Everyone,

Well, summer is here and I'm heading off to vacation in a little over a
week.

A job change at work is netting me about $1500 in a bonus check a week
before I leave. So...I'm going out of town for a change and actually do
some traveling.

A friend and I have done road trips before, usually to various aviation
museums and the like. I have Crohn's and haven't been able to eat much
for some time now. Since March, I've been on a new drug therapy, and am
now able to eat much of what I like again. So this time I want to do a
food-theme road trip. Not coincidentally, my vacation begins the weekend
after Alton Brown's new road-trip food program debuts on Food TV, so I
say it's an omen. (I'll be in my diesel Jetta with my dog, not a cool
motorcycle like Alton, but still....)

Anyway, I live in Phoenix and have to visit some friends in Las Vegas. I
was thinking of going to Vegas, and then up through California and see
Yosemite, and head toward the San Francisco area. Maybe try to check out
the French Laundry in Napa Valley, and then head back south along the
coast. I might go as far south as San Diego, but I'm flexible.

So...given this route, what irresistable food items should I be looking
for? I'm willing to deviate the route some. I'll be on the road from
around July 30th to August 10th or so. (I absolutely have to be back in
Phoenix on August 11th.)

I realize this isn't a travel or restaurant review newsgroup, but this
newsgroup gets a bit more traffic than some of the others I've visited,
and I generally like the mix of opinions expressed here.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Les

PastaLover > wrote:
>was thinking of going to Vegas, and then up through California and see
>Yosemite, and head toward the San Francisco area. Maybe try to check out
>the French Laundry in Napa Valley, and then head back south along the

Call the French Laundry now. You may not be able to get
a reservation. Until 2007.

>coast. I might go as far south as San Diego, but I'm flexible.


>So...given this route, what irresistable food items should I be looking
>for?

SF: Dungies.

SD: Fish tacos.

Otherwise, we're talking California. It's one big stupid mall
and everything comes off as food-court fare.

Except for French Laundry (which I never did get to)
I'd just stay in Vegas and run up a huge AmEx bill eating
there.

>I'm willing to deviate the route some. I'll be on the road from
>around July 30th to August 10th or so. (I absolutely have to be back in
>Phoenix on August 11th.)

You'll be looking forward to getting back to real mexican
food.

>I realize this isn't a travel or restaurant review newsgroup,

Hahahahahhaah.

Rules? What rules?

--Blair

In article > ,
Blair P. Houghton > wrote:

> PastaLover > wrote:
> >was thinking of going to Vegas, and then up through California and see
> >Yosemite, and head toward the San Francisco area. Maybe try to check out
> >the French Laundry in Napa Valley, and then head back south along the
>
> Call the French Laundry now. You may not be able to get
> a reservation. Until 2007.
>
> >coast. I might go as far south as San Diego, but I'm flexible.
>
>
> >So...given this route, what irresistable food items should I be looking
> >for?
>
> SF: Dungies.
>
> SD: Fish tacos.
>
> Otherwise, we're talking California. It's one big stupid mall
> and everything comes off as food-court fare.
>
> Except for French Laundry (which I never did get to)
> I'd just stay in Vegas and run up a huge AmEx bill eating
> there.

Oh, dear. Yes, one can run up a huge bill (and have some fabulous
meals) in Vegas (e.g., at Joel Roubichon's). And the French Laundry
gave me the second best meal of my life (second to Danube in NYC).
But there is a lot more in California that is quite wonderful --
there's a small cafe on the river in Petaluma, for example, that
does superb stuff. And lots of things that pop out of a Zagat's
search are actually quite good (some are not, of course). I don't
know SoCal at all, but I am told there is good food to be had there.
SF/Berkeley/Oakland has some good to excellent restaurants. Maybe
some hints as to what the OP likes would help to winnow the list?

Blair P. Houghton wrote:
> PastaLover > wrote:
>
>>was thinking of going to Vegas, and then up through California and see
>>Yosemite, and head toward the San Francisco area. Maybe try to check out
>>the French Laundry in Napa Valley, and then head back south along the
>
>
> Call the French Laundry now. You may not be able to get
> a reservation. Until 2007.

