the legs. They last a long time preserved in the fat.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:53 PM (IXrOn)

54 Haluski

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 01:55 PM (QeH9j)

55 Well, my wife taught me something today. Apparently one can make awesome caramel just by submerging a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot of water on medium heat for three hours.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at April 06, 2014 01:55 PM (celt+)

56 Maryland Blue Crab fresh out of the bay steamed at The Crab Claw Restaurant in St Michaels MD. Summertime Silver Queen Corn to go along with it. Food Coma is guaranteed. Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at April 06, 2014 05:48 PM (jucos) I think I'm the only person in MD that hates crabs, I will always be a southwest girl, love me some mexican food, and I can cook it like nobody's business. I read a book once, I think it might have been a Tom Clancy novel, the crabs like dead people just saying.

Posted by: spypeach at April 06, 2014 01:55 PM (10H0T)

57 >>55 Haluski gezhunteit!

Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 01:56 PM (zDsvJ)

58 Surf and Turf burger at the Armory Hotel in (?) Connecticut. Lobster claw on top of a big cheese burger. Delicious. The name of the town/City will come to me the minute I post this.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 06, 2014 01:57 PM (ZshNr)

59 I'm now a big fan of sous vide cooking I'm not a fan of cooking in plastic. I thought I read somewhere the food absorbs something or other that comes out of the plastic when it is heated... just be careful

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 01:58 PM (IXrOn)

60 Middletown.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 06, 2014 01:59 PM (ZshNr)

61 Taro - That's what my daughter calls Dulce de leche, which she learned form our maid while in Panama. Make sure you vent the can or explosion will result. McGyver, Out

Posted by: McGyver at April 06, 2014 02:00 PM (Aa8Kx)

62 The Driftwood Bar in Cascade, Mt. Order the Hutterite. If'n you are man enough.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 02:00 PM (x4RM7)

63 Well, my wife taught me something today. Apparently one can make awesome caramel just by submerging a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot of water on medium heat for three hours. Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at April 06, 2014 05:55 PM (celt+) Really? I'm gullible, so... I would try this if so.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 02:02 PM (IXrOn)

64 After a month of fine Polish food: tasty soups, badass kielbasas, i made the mistake of eating some hotdogs n saurkraut from an airport vendor yesterday. I wanted to fling the food against the wall, it was that nasty. for some badass red chile burritos, Roberto's on Lohman st in Las Cruces,NM

Posted by: fastfreefall at April 06, 2014 02:02 PM (Tz35j)

65 gezhunteit! Posted by: Y-not from her sick bed at April 06, 2014 05:56 PM (zDsvJ) Ďakujem

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 02:04 PM (QeH9j)

66 Where you can get a huge fish sandwich with haliski and pierogies. Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 05:53 PM (QeH9j) Homemade pierogies in Tucson area: Polish Cottage small, strip mall area, but unbelievably homemade we grew up eating pierogies and haluski, etc. I like to make the potato and the cabbage ones.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 02:05 PM (IXrOn)

67 hubby's at the grill gotta go bon apetit!

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 02:05 PM (IXrOn)

68 The Mill Town Inn in Hardwood, Michigan. Waaay up in the northwest corner of Dickinson County, on M-69. I had swedish pancakes with blueberries, thick-sliced bacon and coffee there that I still haven't gotten over. They've closed now, dammit.

Posted by: Scott at April 06, 2014 02:05 PM (S4p94)

69 I would try this if so. It does work. Here's a how-to. http://www.ehow.com/how_5794470_boil-condensed-milk-can.html

Posted by: no good deed at April 06, 2014 02:06 PM (vRCaC)

70 Best restaurant I have ever eaten in is the Corn Dance in Mishawaka Indiana.

All I have to say is, the Sword of John Adams!

You go there and eat that and you will know the truth of what I say!

Posted by: Kreplach at April 06, 2014 02:06 PM (Xkr8I)

71 Polish Cottage Used to get those at Tucson's 'Eat Yourself'. Good stuff. There were some Greeks there making incredible Spanikopita, too.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 02:06 PM (x4RM7)

72 Posted by: artisanal 'ette at April 06, 2014 06:02 PM (IXrOn) Your good to go. Just watched a vid on youtube and the caramel looks delicious.

