Over the past two weeks I’ve experienced some very interesting eating adventures. The first came about when I learned–much to my surprise–that a number of people in my neighborhood enjoy going to lunch at…gas stations. Yes, you read that correctly. Gas stations. I listened in amazement as several folks extolled the wonders of the hot dogs served at the nearby Marathon gas station. In fact, the hot dogs there are apparently so good, you need to get there early or else they’re liable to be all sold out. AT THE GAS STATION. Color me amazed.
Now, I have to say it never IN A MILLION YEARS, EVER would have occured to me to go to lunch at a gas station. But then my neighbors told me that they serve the BEST fried chicken livers at the Golden Pantry–which is at the Shell gas station. Since it just so happens that I’ love chicken livers (and never get to eat them), a group of us made a date to go to lunch AT THE GAS STATION the next day.
I got greens beans to be healthy (cough, cough)
I gotta tell ya–those were darn good chicken livers. In fact, the best chicken livers I’ve ever had. For $3.99 you got six HUGE livers (must have been some seriously giant chickens), a side (greens beans or mac ‘n cheese), a homemade biscuit (we’re in the south, y’all), and a drink. And the place was PACKED! Given how high in cholesterol chicken livers are (and the frying doesn’t help), I can probably only eat them like twice a year. But you can be sure I’ll be going back to the Golden Pantry at the Shell station six months from now to feed my new addiction.
My next adventure was at the Taste of Athens (as in Athens, Georgia–not Athens, Greece). About 50 Athens restaurants participated–that’s a lot of stuff to taste! The DH and I went with our son and we had a blast! We somehow managed to taste just about everything (and a couple things twice!). My personal faves were the Terrapin beer (brewed right in Athens) , the chipolte chicken from Chops and Hops, and the escargot from a French bistro whose name escapes me. Great food, great company–and the proceeds go to charity. It doesn’t get better than that.
Me and my son, tasting all of Athens
My last dining adventure was checking out a nearby tea room that recently opened. I LOVE going to tea! So elegant–all those lovely little sandwiches and tasty desserts. And this place was extra fun because they had all these GORGEOUS hats on display that you could wear during tea. So much fun! I loved the hat I wore so much I bought it. I’ll have to host a Whiner tea party so I can wear it again.
A toast to all my Whine Sisters!
Have you had any dining adventures lately? What’s your favorite restaurant? Your favorite meal? Have you ever eaten at a gas station? Been to a tea room? Hope you’re having a great week!
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I have to admit, I have never eaten food from a gas station… I would be the one to get food poisening.. I think I will pass thanks very much…
My town has A Taste of the Town.. I love it when all the resturants and hotels over food fromt their kitchens, for a price of course, but it lets me know where I can dine out and enjoy the food..
I have a couple of place here where I live that I like to dine out causally and then fine dinning.. One of my fav casual dining places is callen Angel’s. And they serve the best breakfast in town.. My neices and nephews when they come like to eat there when they come to visit me.. But we will have to dine at Golden Griddle the next time they come, because one of their cousins is working there now and we have to support her..
Well, I have to say I’m a little biased because my favorite restaurant is my in-laws, Artisan’s Brewery & Italian Grill right here in NJ. I did all the photography for their website and the best thing about it was we got to eat all the food we shot. For great hot dog, The Hot Grill in Clifton is the spot to go. And since NJ is the Diner Capital of the World, I’d have to say Alexis Diner in one of the best.
I’ve never had a meal from a gas station, although I have picked up snacks from there while on road trips. I wish we had a tea room around here, I would love to go to one.
Best hot dog as far as I’m concerned is in Austin Texas at Huts. They have amazing onion rings too.
Yeah, NJ has some awesome diners! I’m going to check out Artisan’s Brewery. Wow, great food pictures! Now I really want bread pudding.
Sherri if you ever make it there let them know I sent you and they’ll take good care of you
Burgers are a right up there, too
That’s one thing I really miss here in the south–diners. There’re a hundred different fried chicken places, but no diners.
