Wanderlust Sunday: Eats and Treats
Sometimes I think that 5 hours is not too far to drive just for a fish taco at a favorite spot in San Diego. In fact, there are lots of places I've encountered in my travels that I'd go back to if only for a bite to eat. So I made a list. It's not conclusive — I haven't been everywhere yet. But I bet you know the feeling, so I figured I'd share it for today's Wanderlust Sunday post.
How about you? Where's a fun food find or old haunt you'd travel to just to eat?
How about you? Where's a fun food find or old haunt you'd travel to just to eat?
10 Menu Items I'd Travel Just to Eat Listed alpha by state | |
| Cowboy Club Sedona, AZ CACTUS FRIES Yes, cactus. Cut in strips then battered and fried. Served with a tangy and delicious prickly pear dipping sauce. Never seen anything like it on other menus. If you find yourself in Sedona, it's a must-try. Photo (right): Lucy Neito |  |
 | South Beach Bar & Grille San Diego, CA GRILLED MAHI TACO Fish tacos are not particularly unique, but these are the best I've had ANYWHERE. Oh, and it's right on the beach. I have to contain myself from hopping in the car to go there right now. Photo (Left): South Beach Bar and Grille |
| House of Nanking San Francisco, CA HOT AND SOUR SOUP I was first introduced to this place by my Dad 18 years ago, and thus began my quest for great hot and sour soup. Haven't yet found any anywhere that meets my expectations set by this place. I've been lucky enough to travel to San Francisco several times over the years. I know it's a city of rich, down-right famous culinary fare. But I still hit House of Nanking every time. Photo (right): John Carleton |  |
 | Five Star Day Cafe Athens, GA HOPPIN' JOHN This was very hard for me to narrow down, because there are so many little eateries in Athens I love. Forced to pick one menu item I'd travel there for... I'd pick southern goodness you can't find just anywhere. Black eyed peas and rice better than any I've had. Definitely good eats! Photo (Left): Mzscarlett |
| Taqueria Del Sol Atlanta, GA (Now also in Athens) FRIED CHICKEN TACO It's Mexican food... No, it's southern food... No... who cares what you call it - it's just frickin' delicious. Have not met a menu item there that doesn't make me wish I could go there anytime. Fried chicken taco is my one-item pick for what I'd travel to eat. Photo (right): Jessicatillyer |  |
 | Franky and Johnny's New Orleans, LA ALLIGATOR SOUP It goes without saying that you could just eat your way through a tour of New Orleans, so making this decision was really hard. I could do a whole series on New Orleans eats alone. But if you told me you were swinging through there and would pick me up one specific item from a specific place: Bring me alligator soup from Franky and Johnny's, please. It doesn't taste like chicken. It's totally unique. Photo (Left): tillwe |
| Legal Seafood Boston, MA CLAM CHOWDER Among viewing cherry blossoms in Japan and visiting Bavarian castles in Germany, eating at Boston's Legal Sea Food is listed in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. There's a very simple reason it makes the list: their clam chowder is to die for. It's crazy delicious. I want some. If only I could get to Boston right now... Photo (Right): Legal Seafood |  |
 | Geno's Steaks Philadelphia, PA PHILLY CHEESESTEAK Oh how predictable. Philly Cheesesteak made the list. But declaring a place I'd get one could prove to be controversial. Geno's is as famous for their rivalry with neighboring steak shop, Pat's. I did eenie-meenie-miney-moe and picked Geno's. I'd go back. Photo (Left): Geno's Steaks |
| Sugar's Ribs Chattanooga, TN GRILLED OKRA This is my latest obsession. I've never seen it on any menu before, but ever since I ordered this at Sugar's, I've been trying to recreate their magic on the grill at home. I'd much rather let them do it — these things are so surprisingly delicious they're addictive. Yeah, yeah... the BBQ was good, but if you find yourself there, get the okra. Way better than a side of fries. Photo (right): Clay Irving |  |
 | Buffalo Run Inn Marblemount, WA BUFFALO BURGER You don't see buffalo on the menu very many places, and it's so tasty that's a shame. I've had a few of these burgers in my lifetime, but the most memorable was in a tiny town in the mountains of Washington. It's a pretty rural area, so we had low expectations about finding something really good to eat. Oh-ho-ho, we found much better than good. I'd go back in a nano-second for the scenery, and I'm glad to say, same goes for the food. Photo (left): Bunch of Pants |
| Honorable Mention... | |
 | Cooke City, MT REDNECK CAVIAR This is not a restaurant, but I've been lucky enough to visit and would like to shout out to it anyway. This adorable shop right outside of the east gate of Yellowstone has started selling boiled peanuts, y'all. You can read more about it on Like the Dew: Redneck Caviar at 7389 Feet by Christopher Burdette |
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Posted by TheWordWire at 6/14/2009 10:23 AM 
Categories: N'awlins Gumbo, Southern Comfort, Wanderlust
Tags: Franky and Johnny's Boston Athens Legal Seafood Philly Buffalo Run San Deigo Sedona Atlanta Sun Dog Trading San Francisco MT New Orleans Five Star Day Philadelphia Sugar's Ribs Cooke City Taqueria del Sol House of Nanking Chattanooga Marblemount
Categories: N'awlins Gumbo, Southern Comfort, Wanderlust
Tags: Franky and Johnny's Boston Athens Legal Seafood Philly Buffalo Run San Deigo Sedona Atlanta Sun Dog Trading San Francisco MT New Orleans Five Star Day Philadelphia Sugar's Ribs Cooke City Taqueria del Sol House of Nanking Chattanooga Marblemount
Thanks for the shout out for Sun Dog! I have been to the house of Nan King on your recommendation decades ago, and is the place in OB where you took me and Marlena for the tacos?
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Hmmm... I don't remember. If it was memorable for you, it's probably the place...
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Yummmmmmmmmm. I am dreaming of food already. Thanks.
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South Beach fish taco's are good. But the -best- tacos in San Diego are the "Spicy Chicken" Happy Hour offering at The Brigantine. Warm, tasty tortilla stuffed with succulent strips of chicken breast, dressed perfectly in a fresh tomato/horseradish spicy sauce. Topped off with just the right blend of crunchy cabbage, cojita cheese, and a spicy white sauce.
No view of the sea, but there's an aquarium at the hostess' station.
I'd write more, but I'm overcome, oddly, with the urge for a chicken taco.
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I am now overcome with a craving for a chicken taco too. Thanks for the recommendation.
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the meatloaf at Five Star Day is the best I've ever had...
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The Old Spaghetti Factory, spaghetti with white clam and mizithra. They've closed the one in San Diego and now the one in Vegas...every year on my birthday my husband asks me where I want to go for dinner...and every year I say, "The Old Spaghetti Factory." One year maybe we'll actually drive that five hours to get to the nearest one.
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So...now that I've been thinking about The Old Spaghetti Factory I went to search for the closest one...only to find out that they re-opened the one in San Diego in February. Guess I'll be going to SD sometime VERY soon! YAY!!!
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