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 02:06 PM (QeH9j)

73 63 The Driftwood Bar in Cascade, Mt. Order the Hutterite. If'n you are man enough. There's two morons in the GTF area? Who knew? McGyver, Out

Posted by: McGyver at April 06, 2014 02:06 PM (Aa8Kx)

74 My wife is a Spanish teacher, and she and another teacher were working (separately) on a baking project this weekend, making cookies called "alfajors." The "j" in Spanish is pronounced "h", so when she told me that she and the other teacher were having an alfajor competition, I was genuinely confused. Unlike me, my wife never uses coarse language.

"Um... so, you guys are trying to determine which of you whores is top dog in the department?"

"You idiot. Not 'Alpha whore'. Alfajor. It's a cookie."

D'oh.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at April 06, 2014 02:09 PM (celt+)

75 @54 Artisanal'ette. Thanks again. That method looks delicious!

I've got chili/lime chicken on the grill. 60 degrees in MN today. Woot!!!

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 02:09 PM (NqhG2)

76 One of my favorite and unexpected places for a certain kind of excellent food is a place called Erick's Tacos, in San Antonio. Pure Mexican street food, cooked on the spot and wonderful in all ways. (But look out for the green sauce ... nuclear fission in a cup.) It's in an industrial stretch of Nacogdoches Road - totally un-scenic, and housed in part of an auto repair garage - but they have one little bay marked out for seating, a permanently-parked food truck where they do the cooking, a little patio with some potted palm trees in it ... and a little house with a regular sit-down restaurant in it. It's marvelous, and eccentric, open to all hours (3 am by some accounts). It's authentic Mexican street food - not Tex-Mex, which is something else entirely. There's another place in town, La Gloria Icehouse, on the upper reach of the Riverwalk which does the same sort of thing, but at twice the price and three times the pretention. (Although it is just as good, and the outside seating is more ... well, aesthetically pleasing.) On the good side - Erick's is in a working-class neighborhood, and on a major avenue, and the police escort in the off-hours is not necessary. It's very popular with the locals. As I said, working-class and generally law-abiding neighborhood.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at April 06, 2014 02:10 PM (Asjr7)

77 Really?
I'm gullible, so...

I would try this if so. Posted by: artisanal 'ette

---------------

Utterly serious. I was gobsmacked.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at April 06, 2014 02:11 PM (celt+)

78 62 Taro - That's what my daughter calls Dulce de leche, which she learned form our maid while in Panama. Make sure you vent the can or explosion will result.
McGyver, Out Posted by: McGyver

-----------------

Yup, Dulce de Leche. If you keep the can submerged and the heat on medium, no venting needed. The wife made two batches and there were no explosions.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at April 06, 2014 02:13 PM (celt+)

79 "Some day, I'd like to have a judged 'cook off' with him. I've tasted his sous vide proteins, and been less then impressed. Good yes. Great, not so much. Posted by: SE Pa Moron " I'm using recycled cedar planks made from old rough sawn Bell of PA telephone poles for my plank cooking. What I've found is that sous vide is a great deal more forgiving and that it makes the timing of meals a lot easier. Finishing the protein on a grill or smoker, done right, can give the protein the same flavor that you get by grilling or smoking the protein from the jump. But that may be the fourth beer talking. I don't use sous vide exclusively, have the grill and built a smoker out of a 55 gallon drum, but it's a definite Good Thing to have ... for less than $100. Would I pay $400 for the Signature Model ... no. But bodging together one for $80... hells yes. =-

Posted by: BumperStickerist at April 06, 2014 02:18 PM (4CVLy)

80 Julio's Seasoning and Corn Chip Factory on Hwy 90 on the east side of Del Rio has a restaurant with the best Tex-Mex pinto beans I have ever eaten. All of their food is very good. It is a very small dining room in the front of the chip factory and run by some very old ladies with a few younger ones wandering around. It is very traditional Tex-Mex and exceptionally well prepared. They also sell their delicious chips in gigantic bags.

Posted by: Lester at April 06, 2014 02:18 PM (2UPXV)

81 re: plastics and hot water Zip-Loc brand bags don't contain any of the bad chemical thingies - BTFE? - that were associated with plastics.