I love dining adventures! I’ve even eaten at a gas station. Bizarrely, it’s in Hurst or Wataga, Texas and has been written up nationally. Had the absolute best piece of salmon there ever! fun times….
Oh, and one of the best meals I ever had was a panini off a cart in Paris. Tried to recreate it (or find similar) and have never managed. Yum.
LOL, Julie–salmon at the gas station! Who’da thunk it? I give you huge marks for bravery. And I’m really glad it went so well for you–’cause I’m thinking it could have gone the other way!
I have eaten at a gas station. On purpose in Slovenia. We’d gone there for a day at the end of a trip, but it was raining cats and dogs, so we decided to high-tail it back to Austria and home. However, family rules are that you have to minimum eat a meal in the country or state for it to count as you having visited (can’t be in an airport). And the gas station was the only thing open in the mountains where we were. So we stood under the awning in the pouring rain and had lunch. Slovenia..check!
Awesome, Dee! What does one eat at a Slovenia gas station?
Well, you know I’ve been trying to remember and I’ve got nothing. A sandwhich I think. But there is no visual to accompany that. I can see the station and the mountains and the rain but not the food.
OH but just remembered my best roadside stop ever was in Belgium on my honeymoon. We had chicken and dumplings of all things and it was so freakin’ good we’re still talking about it 22 years later!
I LOVE chicken and dumplings!
Darn it, now I’m really hungry. And not a chicken and dumpling in sight
I have eaten at my share of great restaurants. One of the best kept great gas station restaurant is Baba’s in Cumming GA. It looks like a hole in the wall – but if you like Greek food – it is great! the owner is wonderful and the food is very authentic. Prices are great too!
Love Greek food! I’ll be coming to Cumming so we can go, Donna!
Let me know when you are up here, and I will meet you at BaBas!
What fun adventures, Jacquie. We actually have a small tea room in my little town. It’s fun and the food is yummy-yummy. I just love food. Fine dining, chain restaurants, fast food eats (yes, even some in a GAS STATION). Although, my gas station experiences are limited to long road trips. Enough hours in a car and I’ll eat just about anywhere.
My favorite meals are all pasta dishes. Love me some pasta.
Love love love going to tea. And forgot to say that the hat was to die for Jacquie!
Thanks, gals! I’ve fashioned a make-shift hat stand (until I can find an authentic one) and it’s in my guestroom which sports Victorian decor.
We grab stuff at gas stations on road trips–but only of the soda/chips/candy bars variety. We’ve convinced ourselves that road trip calories don’t count. That’s our story and we’re stickin’ to it.
I would never go to lunch at a gas station. Well, maybe in Georgia or Rudy’s in TX, but not around here. They do not offer culinary delights at my local gas places.
But you look great with your handsome son at Taste of Athens. That kind of thing is definitely more my speed than gas station dining.
Thanks, Sherri–we had such a good time at Taste of Athens. You should come next year–I’ll get you a ticket!
And I hear ya about the gas station dining. My mouth was literally hanging open in stunned amazement as I listened to my neighbors talk about going there for lunch. Who knew??
Yeah, but is Rudy’s really a gas station? I’m thinking no. Although it’s one of my favorite places! Ate there 2 nights ago, actually!
Aren’t there pumps out front? I think it really is.
Ok…here is my list of must do restaurants in the US:
Boone Inn, Boone, NC. Family style dining. You pay a price per person sit down and they bring platters of food out. All freshly made. Fried chicken. Country ham. Biscuits. etc.
Kings Arms, Williamsburg, VA. Best chicken pie. Ever.
Apple Barn, Sevierville, near Pigeon Forge/Gatlingburg, TN. Best porkchops (with apple!).
Holiday Inn, Cherokee, NC. The breakfast buffet; I guarantee it will bring tears to your eyes!
Columbia Restaurant, St Augustine, FL. The best Cuban/Spanish restaurant. My faves are the 1905 salad, ropa veja, the cuban sandwich, paella, and of course the flan! Wash down with sangria.
