Travelin' Food

With our TV antennae we only get a couple of stations and with summer programming we are very limited in what there is to watch that is any good. Last night, on the local PBS affiliate there were two food shows, back to back, that were really good. The first one was on food establishments that serve "great sandwiches" around the country. I missed part of the show but the part I did see was making me really hungry. A great sandwich can be one of the best comfort foods. This show covered some of the great regional sandwiches, such as po-boys, falafels, BBQ, etc. There's nothing like eating something that you can hold in your hands to consume....maybe this is part of our cave man heritage.

One of the sandwiches that looked so scrumptious was the lobster roll from Red's Eats in Wiscasset, Maine. This thing had so much lobster meat on it that it was unreal. Red's is one of those little, hole-in-the-wall places that has established a reputation for the best lobster roll in Maine. I love lobster so this place definitely goes on my list of "must stop" places should we get to Maine.




Another place that has a long history of providing great food is Katz's Deli in New York City. It's been open since 1888 and has outlasted lots of other delis that used to exist in that part of New York. They are especially known for their pastrami but all of their sandwiches looked great. All of the guys at the counter slice the meat off, just as you want it (lean, thin cut, thick cut, etc.)and the sandwiches are huge.

Thelma's is a BBQ place in Houston, Texas that normally wouldn't be the type of place I'd stop at, if I were driving by. When they showed a picture of the outside of it, it looked like a boarded up building with a handmade sign on top. I guess the original location closed, due to a fire, but a new location is open. Not sure if this picture is of the old or new location. Thelma used to be a truck driver but now serves up some of the best brisket, ribs and Q that those parts have ever seen. The portions are enormous and everything is lathered with sauce (that's what makes it so good). The catfish sandwiches didn't have one large filet on it but two, making it protrude way out past the sides of the roll. All of these places that served beef brisket made me think of our friend, Vicki, who I know loves good brisket. Here ya go, Vicki....a couple of places where you can get the "good stuff".



The other show, that was on after this one, was about hotdogs. I never knew there were so many wiener places in this country.Slots A Fun, in Las Vegas, is home to the .99 half pound hot dog. Something that was truly unique to me was this one place, called Rutt's Hut, in Clifton, NJ that served deep fried hotdogs....otherwise known as "rippers" (due to the appearance of them splitting from being deep fried). I thought deep fried oreos were a sacrilege...the looks of a deep fried hotdog takes the cake. If you love all things hotdog...go to the link above to see all the places that were featured on the show. Your vacation plans, if near any of these towns, can take in the hotdog eatery that was featured in the show and you can decide if they are truly note worthy. Maybe you'll even be near Nathan's this 4th of July where the world famous hot dog eating contest will take place. Wherever you'll be this holiday we hope that you have a happy and safe 4th of July...throw a veggie dog on the grill for Linda and I.