Posted by: BumperStickerist at April 06, 2014 02:20 PM (4CVLy)

82 @31 McGyver , your wife's website looks great. Bookmarked for later perusing!

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 02:21 PM (NqhG2)

83 in the soup recipe. is that 1measurement of 1/4 lb of cheese or is that 1 and 1/4 lb of cheese? Not that 5 times the required cheese is neccesarily a bad thing.

Posted by: mark reardon at April 06, 2014 02:27 PM (6og37)

84 Bacon wrapped shad roe at the Crazy Crab in Reedville VA with fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, the epitome of real dockside dining!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 06, 2014 02:33 PM (o3MSL)

85 On the subject of great food in out of the way places. Elk Horn Iowa is about ten miles North of I80, about 55 miles east of the Nebraska/Iowa border. As you drive into town, on the left is a cafe associated with the first gas station. Stop in and get any Danish pastry and discover that everyone who ever sold you a "Danish" in your life is a LIAR. We stopped one night while driving from Denver to Chicago and grabbed a bag of pastries to munch on the road. Everyone agreed that if we had waited any less than the hour we did, that turning back fore more would have been the correct decision. We go out of our way to stop in Elk Horn any time we need to head east.

Posted by: mark reardon at April 06, 2014 02:38 PM (6og37)

86 When my grandmother on my mom's side was still alive, we'd eat at the house restaurant inside the East Liverpool (Ohio) Motor Lodge. The motel is dumpy but the food is very good. The first time we ate there, I had one of the best burgers I've ever had: flavorful, juicy beef and huge. I got a chance to talk the head chef and he said that he had been brought in to attract the gamblers from the casinos in West Virginia.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop at April 06, 2014 02:40 PM (1htQa)

87 Finishing the protein on a grill or smoker, done right, can give the protein the same flavor that you get by grilling or smoking the protein from the jump. But that may be the fourth beer talking.

Maillard reaction?

Posted by: HR at April 06, 2014 02:41 PM (hO8IJ)

88 Breakfast this AM was 6 nice 9" brown trout fresh caught, split and broiled, seasoned with salt, pepper and lemon butter.

Tonite will be venison steak sandwiches on toasted sourdough. Lots of mayo, and a slice of Bermuda onion.

Maybe some fries, if I feel the urge.

Posted by: irongrampa at April 06, 2014 02:41 PM (SAMxH)

89 Welfare Cafe - 40 miles northwest of San Antonio in the ghost town of Welfare's old post office / general store. Much of the food and seasonings is grown on site, the Country-Tex-German food is vibrant and alive with flavor, but the place is devoid of Austin-style pretentious foodies.

Posted by: GreggTex at April 06, 2014 02:44 PM (YEDer)

90 What to avoid in any town anywhere - overpriced, pretentious "Italian" restaurants that do not serve Italian Food. If a restaurant wants to sell expensive mussels in lemon butter but is afraid of the stigma of red sauce, just call the place a "continental" restaurant. Good God I am sick of Italian restaurants that don't sell Italian food.

Posted by: GreggTex at April 06, 2014 02:48 PM (YEDer)

91 A nice MLT--mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich--when the mutton is nice and lean, and the tomato's ripe. They are so perky, I love that!

Posted by: Miracle Max at April 06, 2014 02:51 PM (l3vZN)

92
We have a GC (don't laugh) that opened here last year. They have a bourbon chicken that is awesome. The cooks and management seem to have the quaint notion that well cooked food is the way to go.

Plus a seafood house that excels in batter dipped jumbo shrimp along with some of the better filets of cod. All of which is touted as fresh daily--I think it really is.

Posted by: irongrampa at April 06, 2014 02:57 PM (SAMxH)

93 84 @31 McGyver , your wife's website looks great. Bookmarked for later perusing! Snowy - ThanX! I don't weight 40lbs more than i should cause she a lousy cook 80 - Taro - she was 16. High(er) temp and a lid on the pot. She knows better now, at 33

Posted by: McGyver at April 06, 2014 03:00 PM (Aa8Kx)

94 Oh hell nooooo!!! http://tinyurl.com/mnwdg2g erp

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 03:02 PM (QeH9j)

95 >>>11 If you ever find yourself in London, the Borough Market has a wonderful duck confit sandwich. Too bad I don't get there too often!

