LEBANON, NH - Jake's Market & Deli - You can read about this store in the November issue of NACS Magazine. Before I even thought of gas station food, before gas stations thought about fresh food, Jake's Market & Deli were all about food. It was unique for a convenience store two decades ago. Owner, Ed Kerrigan made sure that the best place to get a sandwich in Lebanon … [Read more...]
Papu’s Cafe – NACS Magazine August Story
KANSAS CITY, MO - Papu's Cafe & Shell Convenience Store - You can read about this great store in the August Issue of NACS Magazine. He's been pleased and surprised by the success of his food. This is the first store I've written about that serves Mediterranean cuisine. Shuja put a unique spin on his food by adding some Indian spices. I'm a big fan of chicken … [Read more...]
Smokey G’s BBQ – Van Alstyne, Texas
SMOKEY G's BBQ - Van Alstyne, TX If you're heading down U.S. Hwy 75 take the Hwy 121 exit at Van Alstyn. You'll see a Shell Station, now, look on the opposite side of the parking lot for Galen Gibson's Smokey G's BBQ. It's neat looking little food trailer and that caught my eye. That's not what got my attention. This heavy, steel smoker got my attention. For … [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...]
Aherns Service Center & Convenience Store-NACS July Issue
Moore Haven, Florida- THE STEVE SANDWICH - When Steve told Ahern’s Service Center & Convenience Store co-owner Jason Griner that the breakfast sandwich was kind of small, Jason came up with a solution. He starts with a 5-inch bun, scrambles 5 eggs with 3 slices of American cheese and offers a choice of 4 slices of bacon or 2 sausage patties. Is this … [Read more...]
BARBECUE TRAIN-NACS JUNE ISSUE
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA The digital-issue of NACS Magazine is available. The print edition is not far behind. I found barbecue in Bloomington, Indiana. I was surprised. The guy behind it is barbecue guru Chris Smith. He's put a lot of thought into the process and the sides are engineered for powerful flavor. It took weeks in the Sysco test kitchen to create … [Read more...]
Convenience Store Sales-Record High 2013
(This is a great story. Could the growth in the foodservice section have something to do with the Gas Station Gourmet? We don't know, but we will ponder after lunch.) CHICAGO – U.S. convenience stores reached record in-store sales in 2013, with sales climbing 2.4% to $204 billion. Combined with motor fuels sales of $491.5 billion, overall convenience store … [Read more...]
C-Store Cajun Barbecue-Eunice, LA
Tailgating at the Oasis Travel Center
NACS Magazine – January Issue
My profile of Mudbugs in Eunice, Louisiana is in the January issue of NACS Magazine. Thanks to Tom Voinche for tipping me off and lunch. Unicorn sightings are a rare event. Even more rare is Voinche paying for lunch. That day, I knew I'd seen everything Too Bad Pigs Only Have One Stomach A doctor once told me, "It's too bad pigs only have one stomach. She was referring to … [Read more...]