It was a normal day here at the international headquarters of the Gas Station Gourmet. We're kind of a think tank, test kitchen and food news team. Mike just reiterated that he would probably not eat beef tongue. It is a popular staple at wedding receptions and funerals here in Cajun country. Mike Falgout is from New Orleans. He's not Cajun. He is however a talented shooter … [Read more...]
Cajun Meal Planning At A Gas Station
Sammy's Country Store in Maurice, Louisiana has an easy fix for your dinner dilemma - grillades. This Cajun tradition has been around for over a hundred years. Before electricity came to South Louisiana, Cajuns had a clever way of keeping meat fresh. This technique gave the pork a bold flavor. You can still find grillades around if you look hard enough. I found the … [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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Boomtown C-Store
Simonson Station Store is located in America's boomtown, Williston, ND. A few years ago, this small town was home to 12,000 residents. Then the oil-rich Bakken formation was discovered. Oil field workers converged on the town. The population more than doubled in to about 30,000. Manager, Randy Gira says business booming, but a few changes had to be made. You can read … [Read more...]