Artisanal'ette, is it really hard to make or just time consuming?

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 05:15 PM (NqhG2) <<<

Where in the market? I'll be there in May.

Posted by: Javems at April 06, 2014 03:07 PM (ZnvRl)

96 Where have y'all Cen-Tex morons been hiding all this time??? I'm surrounded and didn't even know it, yea!!!

Posted by: lindafell at April 06, 2014 03:08 PM (PGO8C)

97 nicely done CBD. I agree, there are good places everywhere, the problem is finding them. very best place I have ever had breakfast is in a little place in Kentucky. Hole in the wall with long folding table and fake wood paneling. Everyone at breakfast at this place every morning. You wold not even have know it was a restaurant unless someone pointed it out to you and you would never have gone in unless someone made you. I wish I had a reason to go back.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:09 PM (rDidD)

98 There is a Taco trailer that rotates though a couple small towns in my area. Very basic and very good tacos for cheap. Not the hamburger kind but nicely seasoned chopped steak, pulled pork and chopped chicken. People follow George from town to town. Great homemade sauces too.

Posted by: The Hickster at April 06, 2014 03:10 PM (TI3xG)

99 Hello everyone, My cuisinart food processor stopped working. Does anyone have a recommendation for a new one?

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 06, 2014 03:10 PM (KU72u)

100 i suppose the downside to dining in the big city is that while the mountain peaks are high, the valleys are correspondingly low. all the worst restaurants I have ever eaten are in NYC. I have a feeling a lot of 'em are no more than mob fronts because there is no way they are making money on food.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:11 PM (rDidD)

101 Oops, for got the number.... Pep said: "I can't say I was surprised, because I have an iron law. If an establishment is selling the view or the historical provenance, watch out, because the food will be at best a secondary consideration. Pep's Law remains unchallenged." And when you don't go out to fancy often, that can be just heartbreaking. Go to fisherman's warf... buy the street food, because the view food is nasty. You'd think it would be good, or at least *food* like any other food, but noooooo.... We'd been wanting to go up the Tramway in Albuquerque for a long time and my husband finally took me... there's a restaurant at the top that's supposed to be so great and I've never asked to go there because I don't trust it for even a moment.

Posted by: Synova at April 06, 2014 03:13 PM (7/PU+)

102 31 Wonderful website. I bookmarked it. Thanks!

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 06, 2014 03:13 PM (KU72u)

103 one more thing, sandwiches, to be considered successful sandwiches, have to have structural integrity. You have to be able to pick it up without it falling apart and you have to be able to take a bite out of it without losing its contents. so, the guacamole grilled cheese which has been making the rounds on the internets lately, while absolutely delicious in appearance, and seemingly delicious based upon its contents, is a fail because everything is already falling out of it in the picture. you are going to need silver to finish the sandwich.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:21 PM (rDidD)

104 Will be doing a road trip from Mesa, AZ to St. Louis in May looking forward to finding interesting places to eat on the way

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 06, 2014 03:27 PM (HVff2)

105 I make duck fairly regularly (okay, so "duck" in our house is what we have at Christmas and Thanksgiving). Is a duck confit sandwich different in some way from a duck sandwich?

Posted by: Synova at April 06, 2014 03:30 PM (7/PU+)

106 Ok, so I was lurking, left for an hour to make my seafood breakfast pie, and tomorrow's breakfast. I come back and I've missed like 15 comments. What the hell people? Entertain me, damnit.

Posted by: DC in Towson at April 06, 2014 03:30 PM (Pvcl5)

107 I just had my first Chicago-style Red Hot yesterday. I never thought a sausage would go with tomatoes, onions, pickles, mustard and a hot pepper but it sure was freaking great.

A local chef, who was born and raised in Chicago, makes his own red hots here and sells them at the farmer's market. They are awesome.

