K and I left Nashville on September 25th, drove 8,151 miles, hit a dozen national and state parks, another dozen cities, and now we are back.

Having travelled so far in such short time, I can finally post what may be my first Winnie-style travel food adventure. Winnie Yang seems to write these kinds of posts weekly: here’s a pig’s head she ate in Montreal, a lovely passion fruit on the beach in Kenya, and oh, that dim sum in LA… and that’s just the last couple months. The food below is a little more pedestrian, and a little less well photographed (shitty cell phone camera), but I hope you like it.

First, starting in Nashville with the catfish sandwich.
This is from Fat Mo’s, a little drive-through place down the block. Between this sandwich the krunkest fish sandwich over in East Nashville, I predict Nashville will become an unlikely fish sandwich mecca. We do have the deep frying skills for it.

But Portland, ME will remain the lobster roll mecca

And Butte, MT is the only home of the original pork chop sandwich, invented at Pork Chop John’s and served “loaded” with red onion, mustard, and pickles, on a toasted bun, for $2.90 (!).

Portland, OR: My first bit of beef this year!
This is a local, sustainable hamburger from the amazing Burgerville USA.
And to go with it, a mind-blowing pumpkin milkshake.

Side trip: While in Oregon, my aunt Joy took us shrooming. Don’t pass up an opportunity to do shrooms with your aunt.

Talking of chanterelles and local food—we had a great lunch on the porch at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA:
Rocket salad with beets and a chopped medium-boiled egg
Hand-cut wild nettle pasta with chanterelle mushroom ragú
Provençal fish and shellfish stew with fennel, tomato, and rouille
Grilled pork roast with shell beans, roasted pimiento, and tomatillos

Then, on our way back east, we went to Bryce’s Cafeteria in Texarkana, TX. This place was loaded to the gills with amazing home-cooked southern food. I wish I’d taken a picture of the buffet.
The absolute crispiest most amazing fried chicken legs ever, with all the southern accompaniments.

And as my dad taught me, if you’re ever in Memphis, a stop at Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous is a must:
Here’s a full order of their charcoal roasted, dry rubbed ribs. Heaven on a bone.