I travel frequently and am always being asked for travel advice
as well as restaurant recommendations in cities around the globe. Lately my phone has been ringing with
calls from people taking driving trips to either the East Coast or to Chicago. I thought I would share a few of my
favorite out of town gems with the hope of persuading you to try these spots if
you are in the area. Many a trip I
have taken has been derailed with a detour to one of these locations should I
find myself with 50 miles - they are that good. If Taste-Full Tours operated in these cities (and we may one
day) these locations would certainly make the cut!
Woodman’s Clam Shack – get extra napkins
The best clam shack is fiercely debated in and around Boston. Bostonians
defend their favorite clam shack like they defend their Red Sox. My favorite
spot for succulent, hot fried clams is Woodman’s in Essex, MA. – And I am in
good company. Located at 121 Main
St., on the way to Gloucester or Rockport, Woodman’s is a no frills treasure
worth visiting. Don’t let the line
scare you away, it moves quickly. If you like fried clams, clam rolls,
hush-puppies, steamers and lobster this is the place for you – and once you
have been there you will happily wait in line for the privilege of doing it
again. Woodman’s has been at the
same location on the cranberry bogs and salt marshes since 1914 – with good
reason. You place your order at
the counter, get your beverage and lots of napkins, and then find a table
either inside or out to enjoy your feast.
Don’t eat breakfast and go to Woodman’s for lunch. This is not a place to go every day,
but as a treat you will be thrilled! (www.woodmans.com)
Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana – Now that’s
apizza!
Remember the Cola Wars?
In New Haven, CT the Pizza Wars have been going on for years and are
still raging. New Haven has more
pizzerias than I have seen in any city outside of Italy. This town knows its pizza and does it
well.
Frank Pepe started selling tomato pies out of a cart in 1923
and today his grandson still runs the family operation at 137 Wooster Street. The cheese and pepperoni pie is
outstanding in its simplicity. The
ingredients are fresh and every pie is handmade. Great ingredients equal great pizza. The coal burning ovens char the bottoms
of the pie for a crisp yet chewy crust.
Yum! While all of the pies
are great, Pepe’s is most famous for their clam pie. Pepe’s opens and cleans tons of clams during clam season for
their signature pie which includes olive oil, oregano, garlic and fresh
clams. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve
tried it!
Expect to wait in line – it is all part of the Pepe’s
experience. You can also call
ahead, order a carry out and eat it in your car. Been there, done that! (www.pepespizzeria.com)
Walter’s – order two!
It seems as though waiting in line is a reoccurring theme in
this blog. Good things are worth
waiting for and Walter’s Hot Dogs are no exception. This quirky hot dog stand located in a residential
neighborhood at 937 Palmer Ave., in Mamaroneck, NY (in Westchester County about
45 minutes north of New York City) has been serving up its signature split dogs
since 1919. Walter’s is housed in
a Chinese Pagoda building - you won’t believe it when you see it. The dogs are split down the center and
fried on a griddle. The buns are
toasted and when they are married to the hot dogs and slathered in Walter’s
famous spicy mustard you can almost hear angles singing! Most patrons order at least two dogs,
as one is not enough and the line is really long for that second dog. You know you are going to want another,
so just order it at the beginning.
While you are waiting in the line, you can read thousands of
postcards from Walter’s fans around the world. (www.waltershotdogs.com)
Redamak’s - The burger that made New Buffalo
Famous!
Are you staying a little closer to home this summer? Perhaps visiting Chicago? If you are heading west, be sure to
stop at Redamak’s at 616 East Buffalo Street in New Buffalo, Michigan. This burger would make any city
famous. Talk about a great burger
– I have friends who often make the 3 hour drive just for lunch. Redamak’s is open from March 1 through
October. The burgers are fried on
a griddle, dressed and then wrapped in wax paper which sort of steams them. They are juicy, and delicious. Open in 1946, the operation is still
going strong with a varied menu, but really, go for a burger. (www.redamaks.com)
Once you are in Chicago among the thousands of restaurants here
are a couple that stand out:
Wishbone – Southern Breakfast – get there
early to avoid lines. If you like
grits, this is the place to get them.
I had marvelous pancakes! (www.wishbonechicago.com)
Naha – Very Fine Dining – a special treat,
not cheap, but well worth it. The
menu is well thought out and flavor combinations are outstanding. The food is as pleasing to the eye as
it is to the palate. This is a
real gem. Have the tasting menu
and be sure to get dessert! Be sure to make reservations. (www.naha-chicago.com)
At the risk of being all over the map (pun intended), I would
be remiss if I didn’t include my all time favorite restaurant in this
musing. If you happen to find
yourself in Florence, Italy PLEASE cross the Ponte Vecchio turn right at the
second street, leave the tourists behind and look for Trattoria Quattro Leoni
(4 Lions) at Via de'Vellutini, 1r - Piazza della Passera. It is a bit hard to find, but so very
worth the search. I go there at least once every time I go to Florence. Last year we were in Florence for
4 days and ate there every night.
This is a spot for Florentines, not tourists, so don’t be surprised when
the menu is only in Italian and the waiter does not speak English. In this situation, try to figure out
the menu. If you can’t and sign
language isn’t working, just order the special – you won’t be sorry. (www.4leoni.com)
So if you were not planning a trip before reading this, perhaps
you should go to AAA get some maps and get going!