Posted by: DangerGirl at April 06, 2014 03:32 PM (GrtrJ)

108 Do my friend a favor, if you wish. The local newspaper runs a food-fight bake-off thing every year among the local places. Some of the winners in the past have been blantantly appointed by cheating (poll stuffing). My friend is the single owner, one-man band that has the place called M. B. Haskett, a deli that goes out of its way to give the best it can. The eeevill cheating opponent, currently in the poll-stuffing lead, is an interstate chain restaurant called J B Beers. They have lots of beers, but only one food: burgers. I realize that's a tough choice, but please go through the nonsense involved of voting for M.B. Haskett. It's a big deal for him. tinyurl.com/ke9dmc2

Posted by: sodak at April 06, 2014 03:33 PM (2cnDx)

109 Hey when your in DC you have to stop in Ryans Place for a Stinkburger. There delish...

Posted by: Preznit Ogambe Doucheface Stinky Pants with the crease at April 06, 2014 03:37 PM (N3Al8)

110 Little Gretel Restaurant, Bourne, TX. Amazing German food, with a strong Czech influence. Great food, great people. Kasseler Rippchen was amazing. Jaeger Schnitzel was just as good. If I'm ever within 40 miles of there again, I will be eating there.

Posted by: Buford Gooch at April 06, 2014 03:38 PM (VN2qJ)

111 a reminder for the third year in a row, the #1 ranked restaurant in the world is in Chicago we do have the best pizza our Italian beef and red hots are the ultimate sammiches therefore.....best food is in Chicago

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 06, 2014 03:39 PM (AtwlV)

112 I made some bacon broccoli cheddar soup yesterday. It must be good because it's all gone now.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 06, 2014 03:40 PM (yh0zB)

113 @98 Javems, the Borough Market has so much good food! Go hungry for sure. The duck confit is at a french stand along the perimeter of the market. Monmouth Coffee Co. and the Market Porter are across the street from booth. If you can't find it,just ask for it. I think they are the only ones to make the duck confit. Drooling!

Posted by: SnowyBits at April 06, 2014 03:40 PM (NqhG2)

114 Will be doing a road trip from Mesa, AZ to St. Louis in May looking forward to finding interesting places to eat on the way Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian well, an easy short cut is to use the diners drive-ins and dives on food channel. I have looked stuff up on their list when I am in outta the way places and had some success. I have lived in places and even been a regular to some places they have featured and based on that I would say they are fairly accurate - they are good calls

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:41 PM (rDidD)

115 Is a duck confit sandwich different in some way from a duck sandwich?>> Confit is a cooking method where the meat is slow cooked in the fat of that type of meat. Never had anything confit so don't know any more than that.

Posted by: The Hickster at April 06, 2014 03:42 PM (TI3xG)

116 Polish Cottage Confit is duck cooked in Duck Fat. Much different than roast or smoked duck.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 03:43 PM (ASI5U)

117 92 Good God I am sick of Italian restaurants that don't sell Italian food. I always hated going to Italian restaurants when I went home on leave....from Sardinia Italy I obviously knew Italian cooking and the difference was miles apart, some was just inedible

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 06, 2014 03:44 PM (AtwlV)

118 Done sodak. Taco Shop in Hays KS. Really tasty for inexpensive fast food. Bit of a German twist on TexMex food and it works. I don't have any gems around here, don't really eat out much when not traveling.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 06, 2014 03:44 PM (m+nIW)

119 I realize that's a tough choice, but please go through the nonsense involved of voting for M.B. Haskett. It's a big deal for him. tinyurl.com/ke9dmc2 Posted by: sodak sheesh, I ask where you are and no dice but you are soliciting votes for you neighborhood place 24 hours later? great opsec.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:45 PM (rDidD)

120 therefore.....best food is in Chicago Hah - Pizza Casserole and pickles on a hot dog does not start you off on the good foot.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 03:45 PM (ASI5U)

121 The problem is that I don't consider these "out of the way" places. Boss Oysters in Apalachicola, FL-- the best oysters in the world, served 50+ ways, and the restaurant is so good that it's one of the very few places to eat oysters even in months that don't contain "r". The dock cats walking through the deck may bother some people, the rest of us consider it atmosphere. Muscarellas Cafe in Sharpsville, PA. Very heavy food, but down-home Western PA Italian. Clark's Fish Camp in Jacksonville, FL or Mike Linnig's Restaurant in Louisville, KY for great fried seafood. Wait in line a long time. Elvira's in Tubac, AZ. Fantastic mole.

