A Delicious Journey

Last week, in honor of year end I recapped my favorite Boston eats. I ate a number of amazing meals outside my city this year and it is only fair that they be showcased in all their deliciousness. I love to travel be it near or far, (or home to Cape Cod) and great food most definitely makes the journey. I don't have enough variety to dedicate as many specific award categories as Boston warranted, but hopefully you enjoy my favorites all the same!

Breakfast Faves: Fueling up on hearty fare and huge portions for the adventures that lie ahead in your travels is key. From the thick slices of Banana Bread French Toast in Colorado, to Huervos Rancheros piled high with guac, sour cream and salsa in Vermont, there was no shortage of good breakfast eats on the road. Boulder, Colorado: Two Step | The Buff Restaurant Rochester, Vermont: Rancheros Vermonter | Rochester Country Restaurant

Walt Disney World, Florida: Tonga Toast | Kona Cafe, Polynesian Resort

Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: 2 eggs over medium, homefries, white toast, and apple sausage | The Red Cottage

Lunch Faves: Mid-day meals on the go impressed in the form of hearty sandwiches with fresh ingredients and hot dogs overflowing with bold toppings. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Black bean hummus, avocado, cucumber and sprouts sandwich | Ceres Street Bakery

Rochester, Vermont: Apple Cheddar Sandwich | Sandy's Books & Bakery

Sanibel Island, Florida: Chigaco Dog "The Capone" | Schnapper's HotsA Chargrilled dog with mustard, sweet relish, chopped sweet onions, cucumber slices, tomato slices, sport peppers, and celery salt proved one of the best hot dogs of my life.

Walt Disney World, Florida: Taco Hot Dog | Magic Kingdom, The Lunching Pad

Okay, so this did not prove the best hot dog of my life, but for theme park food on the go, it seriously wasn't that bad! The Lunching Pad located in Disney's Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland serves three artery clogging specialties, also pictured with the Taco Dog is the Philly Cheese Steak Hot Dog. Unpictured is the Reuben Hot Dog.

Best Tacos: I'm not sure what it is about a soft tortilla shell bursting with flavorful ingredients with an accompanying side of spicy rice and refried beans that seems to call to me when I'm away from home. Maybe it is because I don't frequent Mexican restaurants in Boston? (Must remedy that!) Maybe I crave tacos when I'm traveling? Travel near or far accompanied by a plate of tacos was apparently my thing in 2010.

Winner: Garlicky Griddled Shrimp Soft Tacos | Centro | Boulder, Colorado

Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Palace piled 'em high with pickled red onions, green peppers, fresh shredded and grated cheese, radishes, jalapenos and lemon aioli. Then they served them with dueling rows of achiote rice, black bean refritos and house made sour cream.Runner Up: Catch of the Day Mahi Mahi Tacos | Agave | Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Agave Mexican Bistro gives you not two but three soft shells with tomato, cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo. On the side a homemade habanero mayonnaise sauce and a seriously hot chipoltle sauce. The traditional heaping portions of Mexican rice and refried beans coated in melted cheese completed the meal.Second Runner Up: Fried Fish Tacos | Finz | Salem, Massachusets

Best Salad: Just North of the city in Salem, Massachusetts I was captivated by golden crispy squares of warm, thick, gooey lightly fried Brie cheese with crisp gala apple slices and crunchy walnuts over a bed of mixed greens. Traveling 1, 775 miles west to Boulder, Colorado I ate an amazing combination of handpicked leafy greens, sweet dried cherries, tart granny smith apples, crumbled haystack chevre cheese and macadamia nuts drizzled in a sherry vinagrette. Handpicked lettuce is sure to win me over!Winner: Miners Lettuce Salad | Jax Fish House | Boulder, ColoradoRunner Up: Fried Brie Salad | Rockafellas | Salem, MABest Appetizer Featuring Seafood: Mainly Oysters Rockefeller, but some shrimp and scallops too. I love a fresh briny shellfish topped with warm buttery sauces, crispy bacon and sharp cheeses in the heat of a Cape Cod summer, or in the middle of a Colorado winter.

