Years of traveling the back roads of the Deep South led me to an unlikely appreciation of Cracker Barrel, which is a chain, and doesn't feature pastured or local foods. But at least it serves veg, and it's better than it has to be, as a pioneering farmer of organic local foods and I agreed when we bumped into each other there. In more recent road trips in the Midwest, I've brought food from home (at least for Day 1) and done my best to find good local places, which is easier here than in West or South. Should life ever take you to the area around Scottsbluff Nebraska, the lonely outpost of Laura Lee's Double L Cafe is well worth a detour: A diner selling pastured local bison burgers and homemade everything is that rare.
I'm glad to see you've finally kicked the BK break to the curb. We all have our inconsistencies and self-contradictions (I am large, I contain multitudes!), but that doesn't mean we can never change. Not sure you'll have much luck ditching the industrial grade food, short of packing your own meals, but I won't knock your aspirations. Slow food and road food are seldom synonymous... especially in those more rural places.
I was happy to trade BK for Granzella's in Williams, on my trips to Delevan, Sac, and Kokopelli Valley (you know where that is). Also had a favorite Mexican restaurant in Mendota when I was hunting up that way. SOOO much better than the fast food. The extra 45 minutes added to the trip was worth it for a chance to sit and take a deep breath. Slowing down is a good thing, usually... although, like you, when it comes to hunting road trips, I'm often more about the destination than the journey.
I am guilty of post-hunt stops at the Golden Arches, but I prefer the small town pierogi restaurants found occasionally in rural Saskatchewan. Sadly no taco trucks, but an interesting conversation on the provenance of the borsht.
Another good choice if you're hunting the Suisun Marsh is the Filipino place tucked in behind the strip of fast food restaurants at Grizzly Island Road, though the line can be pretty long sometimes.
Ha! I worked at Burger King for years as a kid, so my cravings rarely bring me there. I am jealous of the taco trucks and stands you guys have over there in California. The food truck scene here is inconsistent, overpriced, and bad for you (poutine, burgers, fried food... for only $18.99!) and there are rarely any other half decent options for a quick meal other than breakfast at a diner. The one thing I've found to work, though you generally only find them in city centres, is a shawarma. Delicious, quick, easily eaten on the go, often run by entrepreneurs, and kinda healthier than chain-based fast foods.
Usually hit up in n out after grizzly island but when I was there for dog training this summer I found Taqueria Durango and yeah, much better. This new Quesabirria trend isn't the worst thing...
BK runs the gamut on burger moisture. There is the Whopper, which is arguably the messiest and wettest(?) burger I have ever had.
Then there is the bacon double cheeseburger, with no ketchup. Its meat, cheese and bread, and its the perfect blend of dry and juicy. It's almost a perfect burger
One limiting factor occurs to me, that’s the state of attire I’m in on the way back from a good hunt. This is usually discouraging of a situation-down meal. But back when I was hawking rabbits across the river in Port Allen, there was (is) a local brewery on the way back that became a regular pit stop. The tasting room there is open to the air and sort of industrial in style, so I didn’t feel as offensive in my wet briar pants and soaked t-shirt. Also, they have a water cooler and cups at the door, so it serves as a hydration station (prior to more substantial hydration available inside).
On so many of our cross-country trips the highlight was eating road food—small local places. The best apple pie I have ever had was in Buffalo Wyoming at the Main Street Diner. It looked like it was going to be too sweet, I almost didn't order it, but it was astonishing. Perfect in every way. I recall that they also served burgers from local rancher's cows, so ethical meat! We ate those too. This was more than 20 years ago, pre-internets. We took a lot of chances and were rarely disappointed.
Oct 25, 2022·edited Oct 25, 2022Liked by Holly Heyser
I shoot Grizzly often, and my favorite spot in Fairfield is Joe’s Buffet (closed on sundays). Meat sandos and homemade mashed potatoes so good you’ll drink the remnants of your au jus.
