One thing to know - I love to eat! I'm 6'0" and a very lean 190 pounds. By looking at me, you'd never guess it but food (good food) is where my heart is. I eat at Mc D's and Wendy's etc but if I can, I prefer to stop at any local eateries. Not sure when it started but it's become a bit of a passion for me. Everyone has there "Lottery Ideas" on what they'd do if they won millions. Mine is a
Food Roadtrip. I'd go to New York. Go to Reubens. And have a reuben sandwich. I'd go to Philly and eat Philly's. Chicago for pizza. You get the idea. I've been to Alabama, just outside of Talladega in Oxford and ate at Betty's BBQ. Pulled pork, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, and corn bread. You can't beat that! Had a crawfish boil in New Orleans along with a shrimp po'boy, crawfish etoufee, and jumbalaya. Hawaiian pizza in Maui. I go for authentic, different, or just plain old "the best". "The Best" are the easier ones. They're everywhere! A fellow blogger friend mentioned G&R Tavern in Waldo, Ohio.
http://patsdailyrant.blogspot.com/2009/10/october-2009the-month-ahead.html
It's got 'the best' fried bologna sandwiches. Not the best in Waldo, or Ohio, but just 'the best'. I have yet to make the trip there but I will, and I'll post my comments when that day finally arrives. Maid Rites in Greenville is another I need to hit. But they're all up against some tough competition. My favorite - Crabill's Hamburger Shop in Urbana, Ohio.
Crabill's serves "sliders', meaning they're tiny burgers on tiny buns. Three bites and they're gone. They're fried on a griddle in Crabill's own heavy oil. They are plopped onto the griddle as meatballs and then pressed flat with two custom-made spatulas. They had to be custom made because the others would just bend from the constant pressing of the burgers.
You can get onion, sweet relish, and their secret brown mustard. Ketchup was made available in the 90's but you just don't do that to a Crabill burger. I usually start with 5 doubles with cheese, mustard, and onion. They serve Mumfords potato chips so that's also a must. They're made in Urbana as well. The burgers are pressed so flat that you end up with two just-crispy-outsides between some fluffy Wonder buns. It's heaven.
The Shop itself is a sight to see as well. There are only about 8 stools at the front counter. No other tables, just enough room to stand behind the stools to order some burgers to go.
It's one of those things that are so addicting and memorable, that you'll drive an hour just to eat there. And you'll tell your friends and bring them along. And they'll drive an hour just for them too! Last Saturday was one of those days. I went with a group of 12, 9 traveling from New Bremen and meeting three from Columbus. There were five first timers - they'll be back!
