Road Trip- Road Food

Today, every exit, rest stop and oasis provides access to one or more of the fast food giants and no access local eateries that might serve up something regional, something different.

Times have changed during my precious few years on the planet. Back in the day, a road trip meant interesting new restaurants. At noon and the end of the day, a stop in one of the towns or cities along the road meant a new dining experience. Whether we agreed with the menu or not, it was a way to discover new ways to prepare known and unknown foods.

The regional foods discovered on our road trips included slight variations of our Northwoods regulars and dishes absent from the standard set of our standard tables. When in New Mexico, we widened our horizons with soups, beans and cheeses (yes cheeses) never before encountered. Soups, beans and cheeses that dyanmited our tastebuds with flavor and delight; flavors that changed our cuisine forever.

In Texas we ate our first big beef and found it wanting compared to the green pasture and corn fed beef from the farm. Not to say it was not good, but not as good. Then we had the barbeque. Once more, our senses reeled at the combinations, our diet changed for the better. We wondered if we were seasoning challenged.

And so on…

But times have changed. Today, every exit, rest stop and oasis provides access to one or more of the fast food giants and no access to local eateries that might serve up something regional, something different. You can drive from coast-to-coast in the comfortable glow of familar logos; smell the secure aroma of sugared fries and reheated burgers. If you hate change, you should love the interstate.

If you love to explore new food, expect to drive miles.

You can find the local treasure if you work at it. Seriously, you have to get off the concrete boulevards. Sometimes a long way off. Then, unless you get lucky, you have to stop to ask a local. “Hey, where can I get some good food?” Hotels and upscale motels can be a good source. Ask the consierge. Describe what you are looking for: something reasonable, good food; someplace the consierge would go for dinner.

If you are in a hurry, follow the logos on the highway signs but if you have time, get off the road a bit and ask around. It’s worth it more times than not.

copyright 2006 Chromia Poetics