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...]
Texas Best Smokehouse – Longview, Texas
TEXAS BEST SMOKEHOUSE- I-20, Longview, TX- This is a chocolate fried pie from Mamaw's Fried Pies. This is a great pastry. If you're Cajun and famlier with sweet dough pies, it's similar to that with a few exceptions. The dough is not sweet, it's of course, fried. It is filled and I mean filled with an ample amount of chocolate filing. It's great! I found it … [Read more...]
Seeking Great Food-Unusual Places
Did you know the best cinnamon rolls in Texas can be found in a county jail? You can get Cajun fried shrimp along with crawfish stew to die for in a furniture store in New Iberia, LA. A small hospital in Kaplan, LA has one of the best hamburgers in Acadiana can be found in a 50's style retro grill complete with chrome stools and red upholstery. A gas station outside Fort … [Read more...]
MYSTERY OF THE DESERT
Dragoon, AZ-It's time to start thinking about summer travel. I'm going to share a few quirky places I've visited while working on the Gas Station Gourmet™. These are places you should not miss. Top on my list is a convenience store called The Thing. It's located on Interstate 10 right outside the town of Dragoon, Arizona. You'll know your heading the right way because a series … [Read more...]
It’s Not Always About Size
Sometimes, small is better. Right? I was served this diminutive Diet Coke in restaurant. The flavor was different. I sensed it was better than the same beverage served in a can, plastic bottle or even from the fountain. This small drink, packed a big, good taste. I've not seen these in stores. If you're out and have a chance to try one get back with … [Read more...]
The Tartar Sauce Conundrum
It's Lent. This is the time here in South Louisiana one's thoughts turn to tartar sauce on Friday. Seafood specials abound. Fish is begin fried. Shrimp is being turned into cocktails. Crawfish are boiling. I like tartar sauce on most seafood. Tartar sauce is the fruitcake of the Lenten Season. Half the members of my family do not use tartar sauce. So rather than purchase a … [Read more...]
World Famous Chili Dog
Gulfway Sporting Goods on LA 35, South of Kaplan, Louisiana has a chili dog known throughout the world. A man from Mexico touring America on his Harley heard about it. That's great word of mouth. People will go to great lengths to experience great food. He veered off I-10 and drove south. Gulfway is off the beaten path to say the least. This intrepid hotdog aficionado … [Read more...]