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AIBU?

to want to plan a trip across America based entirely on..

73 replies

CoffeeAndOranges · 10/08/2015 20:00

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network?

I would start in New York for a slap up breakfast in one of those amazing 50s diners and take it from there...

Fresh salads and hipster kale smoothies in California.
Street food vans in Austin, Texas
Seafood on the North East Seaboard.
Proper BBQ in the south (I won't specify a state as apparently it's very contentious as to who does it properly).
Mexican food in Texas.
Italian food in Brooklyn.

Basically the places they go to make everything look yummy. Hell even the abomination that is biscuits & gravy (which looks suspiciously like scones in white sauce to me) looks good. I know American food has a terrible reputation but there look to be some fantastic places doing proper home cooking, the sort you just don't seem to get here. And I bet it's cheaper too. Although I would need to lose 2 stone before going, just to allow for the huge portions.

Anyone else up for it? Will we take a VW campervan or will there be enough of us for a proper big ass Winnebago? Grin

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DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 20:02

YANBU. I even started salivating at vegan food the other night.

(I'm veggie but love cheese!)

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haveabreakhaveakitkat · 10/08/2015 20:03

We did a NYC diner. It was all a bit sickly and tasteless. Much prefer an Asda fry up!

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AuntyMag10 · 10/08/2015 20:03

That program always puts me off eating. Those portion sizes just don't look very appetizing.

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CoffeeAndOranges · 10/08/2015 20:13

Noooo kitkat don't shatter the illusion!

Yeah, sure those portion sizes are ridiculous... Even I would struggle after a while.

But I still want to go Grin

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TruJay · 10/08/2015 20:27

Oh yes, it was Man vs Food that convinced DH and I to do an American road trip in later life, when that will be I don't know yet but looking forward to it

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DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 20:30

Did a roadtrip for my 30th. The food was AMAZING.

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DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 20:30

We ordered pizza while sat on a Californian beach. "Individual size". Those 2 pizzas lasted us 3 days each! Grin

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Hulababy · 10/08/2015 20:31

We did Katz Deli in New York - of the When Harry Met Sally fame.
DH and DD are the meat eaters. They couldn't finish the pastrami sandwiches - they were huge!

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TobleroneBoo · 10/08/2015 20:32

YANBU please take me with you

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Vatersay · 10/08/2015 20:35

I have fond memories of eating amazing apple pie in the Comfort Diner in NYC.

Also amazing pizza in Brooklyn.

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Idontseeanytimelords · 10/08/2015 20:35

DH had his first trip to America last year and whatsapped me practically every meal - most looked really good although huge steak & eggs for breakfast is a bit ott for my tastes!!
I want to go to the fast food places classy and healthy person that I am like Wendy's so I can compare them to over here.

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Preciousbane · 10/08/2015 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cornettoninja · 10/08/2015 20:35

I've never been fussed about visiting the usa but the food fascinates me. I want to gorge myself on mom'n'pop style Southern food.

Op go and let us live vicariously through you!

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VulcanWoman · 10/08/2015 20:37

Sounds fantastic. I liked the places Billy connolly visited on his trip too.

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echt · 10/08/2015 20:38

When I clicked on this I thought it would be about travelling by song titles, but food will do.

Agree about the vileness of biscuits with gravy. What are good are roadside peaches and nectarines in California; as big as a softball and amazingly good.

I actually lost weight holidaying in the US. This meant a massive breakfast, humungous walks carrying bread, tomatoes, onions, cues and water, followed by big dinners at night.

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Foxesinmygarden · 10/08/2015 20:38

Count me in to the Winnebago ! I'm just back from an American road trip - The diners were a real highlight. The best ones with the best food were the weird out of the way ones rather than in a city. Especially loved the pancakes for breakfast the size of a dinner plate ( I shared one with DD, the table of older ladies next to me put away 2 each. With bacon). I tried biscuit its savoury scone and I had no truck with Gravy. Everything had cheese in it. Went to food trucks recommended by DDD, nice but no better than I've had here in London.

On a related note we stayed one night in the Red Lion in Eureka which was v proud as the place where Guy Fieri started his cooking career. It was horrid - which is not really a surprise is it?

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ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 10/08/2015 20:38

I fondly remember 'onion straws' I had during a trip to Colorado when I was a teen, never had anything similar before or since that was as tasty and satisfying!

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AlpacaPicnic · 10/08/2015 20:39

I'm planning a massive 'coast to coast and back again' trip across America in two years time and as soon as I've finalised my itinerary, I'm going on the Man Vs Food Wikipedia and seeing if I can match up destinations with good looking meals!
I do know there is a cinnamon bun shop in Chicago that I need to get to, and a place in San Francisco that does very large sandwiches...

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VulcanWoman · 10/08/2015 20:39

I want to eat a fried green tomato. I had a thick peach milkshake in Georgia once, yum.

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swooosh · 10/08/2015 20:41

Carnegie Deli in NYC (and also Vegas now) is where dreams are made. Sweet, sweet meaty dreams. The sandwiches are epic.

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Idontseeanytimelords · 10/08/2015 20:41

Having googled biscuits and gravy I can see the appeal - it sounds nicer than it looks but I would be looking at a 2 day date with a bottle of Gaviscon after eating it...

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CoffeeAndOranges · 10/08/2015 20:43

Ah well sadly it is probably a pipe dream for now - new baby in November and new kitcgen next year, so not much spare cash. But a gal can dream.. And drool.

Precious I am not surprised in the slightest that biscuits and gravy are good - not much different to stew & dumplings really. Good ribsticking good for the colder states (although aren't they a southern thing?)

Glad I have some company on my fantasy trip though. DH not that fussed about food, he eats when hungry and doesn't think about it between meals (and consequently is v slim!)

Any other stops we need to make? There were some pancakes with pickled jalapenos in, drizzled in maple syrup. Doesn't get more 'Murican than that. Must try it...

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pomegranatesandfilms · 10/08/2015 20:45

YANBU I would love to do everything you're suggesting. You would make a great companion!

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pomegranatesandfilms · 10/08/2015 20:46

Argh just a fantasy like me. Smile

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iklboo · 10/08/2015 20:46

I'm in. I'll chip in for the big ol' top if the range Winnebago Wink

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