Ah, good point. I hadn't thought about that....

>
> SF: Dungies.

Thanks.

>
> SD: Fish tacos.

But of course! I lived there for about 6 months nearly 10 years ago.
Some of my favorite restaurants are surely no longer there, but
hopefully some will be.

>
> Otherwise, we're talking California. It's one big stupid mall
> and everything comes off as food-court fare.
>
> Except for French Laundry (which I never did get to)
> I'd just stay in Vegas and run up a huge AmEx bill eating
> there.

I would, but I used to live there (6 years the last time), and I visit
often for business and to see friends. So I've tried about everything I
want there.

>
> --Blair

Thanks for the suggestions Blair!

PastaLover,

Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass through
L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two. Super
delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably 50 years
old!

http://www.philippes.com/

Andy

"Andy" <q> wrote in message ...
> PastaLover,
>
> Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass
through
> L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two. Super
> delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably 50 years
> old!
>
> http://www.philippes.com/
>
> Andy

Wow, Andy, thanks for the link! If I'm back out that way, I'll have to
stop. Wish I knew about this place when I was actually living in L.A.

kili

"kilikini" > wrote in news:Ne2wg.1557
:

>
> "Andy" <q> wrote in message ...
>> PastaLover,
>>
>> Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass
> through
>> L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two. Super
>> delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably 50
years
>> old!
>>
>> http://www.philippes.com/
>>
>> Andy
>
> Wow, Andy, thanks for the link! If I'm back out that way, I'll have to
> stop. Wish I knew about this place when I was actually living in L.A.
>
> kili


kili,

Whenever I go back, it's always a "can't miss" meal!!! It's SO worth it,
for the food and the ambiance. Like going back in time.

Hope you get to see for yourself!

Andy

"kilikini" > wrote in news:Ne2wg.1557
:
>> http://www.philippes.com/
>>
>> Andy
>
> Wow, Andy, thanks for the link! If I'm back out that way, I'll have to
> stop. Wish I knew about this place when I was actually living in L.A.
>
> kili


kili,

I'd have mentioned "tomaine" Tommy's on Melrose and Vermont but that's
just beneath me! DD

Andy

Andy <q> wrote:
>PastaLover,
>
>Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass through
>L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two. Super
>delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably 50 years
>old!
>
>http://www.philippes.com/

Oh, man, do not MAKE me want to go to L.A.!

--Blair

Andy wrote:
> PastaLover,
>
> Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass through
> L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two. Super
> delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably 50 years
> old!
>
> http://www.philippes.com/
>
> Andy

Oh, I love French Dip sandwiches!

I'll definitely try this if I get anywhere near LA.

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:33:41 -0500, in rec.food.cooking, Andy wrote:

>PastaLover,
>
>Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass through
>L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two. Super
>delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably 50 years
>old!
>
>http://www.philippes.com/
>


Michael Stern just reviewed this at
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writ...ID=79&RefID=79

Doug
--
Doug Weller --
A Director and Moderator of The Hall of Ma'at http://www.hallofmaat.com
Doug's Archaeology Site: http://www.ramtops.co.uk
Amun - co-owner/co-moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amun/

Doug Weller > wrote in
:

> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:33:41 -0500, in rec.food.cooking, Andy wrote:
>
>>PastaLover,
>>
>>Don't know abou Vegas other than it's hotter than hell. If you pass
>>through L.A., stop in at Phillipes for a french dip sandwich or two.
>>Super delicious and VERY retro. The sawdust on the floors is probably
>>50 years old!
>>
>>http://www.philippes.com/
>>
>
>
> Michael Stern just reviewed this at
> http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writ...ID=79&RefID=79
>
> Doug


Doug,

Aside from the stellar review, it's pronounced fil-ee-Pays not Phil-ee-
peez.

The BUM!!!

Andy

You have visited http://www.roadfood.com, right? If not, go there now!

Doug
--
Doug Weller --
A Director and Moderator of The Hall of Ma'at http://www.hallofmaat.com
Doug's Archaeology Site: http://www.ramtops.co.uk
Amun - co-owner/co-moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amun/