Posted by: obladioblada at April 06, 2014 03:45 PM (w6/EI)

122 Um, New Orleans. Easy to find good food there.

Posted by: Jeffrey Carter (@pointsnfigures) at April 06, 2014 03:45 PM (LnE5F)

123 That mess in Chicago is not pizza.

Posted by: DangerGirl at April 06, 2014 03:46 PM (GrtrJ)

124 anyway, I voted for your friends place. a real friend would have tweeted about the vermin in the booths and used condoms on the floor in the mens room.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:47 PM (rDidD)

125 123 Hah - Pizza Casserole and pickles on a hot dog does not start you off on the good foot. are you already drunk? pickle slice on a dog is the only way...THE ONLY WAY the reason we have to use deep dish for our pizzas is because of the 5 lbs of cheese

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 06, 2014 03:47 PM (AtwlV)

126 the reason we have to use deep dish for our pizzas is because of the 5 lbs of cheese You morons put UNCOOKED meat in there and then you put the sauce UNDER the cheese!? That's retarded, sir.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 03:48 PM (ASI5U)

127 126 btw, Chicagoans don't eat deep dish that often, its our thin crust we love so much, with cheese and more cheese, then some silly ass topping covered in cheese

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 06, 2014 03:49 PM (AtwlV)

128 I am not sure how italian ever got so big? pasta? is there something about red sauce and noodles you cannot manage at home? of everything italian pizza is the hardest to make at home. same kind of mass hysteria that resulted in the salem witch trials and obama election.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:49 PM (rDidD)

129 ...forget to put the sauce under the cheese...

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 03:50 PM (ASI5U)

130 Chicago style "pizza" is not pizza.

Don't take my word for, this guy doesn't think it's pizza either.

http://tinyurl.com/k7gzfhf

Posted by: Kreplach at April 06, 2014 03:50 PM (Xkr8I)

131 129 You morons put UNCOOKED meat in there and then you put the sauce UNDER the cheese!? no, the sauce goes on top to protect from burning, traps heat inside to cook and melt everything

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 06, 2014 03:50 PM (AtwlV)

132 I may have never visited sodak on the interwebs before today.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:51 PM (rDidD)

133 > sheesh, I ask where you are and no dice but you are soliciting votes for you neighborhood place 24 hours later? great opsec. Ha. Well, y'know, I travel a lot. Thanks for any of your votes, folks.

Posted by: sodak at April 06, 2014 03:51 PM (2cnDx)

134

My son is a 'foody' and thought I could not possibly grasp the concept of sous vide. Then I patiently explained to him that I used to have graphs of time and temperature when I wanted to correctly process microscopically thin photographic film. High temp, low time. Low temp, high time. Hardly rocket science. Read a graph, plot points.

Ah, so cooking and developing film is just the same as thawing frozen horse semen. Who knew?

Posted by: California Chrome at April 06, 2014 03:51 PM (t1dy4)

135 133 scalia is from new York his opinion is therefore worthless

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 06, 2014 03:53 PM (AtwlV)

136 Ah, so cooking and developing film is just the same as thawing frozen horse semen. Who knew? Posted by: California Chrome and if you were developing pictures of thawing horse semen you universe would fold back in on itself.

Posted by: yankeefifth at April 06, 2014 03:53 PM (rDidD)

137 Uno's pizza is award winning. slowly backs out the door

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 03:54 PM (QeH9j)

138 If someone is going from Mesa to St. Louis, probably want to head through Alamogordo, NM. There's some good local grub to be had there.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 03:54 PM (ASI5U)

139 Uno's pizza is award winning. So is the HQ.

Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 03:55 PM (ASI5U)

140 142 Uno's pizza is award winning. So is the HQ. Posted by: garrett at April 06, 2014 07:55 PM (ASI5U) I dislike Uno's. like the HQ.

Posted by: RWC at April 06, 2014 03:56 PM (QeH9j)

141 I really want Ferran AdriÃ 's cookbook set on El Bulli, but it is $600. I read cookbooks like novels, so I think I'd love it. But I can't justify spending even 1/4 of that money.

