Lexington, VA - When I entered the state of Virginia I stopped at the welcome center. I asked about convenience store and truck stop food. I was told few tourists ask about this. I was the first. Strange. I was told not to miss LeeHi Travel Center off I-64 in Lexington. How many people in welcome centers would think about a truck stop hours away? This was a place I had to … [Read more...]
Large Shrimp Sandwich-(not an oxymoron)
Abbeville, LA - Bourbon Street Delis are located in many ShopRite convenience stores in south Louisiana. If you’re going to pay $50 to fill up your tank, you might as well treat yourself to fresh Louisiana seafood at a very reasonable price. Abbeville is a picturesque little town about 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. People here take fresh seafood for granted sometimes. The … [Read more...]
Al’s Flourless Lemon-White Chocolate Cake
My Lemon-White Chocolate Flourless Cake Al Hebert INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cup of White Chocolate Chips (almost the whole bag you might as well dump them all in) 3 tablespoons of butter 6 Egg Yolks 6 Egg Whites 1/2 cup Sugar 3 Tablespoons of Lemon Powder (available from Targil’s & … [Read more...]
Big Store-Big on Customer Service
BROUSSARD, LA- Blanchet's Exxon is profiled in the September issue of NACS Magazine. This is the first two-story c-store with a food court I've visited. Subway and Krispy Krunchy Chicken are avaialble. Josh Blanchet throws in Cajun flare with great rice dressing, crawfish etouffee' and other Louisiana favorites. M&R Creole's stuffed bread is available here. It's … [Read more...]
Texas Best RIbs, Chicken Salad and Friendly Staff
Texas Best Smokehouse-Tyler, TX - is a must-stop truck stop on I-20. You should experience the food and the people here. These ribs are perfectly done. The meat falls off the bone. There's a big choice of sides. The hardest thing is making a choice. The building is beautiful, the bathrooms are super clean and the staff makes the traveler feel like welcome. It's like … [Read more...]
Old Fashion Rice Pudding
I grew up in a small town in Southwest Louisiana next door to my Aunt Clara and Uncle Joe. They were much older than my parents, so they were more like grandparents. This was a wonderful situation, almost like the setting of an O. Henry story. It seems that each day there was some kind of dessert in the kitchen. My favorite was rice pudding. Rice is king in this … [Read more...]
Cheeseburger & Oil Change Please – Not your Grandfather’s Toyota Dealership
TUSCON, AZ- Americans love cars, but hate the inconvenience of repairs and maintenance. Every auto needs scheduled maintenance. Every car owner groans about the logistics involved in getting that done. Desert Toyota in Tuscon has a way to make visits to the service department more of an experience than an inconvenience. This Arizona dealership was at the top of my list unique … [Read more...]
Cheesburger Hot Dog -They Said it Couldn’t be Done
A cheeseburger shaped like a hotdog. "Impossible" you say. No, not with today's technology. Scientists mapped the human genome long before Oscar Mayer came up with this ingenious link. You can see how much research and planning went into this. OM, thinking outside the bun since 1900. Some people see this and ask "why" - I see this wiener and say, "why not" - it's … [Read more...]
Bank Getaway
Are you looking for a quiet place to sneak off too, with an emphasis on “quiet?” L'Banco Albergo in Lake Arthur, LA is a great destination to consider. Lisa, the manager shared some history and gave me a great tour yesterday. Mike & Shawna Palermo purchased the old Jeff Davis Bank building and turned it into a quaint bed & breakfast. The old vault … [Read more...]
Becca’s Rum Sauce
Shreveport, LA - Becca's Steak & Seafood I've dedicated my life to finding the best bread pudding in the U.S. I know, I should have a loftier goal like doing something about poverty or building a time machine out of the old dishwasher on my front porch. This bread pudding this is simple and fun. If I did not fear flying, ships, oceans and other things that inhibit … [Read more...]