Eating My Way Across the Northern US

Cafe Society
1

In less than a month, I’ll be heading out on a rather ambitious road trip. Basically, I’ll be leaving Massachusetts on July 5th or 6th, driving west until I hit the Pacific, and coming back some time in August. My rules for the trip include that I must spend at least one night in each state, and, now, I’m adding another: I want to eat something classic from each state.

OK, for a slightly more useful description of my itineray, I’m heading into Canada for a couple of days, then dropping back into the States via the International Bridge connecting the Upper Peninsula of Mi to Sault Ste Marie), driving through da UP, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho (up North) to Seattle, Washington (where I’ll stay a couple of days with a friend). Leaving Seattle, I’m coming back through Oregon, (southern) Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and then to Pa / NJ / NY / Ma (four states with which I am very familiar). I’ll be camping some along the way, and spending some nights in my Element. My primary focus will be photography, but I really want to get a feel of each state.

Since Alton Brown is one of my idols, I’d love to do a bit of a Feasting On Asphalt kind of thing. (Warning: Link has sound. I’m gonna write into food network.) I need help, though. I’ve already found out about pasty in the UP (thanks Athena). But I need more information.

Tell me, what should I eat? What one meal would best sum up your State (or Province, if any Canadians pop in)?

2

Woo hoo, another Element driver! In case you haven’t already found it:

Have you built yourself a PVC frame for the back, fitted with an airmattress etc.? 4 different sets of plans are at:

In my home state (Illinois) I’d recommend some Chicago pizza, e.g. Giordano’s.

3

Cool site! Glad you mentioned it!

I’m slightly hesitant to make the pvc bed, though. I’d have to alter it for my height. (I’m 6 foot even, which is the exact length of a double, I believe.)

Any specific location? My stop for Illinois may be Fermi Labs, so that might give you an idea of where I’ll be.

4

Buffalo wings at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY has to be on the list.

Spiedies didn’t catch on like chicken wings did. But you should have one at Lupo’s Char-Pit in Binghampton, NY.

5

If you’re going to be in the UP for more than one meal, try a Cudighi as well. They’re pretty much limited to the central UP.

6

Michigan hot dogs are a favorite in Northeastern New York. There’s no consensus on who makes the iconic Michigan. Michigans Plus, Ronnie’s Michigan Stand, Clare & Carl’s, and Gus’ Red Hots are all popular.

In Burlington, Vermont, you’ll want to go to Al’s French Frys.

7

I believe the distance from tailgate to seats pushed all the way forward = six feet. Of course most ppl sleep with bent knees etc. so no problem there. But if you’re one of those few, there’s always “diagonally.”

Reason so many did this: you can stow other equipment—tents, camera stuff, clothes, etc.—underneath, yet still have a bed.

Haven’t had it in decades and can’t speak to which branch is best. Here are directions to the one in Geneva, about ten minutes away.

8

Getcher self to a Friday fish fry (or a any other day brat fry) while in Wisconsin. I’m pretty sure you’ll have no trouble finding these in the southern portion of the state.

9

Meant to post: if you’re in southern WI, be sure to go to “House on the Rock.”

10

Possibly out of your way, and me being unfaithful to my current hometown by mentioning a place all the way across the state:

Best Barbeque Ever

No kidding, no hyperbole. Been awhile since I’ve been there, which sucks, and I assure you, you will not forget this experience. Bon appetit.

11

I wouldn’t know where to tell you to eat, but I just completed a similar 30 day road trip. It was a blast! Hope you have fun.

Are you travelling alone or with a companion? Some of those stretches of nothing can get pretty boring alone.

Expect problems. We drove 9600 miles. We had new tires. Tires easily last 9600 miles, right? You’ll be driving on unfamiliar road at speeds around 75 miles/hr. You don’t know where the rough road is like you do at home. Long story short, we had to get 2 new tires. They know you’re not local and see dollars in their eyes. Two tires and two hundred dollars later, we were back on the road. Not exactly a rip-off but not exactly a good price for lower end tires for a Corolla.

You say that your primary focus is photography. Will you be photographing nature? Wildlife or scenery primarily? Small towns? kitch? If your primary focus is scenery have you planned your trip to take advantage of early morning and evening light?

If you are going to see the national parks, consider getting the year pass for $80.

I find it invaluable to have reservations with generous cancellation policies. There’s nothing worse than getting to a Podunk town and finding they’re having the Whole-in-the-Wall Festival and every available accomodation is booked. Then you are left to drive another 3 hours to the next town after having driven 8 hours already. This didn’t happen on our 30 day trip, but it happened twice before on let’s-get-outta-here trips.

We did have reservations for the entire trip, but modified them on numerous occasions.

Use a trip planner like Mappoint if possible. They give you an idea of what is possible and out of the question. Driving from Amarillo, TX to Williams, AZ, can I take a detour to Mesa Verde, CO? Nope, too far out of the way, but you can stop at Petrified Forest NP. A trip planner will allow you to enter the speed with which you expect to travel on the various road types, your mpg, and how long you plan to travel per day.

Have a gps navigation system if possible. If you look around you can find one for about $200. It may have last year’s maps on it, but they don’t go creating too many new road on a yearly basis. If you haven’t done so, write to every state you plan to visit requesting a map and tourist package. They’re free. Do it now, so that you have it before you leave. Right now—you can request most of them online. The gps and mappoint planners are great but are no substitute for a hard copy of a map. Sometimes the GPS will suggest the wackiest route, it’s nice to have a map with which you can overrule the derived route decisions.

