It’s going to snow again tonight at the Jersey Shore. Enough I say! ENOUGH!!! When I spot that first seemingly innocent, seemingly cute snowflake I am going to go out into my backyard, shake my fists at the heavens, curse the Polar Vortex, and demand the immediate and unambiguous arrival of Spring.
After I do that I’m going to relax and spend the rest of the evening mapping out some of our spring and summer road trips. We have reservations for campgrounds in Myrtle Beach, The Brandywine Valley, Cape Cod, and the White Mountains, and we have started to put together lists of hikes, swims, and other family-centric activities that should make for a great fifth season of Lively Little Campers. Tonight I am also going to dip into Jane and Michael Stern’s Roadfood, An American gastronomic classic that has more in common with an epic quest novel like Moby-Dick than it does with a Michelin or Zagat’s food guide.
As Stephanie mentioned in her last post, she usually cooks in the RV when road tripping, but we do like to eat out once at each destination. Because these meals are special we make sure they really count. No tourist traps and no combo meals please! This is where Roadfood saves the day every time. Jane and Michael Stern’s tome is broken up into geographic regions (with maps) such as “Mid-Atlantic,” “Deep South,” “Midwest,” and “West Coast” that span from coast to coast. These regional sections then have chapters for each state which contain sharply written and entertaining entries for the recommended locations. Their writing is so good that you can almost taste those juicy burgers and wicked pies, almost… We used the Vermont chapter last summer and the results were delicious, affordable, and somewhat sinful each time.
There are two Roadfood picks very close to the Brattleboro KOA where we camped: The Putney Diner and Curtis’ All American Bar-B-Q. Both in Putney.
We had super-scrumptious sandwiches and pies at the diner….
And mouth-watering ribs and sides at Curtis.
There are also two Roadfood picks close to the Quechee/Pine Valley KOA where we camped: The Mill at Quechee and the White Cottage Snack Bar in Woodstock.
We had delicate, yet hardy soups and sandwiches at The Mill…
And all-American burgers, fries, and lobster rolls with a river view at White Cottage.
I keep a copy of this book in my glove compartment whenever we travel, and you should too. The first edition of the Stern’s masterpiece was published way back in 1978–and the ninth edition comes out this week–36 years later. Roadfood has been around this long for a reason. Because it rocks.
Next stop, Polly’s Pancake Parlor, Sugar Hill, New Hampshire!
Links to all of the campgrounds and restaurants mentioned in this post can be found on our “Trip Planner” page.
