Snacking on the Road

by Erik Olsen on

On most USA road trip I’ve been on, I find myself hungry on the road and basically helpless when it comes to finding anything healthy to eat. The American roadside can sometimes seem to be one long strip of fast food joints, offering the kind of greasy, fatty fare that gives Americans a bad reputation as bovine hordes. I have to say that I am not totally down on fast food. In fact, living in New York, but having been brought up in California I sometimes dream (literally) of In N Out Burger. I wake up and my head is swirling with images of Double Doubles, regular and grilled onions. Or Taco Bell. Don’t even get me stated on Taco Bell. Yes, it is sad. I am a fast food fanatic.

But I know that the stuff is bad for me, and so I am on the lookout for alternatives while on the road. Looks like others are too. In a nicely written post, Martha over at our new sister blog That’s Fit has got some ideas for how to get by on the road without adding to your cholesterol count. She starts with the basics: Granola and yogurt, and then moves on to ways you can stay active on the road as well.

I for one recommend some wind sprints and push ups at every rest stop you pass, but that may be too extreme for some. And of course I write that as if I actually DO that, which is not always (or often) the case. But still, we are purveyors of information here, not always practitioners.

Chef Mike’s

by Adrienne Wilson on

Catfish Friday is one of those things you stumble upon and think “My goodness it’s my lucky day!” Such is what happened when I entered the Community Cafe on the corner of 24th and Lake Street in Omaha, Nebraska. At the Community Cafe you can expect a few things; casual dining atmosphere (cafeteria style), affordable prices and enough food to keep you fueled for the entire day. And my plate, covered with a rather healthy size catfish, collard greens, spaghetti and cornbread did exactly that. Everything before me was delicious and had the kind of touch my own mother would have graced the plate with however; it is Chef Mike who does all the cooking and a fine job too.

Catfish isn’t the only thing to be found on Chef Mike’s menu. Head in on a Monday and taste the ‘Blues’ Cajun style or swing in on a Tuesday for some tantalizing tacos. (Have I had the tacos – no, but if the catfish is great I’m willing to bet the tacos are just as good if not better.) Don’t take my word for it, visit the Community Cafe in North Omaha or Chef Mike’s site to learn more about his catering business.

Hungry Planet: The Book

by Erik Olsen on

It’s already been pretty much established that America is a fast food nation. In fact, a book by Eric Schlosser with that exact title pretty much spells it all out. Many of us eat our own weight in hamburgers and fries every year, and you could fill a Volkswagen with the amount of grease that oozes its way though our bodies in a lifetime.

But is America unique in this respect? I’m always reading articles about how the Chinese are becoming increasingly obese. Same with the Europeans…yes, even the culinarily snooty French. But it still raises a very interesting question: What does the world eat?

In an amazing-sounding book of photos and text called Hungry Planet, photographers Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio offer a study of families from around the world, revealing what people eat during the course of one week. Each family’s profile provides a description of their weekly food purchases and is accompanied by photographs of the family enjoying food at home as well as shopping and out in their community. There is also a main shot showing the family surrounded by, well, food. The book also contains essays by a gaggle of well-known writers like Francine R. Kaufman, Corby Kummer, Charles C. Mann, Michael Pollan, and Carl Safina. I’m actually listening to Pollan’s Botany of Desire right now on my iPod, so I’ve been tuned into these “What do we eat and why” books, shows and articles.

Anyway, I thought this was one of those really simple, but cool, ideas that reveal a lot about how we live in this fast food day and age.

New York’s Street Food Awards

by Neil Woodburn on

Consuming street food while traveling can often be a risky venture, especially in third world countries where brick-and-mortar restaurants are dangerous enough; eating from a cart parked on the street corner with no electricity or hot water is taking an even greater risk.

And then there is New York City.

The City That Never Sleeps is famous for their street food. In fact, the food is held in such high regard that awards are annually bestowed upon the very best.

The Vendy Awards will be held October 22 at St. Marks Church-in-the-Bowery (2nd Avenue and 10th Street). Tickets are rather pricey at $50 and $100, but include food and alcohol.

If you can’t make it, be sure to visit the vendors at their place of business: on the street. Last Sunday’s New York Times highlights the very best the city has to offer, including the famous halal chicken cart on 53rd Street and Avenue of the Americas that was Runner-Up in last year’s Vendy Awards and now has its own website. Erik, you should check it out!

Weird Foods from Around the Planet

by Neil Woodburn on

When exploring strange and new things, one mustn’t forget the mouth.

Culinary adventure is a part of travel; visiting a place where people eat differently than you is reason enough, to eat differently yourself.

Sometimes, however, different means bizarre, gagging, dry heaves, and, if you’re unlucky, perhaps even death.

But that’s no reason not to try something new.

Christa Weil agrees. She has just penned a book called Fierce Food: The Intrepid Diner’s Guide to the Unusual, Exotic, and Downright Bizarre. As you might imagine, it has some rather freaky critters, brains and bugs hidden between its pages. I haven’t yet gotten my hands on a copy as it was just released, but the fine folks over at DeepEndDining have read it and written up a short review.

Eyeballs, live monkey brain, boiled sheep’s head, and armadillo are just a few of the yummy things one can look forward to reading about. Or, you can simply hop on a plane and try them out yourself. Let me know how that eyeball tastes, however; I might just have to wimp out over that one. Ugh!