Aunt Catfish’s, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, FL. They have some pretty good vittles here. Like to be adventurous? This is the place to try it. The dolphin (fish not mammal or also called Mahi Mahi) is always fresh. The gator is not too gamey. The frog legs made my daughter gag and the calamari was perfect.
Lorelei, Islamorada, Florida Keys. The best Mai Tai and grilled dolphin sandwich with the view of sunset. (dolphin fish not Flipper!)
Looks almost like I just went down the coast! I have to admit I can be adventurous. I have had things that make people cringe. Venison, buffalo, shark, snake, squirrel, gator, cricket, worms (tequila bottle!), squab (young pigeon), conch, lobster (we call them bugs or what you call Florida Spiney Lobster is my fave, they look like roaches in the ledges with their long antenna when you go to catch them), oyster, crabs (stone crabs my fave), and spotted dick (HAHA it is actually a steamed cake with currants and raisins!).
Here in England, I have to admit I really do not have a favourite restaurant. I do however have favourite pubs. There are quite a few, but the two best are near each other in Nottingham. One is in a cave under the castle, Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem; http://www.triptojerusalem.com/ and the other, which btw is very haunted, Ye Olde Salutation. http://www.salutationpub.com/
Tea rooms are not really popular here. You really need to go to either London, or a small village who still observe the old ways to find one. I cannot wait to try one though. I can make a proper tea. Crumpets, small tea sammies like cucumber and butter, oh and the tea of course!
Gas stations. I miss slurpees and the other yummy drinks you can get at them. We have motorways (interstates), and they have stops which can be really nice. Some are called ‘Welcome Breaks.’ The coffee is always hot and some even have Burger Kings, McDonald’s or Kentucky Fried Chicken. I must admit though, I am really not a fast foodie kinda girl. Except chippies (fish and chip shops). I love chip sarnies (a fresh round bun with thick french fries and butter) and chips with batter bits (and salt and vinegar.)
Oooh wow I have rambled again! Sorry!!!!
Ti, wow, you’re chock full of information. This means you’re going to have to guest blog for us one day, you know.
Seriously, Ti, I think you’ve eaten in more US restaurants than I have, LOL! Suprised about the lack of tea houses in your area–I would have thought there’d be on every corner in England.
Re Spotted Dick–I bought a can of that for my sister for Christmas as a joke because her husband’s name is Dick. You can have Spotted Dick in a can! AND it’s microwaveable! Tee hee! (probably only Americans–or maybe just me–laugh at that).
Oh in Publix (grocery chain in the south) I used to buy canned brown bread. It was fab with cream cheese!
I would actually love to guest blog…but I first have to figure out how to put my picture up! But what I would blog. Now. That. Is. Scary.
I have to second Columbia Restaurant. (I didn’t know they had opened one in St. Augustine. Why couldn’t it have been there when I lived in Jacksonville????) When we moved from the S.W. Florida coast the one thing I missed the most (besides the Gulf sunsets) was Columbia Restaurant. Love, love love their 1905 Salad!
Hey PJ! Okay–you gals have to tell us–what is a 1905 salad??
http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/recipe.asp?FeaturedItemID=2
Hard to describe the garlicky ham swiss deliciousness of perfection!
Nice hat, Jacquie!
I do not know if gas station dining is the thing around here, but I know Rudy’s BBQ sells gas and the best breakfast tacos in town. But I think the BBQ came first.
Whine Sisters tea party! How fun! We’re going to have to do that.
Absolutely! Let’s plan a tea party date!
Yes to the tea party! Oh and… rudy’s BBQ on 183…YUM
Look like we’re going to have to do a cross country BBQ/tea party.
ROAD TRIP!!!
That would be worthy of our own Food Network show.
Totally! Who do we pitch that idea to? Whine Sisters on the Road BBQ/Tea Room Tour.
BBQ/Gas Station/Tea Room Tour. (how could I forget the gas station? Duh!)