Finally, post specifics here. I don’t know much about the area that you are going, but someone here does. Darryl Lict and others gave me excellent advice when travelling up the Pacific Coast Highway. They corrected my route considerably. Be reasonable of course, I’m not suggesting you post SSN or ressie numbers :slight_smile:

12

ETA: you might want to start a different thread if you wanted other types of advice—That is I don’t want to highjack your thread on food with other info ----unless that’s ok to talk about here too.

13

What cities are you planning on visiting? If you’re going through the province of Quebec, you’ll need to have a poutine at some point.

14

Wow! A lot to get back to!

First, I should mention that I still have not decided on the starting route. I know I’m leaving From Worcester, Ma area, driving through some of southern Canada, and getting to Sault Ste Marie, but I have not decided on Montreal or Toronto. I would definitely welcome advice. I may make another thread just to get input, as that is the last major route decision. I have relatives in Rochester, NY whom I love to see (and vice versa), but I am debating turning Rochester to Toronto into an extra day in Montreal. I’ve pretty extensively explored everything in the NE corner of USA (NJ / Pa and up), so I’m not concerned about exploring anything up here.

I just might be able to get myself to a Fish Fry. I’m scheduled to be in Wisconsin on July 11th. The House on the Rock definitely looks like a great stop.

The Them, I’m afraid I can’t open your link. Could you please just cut and paste in? (I am always up for good 'Que. It’s one of the few things I miss from Dallas Tx.)

fervour, I am planning on driving alone, and meeting up with people along the way. The car is brand spankin’ new. As in, I will double the mileage on the car with this trip. (I haven’t even hit 5k, yet.) knocks on wood, tho I am planning on talking to myself for a good chunk of the trip. (I am planning on taking about a dozen high school juniors and seniors to Spain next year, so I have cd’s to practice my spanish.) I am heading to an AAA location tomorrow. I’ve been seriously debating getting a GPS. I’m ornery enough that my desire to to the trip “on my own” (i.e. with maps) is still winning against my desire to actually get where I am planning on going. Plus, I want to buy more photography equipment.

My photography subjects will be anything that holds still long enough for me to take its picture. My (lack of) skills know no boundary. (Ok, I am planning on hitting Glacier, Yellowstone and the Tetons for at least four days each, along with, of course, Rushmore, and a bunch of others. But the nice thing about going on my own is that I don’t have to worry about anyone getting annoyed with my stops. If it looks like a good spot to stop and take a picture, I will.

I hope to get a blog site going and posting pictures and notes as I go along.

As for where I am planning on sleeping, that’s what the Element is for. The seats fold flat (or up) for a bed. Hence it’s nickname of “The Metal Tent.”

15

[ELEMENT HIJACK] So you’re planning on leaving the back seats in? Check the owners club. I think it isn’t a very comfy sleep, from what I’ve read. The PVC/ABS frames are usually designed so you can take them apart and reassemble as needed. If you want of course you can probably fold the seats up and against the side, still have the frame/mattress.

What are you driving, an SC or EX/LX? E bay has some great center consoles (love mine) if yours doesn’t have a built in…you can search threads in the owners club. Also check out the owners club for DIY privacy curtain plans.

Are they still putting POS HP Wranglers as stock on the E? I got some Avons for mine and really like them. Watch your ass in wet weather…they have lousy grip. [/ELEMENT HIJACK]

16

I’m not sure if you’re simply looking for the best roadfood on the trip, or trying to find something that is semi-unique to and typifies the State. I’m assuming a mix of all.

When you come through Ohio, I assume you’ll be travelling along I-80 through the Northern half. You can get off and head South towards Akron. In about 8 miles, you can eat a Swenson’s hamburger. I’ll even try to be there to eat it with you, if the timing is right. :slight_smile: Simply one of the best in the US–ask Ukulele Ike if you don’t believe me. We can also dine on some sauerkraut balls. They’re kinda indigenous to Ohio. You’ll be about 5 miles away from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. While not up to what you will have seen in the Western US, it’s pretty neat for around here. Should be some great photography.

Cleveland, about 10 miles North of I-80, is also a great hotbed of ethnic eats. But you can get ethnic eats in most large cities these days. I can take you a deli there that is possibly second only to The Carnegie(or similar) in NYC. You’re probably about 20 or so years too late to eat at simple Polish/Hungarian/Czech restaurants. They’re mostly gone with our industrial jobs.

Heck, BMalion would probably throw a dopefest at the drop of a hat when he learns about this. :slight_smile:

17

I came in here to say sauerkraut balls! What deli are you talking about, Samclem? Corky & Lenny’s?

Babushka’s Kitchen in Northfield is worth it. And the University Inn, I hear, is still as great as ever.

18

Nope. Slyman’s.
Thanks for the tip about Babushka’s.

19

MMMM. Slyman’s sounds good. Eddie Sands http://www.eddiesands.com/ is awesome too, and they have Dr. Brown’s Diet Black Cherry Soda.

20

Sauerkraut Balls?

Didn’t know they had 'em.

ba-dum-bum!

Couldn’t resist. Said the exact same thing when I moved to Rhode Island and someone told me to try Clam Balls.

Burgers is good. Always down for more. And if anyone is interested in a Dopefest, even better! I should be getting to Ohio somewhere in the afternoon / evening of August 7th. (It’s a Thursday night. I have to be in Pittsburgh some point the next day for my buddy’s daughter’s B-Day - 5 years old!)