Posted by: DangerGirl at April 06, 2014 03:57 PM (GrtrJ)

142 Hmm. Have switched to Pale Moon. Ampersand test : &&&

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 06, 2014 04:03 PM (aDwsi)

143 145 heh, heh...., looks good. S'long Mozilla!

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 06, 2014 04:04 PM (aDwsi)

144 107-Misanthropic Humanitarian. Since you're from Mesa, I assume you know about Los Hermanos in Superior? But just in case anyone else doesn't know....this place is right on the highway, always motorcycles parked out front. But gets my vote for THE best Mexican food in AZ/NM. If you can't stop for a meal, at least go to the back counter and buy the homemade tortillas. The tortillas are as thin as paper and so so tasty. As you make your way out of AZ you can stop in St. Johns and eat at El Camino, or go to Springerville, and eat at Los Dos Molinos. Los Dos is good, but the food is so hot, it makes my eyes water, but it's worth it. Can't help you after you leave AZ on the way to StL. Safe travels!

Posted by: Red enchilada at April 06, 2014 04:23 PM (46nMv)

145 Goodbye Firefox. Hello Opera. &&&&&&

Posted by: DangerGirl at home with her Sanity Prod at April 06, 2014 04:24 PM (GrtrJ)

146 JL Beers 50.32% (1,015 votes) M.B. Haskett 49.68% (1,002 votes) Closing the gap, folks... tinyurl.com/ke9dmc2 Go M.B.Haskett!

Posted by: sodak at April 06, 2014 04:35 PM (eGLw1)

147 Misanthropic, if you take I10 to MO, stop in Las Cruces, take an hour to stop at Chope's (cho-pees) just iutside of Old Mesilla. Damn good food.

Posted by: fastfreefall at April 06, 2014 04:39 PM (Tz35j)

148 If you're in southern NH east of Manchester, I strongly recommend the Lobster Q. They know three things: seafood, barbecue, and beer. (And I'm a transplant from Texas. So I don't give out kudos to barbecue restaurants lightly.)

Posted by: Ken in NH at April 06, 2014 04:39 PM (wfV0B)

149 On the subject of great food in out of the way places. 87 On the subject of great food in out of the way places...is a cafe associated with the first gas station. Posted by: mark reardon at April 06, 2014 06:38 PM Mark, We recently ran into a similar situation. After driving n. to my folks in Stevens P., WI for 28 years we finally pulled off of I-39 at exit 132. The Pine Cone restaurant, just n. of Madison has great pastries. It's next to a Shell station. We got a cinnamon roll that was huge, size of a small babies head! Eclairs that were about 4 times normal size. And they all tasted great!

Posted by: The Farmer at April 06, 2014 04:49 PM (eBupg)

150 The Otis Cafe. Off Hwy 101 on the central Oregon coast.

Posted by: Bobby Ahr at April 06, 2014 04:55 PM (zmZ2x)

151 I know I am way late to the thread. (doning wedding stuff) We stumbled on the Crystal Inn in Savannah. Had lunch and great drinks. The ham and blue cheese grilled cheese on sourdough was the bomb. On Tybee Island, there is a little hole in the wall, can't remember the name, but it was awesome. Great grill cooks. I think it was called the Breakfast Club. You can sit at the bar and watch them cook your breakfast. The view for the ladies is worth it! And only a short walk to the beach or the bar where you can actually smoke and drink at the same time.

Posted by: Infidel at April 06, 2014 05:03 PM (bWA6d)

152 &&&!&!&

Posted by: asdfjkla at April 06, 2014 05:32 PM (zSscq)

153 Houston, we have ampersands...

Posted by: FORGER at April 06, 2014 05:34 PM (zSscq)

154 Firefox gone, gone. This ampersand test is done in Epic: &&&&&&

Posted by: Hammersmith Police at April 06, 2014 06:50 PM (vRCaC)

155 Epic browser fine, so far, and &&&&s. Epic.

Posted by: Hammersmith Police at April 06, 2014 06:55 PM (vRCaC)

156 Anyone in CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA - puleeeeez post something good near me.

Posted by: Aristomenes at April 06, 2014 06:55 PM (sc25H)

157 Corporate Bar and Grill, New Orleans, LA. That is all.