We did this on our trip in 2021 from SC to Arkansas for a snow goose trip. I declared no fast food for the whole trip and we were rewarded with delicious local meals across out route. I will admit to a single Chick Fil A stop on our final leg of the trip. After 5 days it was time to get home!
Check out "The Foraging Angler" column in "The California Fly Fisher" Great recommendations of small local restaurants to stop at when hunting and fishing in California.
LOL - on a recent 6-day road trip from San Diego to far north east Oregon (ironically on my way to deer camp) my co-driver and I chose a taco truck on the Grapevine Highway, over Subway and Jack in the Box because I do not want to eat industrialized fast food. The asada was amazing and a much better choice than the national chain eateries. We then proceeded to find either a taco truck or taqueria daily for the remainder of the trip. No regrets, only happy tummies and some fun photos.
If you haven't already done so, be sure to stop by Louie Cairos for a steak and some good wine. They do both well! Or if you are prone to liking rich Italian dining, they have other stuff that doesn't work for me, but makes my mouth water nonetheless. It is real treat to find a place like that in what I call "Tumbleweed Towns". Although stay tuned for Williams and the whole I-5 corridor north of Sacramento - the subdivisions and prices are both creeping northward from Sacramento as Yuba City fills up.
BTW - have you guys stopped to eat at Casa Lupe in Gridley? I parked my trailer at the Butte County Fairgrounds for a couple of hunting seasons and developed a nice triangle from my trailer to Casa Lupes followed by a nightcap...or two at Stan's RV Park & Lounge (a penultimate dive bar behind Safeway, which scratches itches left from youth). Prior to the pandemic Casa Lupe served a decent Mexican meals at a reasonable price. Loved to wrap up a day of duck or pheasant hunting with Chile Verde or Carnitas followed by liquor in a small canning jar. Then stagger off to the trailer to sleep it off. ;)
Years of traveling the back roads of the Deep South led me to an unlikely appreciation of Cracker Barrel, which is a chain, and doesn't feature pastured or local foods. But at least it serves veg, and it's better than it has to be, as a pioneering farmer of organic local foods and I agreed when we bumped into each other there. In more recent road trips in the Midwest, I've brought food from home (at least for Day 1) and done my best to find good local places, which is easier here than in West or South. Should life ever take you to the area around Scottsbluff Nebraska, the lonely outpost of Laura Lee's Double L Cafe is well worth a detour: A diner selling pastured local bison burgers and homemade everything is that rare.
I'm glad to see you've finally kicked the BK break to the curb. We all have our inconsistencies and self-contradictions (I am large, I contain multitudes!), but that doesn't mean we can never change. Not sure you'll have much luck ditching the industrial grade food, short of packing your own meals, but I won't knock your aspirations. Slow food and road food are seldom synonymous... especially in those more rural places.
I was happy to trade BK for Granzella's in Williams, on my trips to Delevan, Sac, and Kokopelli Valley (you know where that is). Also had a favorite Mexican restaurant in Mendota when I was hunting up that way. SOOO much better than the fast food. The extra 45 minutes added to the trip was worth it for a chance to sit and take a deep breath. Slowing down is a good thing, usually... although, like you, when it comes to hunting road trips, I'm often more about the destination than the journey.
I am guilty of post-hunt stops at the Golden Arches, but I prefer the small town pierogi restaurants found occasionally in rural Saskatchewan. Sadly no taco trucks, but an interesting conversation on the provenance of the borsht.
Another good choice if you're hunting the Suisun Marsh is the Filipino place tucked in behind the strip of fast food restaurants at Grizzly Island Road, though the line can be pretty long sometimes.
Ha! I worked at Burger King for years as a kid, so my cravings rarely bring me there. I am jealous of the taco trucks and stands you guys have over there in California. The food truck scene here is inconsistent, overpriced, and bad for you (poutine, burgers, fried food... for only $18.99!) and there are rarely any other half decent options for a quick meal other than breakfast at a diner. The one thing I've found to work, though you generally only find them in city centres, is a shawarma. Delicious, quick, easily eaten on the go, often run by entrepreneurs, and kinda healthier than chain-based fast foods.