Winner: Seafood Sampler | The Yarmouth House | West Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Apple-Wood Bacon Wrapped Scallop, Grilled Garlic Shrimp over polenta, and Oyster Rockefeller

Runner Up: Oysters Rockefeller | Jax Fishouse | Boulder, Colorado

These featured bacon, pine nuts, spinach, pernod, asiago, and breadcrumbs.

Best Sushi/Maki Rolls: I do realize I completely neglected this category in my Boston Eats, but the honest to god's truth is, I didn't eat enough great sushi in the city this year. I had some worthy experiences but on the other hand I had some less than thrilling. Mediocre sushi does not an award category make. (To visit in 2011 list includes: OYA, Oishii and Basho. I'm saving my pennies, ok?) I got my sushi fix in one place and one place only this year. In my hometown of Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod, Massachuestts. Behold the greatness of Inaho, sweeping this category by default.Double Dragon Roll | Tuna & Avocado Maki with Spicy Mayo, Tempura Flakes, Fish Roe. Vegetable Jalapeno Roll Unagi | EelTuna Sampler | Toro, Albacore & Ceviche. Volcano Shot | California Roll with Scallop, Mushrooms, Spicy Mayo. Tako | OctopusOrange Dragon | Salmon & Avocado Maki w/ Spicy Mayo, Tempura Flakes, Fish Roe Memorable Entrees: Just two great dishes of fish and steak I felt I must share - Halibut and Filet Mignon to be precise, consumed on various weekend road trips to my favorite state. Norwich, Vermont: Fennel Pollen Crusted Halibut | Carpenter & Main Delicate flaky fish yielding a barely there crust with a dusting of fennel pollen, served with sauteed spinach, fennel, carrots & a roasted tomato saffron broth. This entree was flavorful, soothing and aromatic. Rochester, Vermont: Petit Filet | The Huntington HouseThe perfectly cooked medium fillet was complemented by a large earthy portabello mushroom top and stinky melt-y blue cheese crumbles, along with zucchini and mashed potatoes!

Dessert Faves: A category I can (and will!) dedicate an entire post to for Boston one of these days. While on vacation I tended to favor dessert in liquid form. (Odd, right? ;)) But as luck would have it, I found some legit dessert dishes to drool over outside city limits. Captiva Island, Florida: Homemade Award Winning Key Lime Pie | Key Lime BistroYou knew that would make the cut! A place titled Key Lime Bistro better have the best damn key lime pie I've ever tasted. And they did. Norwich, Vermont: Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Oven Roasted Nectarines and Brown Sugar Cookie | Carpenter & MainYarmouth Port, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Flourless Chocolate Cake | Inaho
Silver Plume, Colorado: Naughty Bar | Sopp & Truscott Bakery

Here's to a 2011 full of New England road trips and hopefully more vacationing that requires airplane travel. Thanks for sharing in my Journey of great eats! In your 2010 travels, where did you eat your favorite meal?

"Old General Store, Old General Store!"

Jen and I share a love that runs deep for "old general stores". This phrase was once chanted on an adventure outing with our Mom's and younger siblings because we got it in our heads that the day wouldn't be complete unless we visited one. I'm pretty sure we were about 8 or 9 years old and the phrase stuck with us ever since. There is a special feeling emitted from such places - the way they embody country living with the old rustic furnishings, creaky wooden floors, and local Vermont (or wherever you happen to be!) food products and gift items. While we visited a few on this trip, The Warren General Store and the Rochester Country Store, we also visited establishments in the quaint town of Rochester that evoke a similar love of the country mountain lifestyle. Saturday day we purchased sandwiches for our hike at this picturesque coffee house and book store: Sandy's Books & Bakery.

The inside is precious with counter service in one room, and new and used books and gift items filling the shelves in the other rooms.

