Stopping to eat on a road trip when you’re, say, just 200 miles away from home, is spiritually different from a road trip that requires 500 miles of driving. When you reach hour six of a road trip, you are a different person and, if you do it right, there are different rules. Different expectations. Different foods.
The question I’m asking today is not your favorite road trip food or the best rest stop. This isn’t Whataburger v. Sonic v. In-n-Out. This is about the food your soul and body require when you’ve exited the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to. This is about chasing waterfalls.
My waterfall is a cod sandwich from Culver’s. I grew up in Texas, and the cheerful and butter-based Midwestern cuisine has always been a little foreign to me. Fried cheese curds instead of stuffed jalapenos. A frozen custard instead of the hand-dipped cone. Wisconsin cheddar on a fish sandwich instead of American.
There’s a specific Culver’s in Sandusky, Ohio that calls to me even now. Perhaps I shall return there soon…
Until then, what’s the Culver’s in your mind?
top photo: Culver’s
Living on an island doesn’t give us many road trip options. The last long drive I went on was from Vegas to Kanab, UT with an out-of-the-way detour to the Area 51 back gate with the wife and kid. As this was in March, all I wanted after that long day of driving was something hot to drink and a nice, warm burger.
Make your own food and pack it with you.
Only way to avoid your mouth being coated in the horrible grease which makes most roadside fast food inedible.
Best food for first day of long trip, cold roast chicken, eaten with hand, and potato salad, with onions, garlic and pepper, eaten with spoon.
Plus a lettuce leaf for health….
At that point I just want something that isn’t road side fast food. Like a solid steak and potatoes with a nice big salad.