Usually hit up in n out after grizzly island but when I was there for dog training this summer I found Taqueria Durango and yeah, much better. This new Quesabirria trend isn't the worst thing...
BK runs the gamut on burger moisture. There is the Whopper, which is arguably the messiest and wettest(?) burger I have ever had.
Then there is the bacon double cheeseburger, with no ketchup. Its meat, cheese and bread, and its the perfect blend of dry and juicy. It's almost a perfect burger
But their fries are terrible and inconsistent
One limiting factor occurs to me, that’s the state of attire I’m in on the way back from a good hunt. This is usually discouraging of a situation-down meal. But back when I was hawking rabbits across the river in Port Allen, there was (is) a local brewery on the way back that became a regular pit stop. The tasting room there is open to the air and sort of industrial in style, so I didn’t feel as offensive in my wet briar pants and soaked t-shirt. Also, they have a water cooler and cups at the door, so it serves as a hydration station (prior to more substantial hydration available inside).
On so many of our cross-country trips the highlight was eating road food—small local places. The best apple pie I have ever had was in Buffalo Wyoming at the Main Street Diner. It looked like it was going to be too sweet, I almost didn't order it, but it was astonishing. Perfect in every way. I recall that they also served burgers from local rancher's cows, so ethical meat! We ate those too. This was more than 20 years ago, pre-internets. We took a lot of chances and were rarely disappointed.
I shoot Grizzly often, and my favorite spot in Fairfield is Joe’s Buffet (closed on sundays). Meat sandos and homemade mashed potatoes so good you’ll drink the remnants of your au jus.
We did this on our trip in 2021 from SC to Arkansas for a snow goose trip. I declared no fast food for the whole trip and we were rewarded with delicious local meals across out route. I will admit to a single Chick Fil A stop on our final leg of the trip. After 5 days it was time to get home!
Check out "The Foraging Angler" column in "The California Fly Fisher" Great recommendations of small local restaurants to stop at when hunting and fishing in California.
LOL - on a recent 6-day road trip from San Diego to far north east Oregon (ironically on my way to deer camp) my co-driver and I chose a taco truck on the Grapevine Highway, over Subway and Jack in the Box because I do not want to eat industrialized fast food. The asada was amazing and a much better choice than the national chain eateries. We then proceeded to find either a taco truck or taqueria daily for the remainder of the trip. No regrets, only happy tummies and some fun photos.
If you haven't already done so, be sure to stop by Louie Cairos for a steak and some good wine. They do both well! Or if you are prone to liking rich Italian dining, they have other stuff that doesn't work for me, but makes my mouth water nonetheless. It is real treat to find a place like that in what I call "Tumbleweed Towns". Although stay tuned for Williams and the whole I-5 corridor north of Sacramento - the subdivisions and prices are both creeping northward from Sacramento as Yuba City fills up.
BTW - have you guys stopped to eat at Casa Lupe in Gridley? I parked my trailer at the Butte County Fairgrounds for a couple of hunting seasons and developed a nice triangle from my trailer to Casa Lupes followed by a nightcap...or two at Stan's RV Park & Lounge (a penultimate dive bar behind Safeway, which scratches itches left from youth). Prior to the pandemic Casa Lupe served a decent Mexican meals at a reasonable price. Loved to wrap up a day of duck or pheasant hunting with Chile Verde or Carnitas followed by liquor in a small canning jar. Then stagger off to the trailer to sleep it off. ;)
So many good local choices! Just have to make the time to stop and eat.
Are we talking Betty's or Torta Azteca in Live Oak? Or both? Or neither?
Damn. Now I am hungry. Off to an early lunch it is.
Well, just added that to my checklist of places to check out!