We are looking forward to our cross country drive which we’ve structured around food – no surprise there! We needed a fun theme and there it was: James Beard Award winners that happen to be along our route. Our choices range from small to large, barbecue lunch joints to chichi dinners downtown. We also looked for interesting spots to stay like Marfa, TX. If you are interested feel free to sign up to be notified of our posts. This will be a short lived (2 weeks including our practice blog entry) blogging adventure!
May 31st – Drive to Roanoke VA after a midday departure from NJ
- Lunch: Jackson House in Harrisburg if we can get there before 2 PM
- Dinner: Blue Apron Restaurant Red Rooster Bar – Salem, VA
June 1 – Roanoke to Birmingham AL
- Lunch: Knoxville: The Shack Out Back – Chef Bruce Bogartz was voted best chef in Knoxville for 4 years; his restaurant RouxBarb is open for dinner however lunch is served in the “Shack out Back”
- Hotel in Birmingham: Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast
- Dinner: Hot and Hot Fish Club – James Beard Award Winner 2012 Best Chef Southeast: Chris Hastings
- Sorry to miss in Birmingham: The Bright Star : 2010 James Beard American Classic
June 2 – Birmingham to New Orleans, LA
- Lunch in Meridian MS with Kate and Tom – what a coincidence!
- Hotel in New Orleans: Le Pavillon
- Dinner: Herbsaint Bar and Restaurant Chef Donald Link won Best Chef Southeast in 2007; nominated Outstanding Chef 2012 (the biggie award)
- Sorry to miss: Willie Mae’s Scotch House: American Classic 2012 but only open for lunch
June 3 – NOLA to Austin TX
- Breakfast (NOLA): Cafe Du Monde for coffee and Beignets
- Lunch: Perhaps Steam Boat Bills in Lake Charles, LA
- Hotel in Austin: The Driskill – we stayed here for Mike’s UT graduation – a piece of Texas history
- Dinner: Uchiko James Beard Best Chef (Paul Qui) Southwest 2012. Qui also won Top Chef Texas (TV show) and owns East Side King – a group of 3 food carts on East 6th.
- Sorry to miss: Louie Mueller Barbecue James Beard American Classic, but it’s in Taylor and only open til 6
June 4 – Austin to Marfa TX
- Lunch: Guenther House as we pass through San Antonio and see the Alamo and the River Walk
- Hotel in Marfa: Hotel Paisano
- Dinner: perhaps Maiya’s Maiya Keck: James Beard Award Nominee 2012: Best Chef: Southwest or Chocineal which gets rave reviews, particularly the date pudding…
- Sorry to miss: Food Shark Marfa and perhaps a Jason Dady (Semi-Finalist Outstanding Restaurateur 2012) spot like Tre Trattoria or Two Bros. BBQ also Zuni Grill all in San Antonio
June 5 – Marfa to Tempe (Phoenix) AZ
- Breakfast: Hotel Paisano in Marfa
- Lunch: H&H Car Wash and Restaurant El Paso: 2012 James Beard American Classic – how could we not go here after seeing the name?
- Hotel in Tempe: The Buttes just outside Phoenix. Been there and looking forward to going back.
- Dinner: TBD – perhaps the hotel tonight
- Sorry to Miss: Fry Bread House this 2012 James Beard American Classic is unfortunately not open for breakfast
June 6 – Tempe AZ to Spring Lake, Los Angeles
- Breakfast in Phoenix: Matt’s Big Breakfast
- Dinners with Mike – at least one home cooked meal!