Every corner you turn you are greeted by another set of table and chairs tucked away amongst the book shelves. They also offer seating outside on the porch. Our quality made sandwiches survived the hike up Mt. Abe. As you may recall, we enjoyed them while taking in spectacular views from the summit. Saturday after the hike we visited the charming Warren Store. Normally we'd stop in after a long day on the slopes of Sugarbush! When I was a kid I loved the marble collection. I don't remember the stairs being painted in rainbow colors! Saturday night we had a wonderful dining experience at the Huntington House Inn. We were seated by choice at a cozy wooden booth in Doc's Tavern, as opposed to the fine dinning room. They have two separate menus, affordable casual fare for the tavern, and a more elegant pricier menu for fine dining, however you are allowed to order off of either one no matter which room you choose to dine in. They have an impressive selection of bottled beers. I decided to order Rock Art Brewery's "The Vermonster". Hi Killa! This is not your average sized bottle. The dark brew comes in a tall wide mouthed goblet! The frosty glass accompanying was a welcome touch. I chose my entree Petit Filet $19 on a marinated portabella mushroom topped with bleu cheese and mashed potatoes from the Tavern menu - but you could have fooled me, this meal was elegantly prepared and plated and while it was the most expensive item on the Tavern menu, it was still very moderately priced!

I absolutely loved this meal. The perfectly cooked medium fillet was complemented by the large earthy portabello mushroom top and stinky melty blue cheese crumbles. The plate was even graced with some sort of a mild white vegetable not originally listed on the menu. I can't be sure but if I had to guess I would say it was some form of squash or zucchini. Then dessert happened. We were all ready to pass until Garvey asked for the menu on a whim and we ended up ordering three. Hey if anyone deserved three plates of dessert it was us after conquering that mountain. I washed it all down with a Baileys on the rocks. Garvey with a coffee and cordial samples, and Jen and Killa with another glass of wine. The staff - especially our waitress Stephanie was incredibly hospitable and a real gem for putting up with our loud laughter and antics over lord only knows what all night. Saturday nights don't get any better than good food, beer and wine with friends. Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the Rochester Cafe, which happens to be attached to a little country store. We meandered while we waited for a table. Some goodies were purchased. Mine included Clove Gum and a 2011 Covered Bridge calender. Another reason I am in love with Vermont: Covered Bridges. We drove by many and although I didn't get a great snapshot of one, I now I have a whole 12 pages of them pictured in various seasons. Breakfast at the adjoining cafe was amazing. I ordered the Rancheros Vermonter. I ate every last bite, if you can believe it. A mild salsa with tomato chunks, a creamy guacamole and heaping blobs of sour cream were so plentiful, it took me a few bites before I even got to the over easy egg yolk and gooey melted cheddar cheese. Some snapshots at the cafe.
Back at the house we enjoyed mimosas with my $6.75 OJ purchased at the Warren General Store. The prices are not reflective of the old country, that is for sure.
We took a short walk with Buckley around the neighborhood before we packed up and set off for the city.But until then I was taking in every last Vermont mountain landscape and planning with the girls our next trip back. Foliage hike perhaps? Ski trips for sure!The Rabbit traveled on scenic Route 100 to Route 4 through some of my favorite Central Vermont towns including Killington, Bridgewater Corners, Woodstock and Queeche (each hold very special places in my heart) where we picked up I-89 at exit 1 and bid my favorite state farewell. I had no idea until a facebook album appeared that Garvey snapped a shot of me taking in one of the covered bridges! Love it! With it being early September and all, The Green Mountains are still true to their namesake, with just the slightest hints of fall at the tips of the trees. Meaning, I definitely spotted shades of burnt orange and reds just beginning to peep through. The changing of the seasons is such a coveted time of year, especially Fall when the beauty of foliage sets in and all things pumpkin and apple come to life. The below Maine Root pumpkin pie soda was awesome by the way. I purchased it at the Woodstock Farmers Market. It tasted just like the real thing. If Adam and I don't end up retiring on Santorini, do you think I can convince him to move to Vermont with me? It's a good thing I love this state so much, because I'm headed back up this coming weekend!! Details to be revealed later this week. Apparently my apartment is just a place to rest my head on weekdays. Literally - I've been traveling New England all of September and my life has been a whirlwind of packing and unpacking. Oh you hadn't heard? III is now a travel food blog. At this moment / month in time, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Besides the state you live in, do you have a favorite?!