Best lunch ideas for 1 day trip.
- Thread starter azarmadillo
- Start date
Mike,
I agree that Seattle doesn't have the type of working class food you are used to. The ethnicities that have shaped Chicago and Seattle are much different. In the PNW, you can find outstanding Mexican food (taquerias), asian food, scandinavian food (seafood), and coffee (cheap and expensive) right around every corner. There is essentially no Italian influence on this area, so you are right in saying that you can't find good sausage, Chicago style pizza, etc.
Regarding leftover parts of a salmon, that's what salmon chowder, fish cakes (scandinavian), fish-ball soup, caviar, etc are. You are right. It is an art figuring out what to do with the left-overs and a Chicago (Italian) sausage is light years ahead of any hot dog you'll find around here. I doubt it is easy to find a good cup of clam chowder in Chicago though.
--Craig
I agree that Seattle doesn't have the type of working class food you are used to. The ethnicities that have shaped Chicago and Seattle are much different. In the PNW, you can find outstanding Mexican food (taquerias), asian food, scandinavian food (seafood), and coffee (cheap and expensive) right around every corner. There is essentially no Italian influence on this area, so you are right in saying that you can't find good sausage, Chicago style pizza, etc.
Regarding leftover parts of a salmon, that's what salmon chowder, fish cakes (scandinavian), fish-ball soup, caviar, etc are. You are right. It is an art figuring out what to do with the left-overs and a Chicago (Italian) sausage is light years ahead of any hot dog you'll find around here. I doubt it is easy to find a good cup of clam chowder in Chicago though.
--Craig
Craig, the kinds of places I'm talking about are the quick walk-up / small eat-in self service restaurants. Think of Dick's or the Ivar's walk-ups. I will say Seattle makes up for it with the Teriyaki fast food places or Pho restaurants.
Chicago is pretty weak on seafood restaurants. Its all about midwest beef and pork.
Chicago is pretty weak on seafood restaurants. Its all about midwest beef and pork.
Philadlephia has available on nearly every block:
-Cheesesteaks (the obvious and most holy of working class eats)
-Hoagies (don't call them subs or grinders)
-Slices (big thin and floppy)
-Mozzarella sticks (straight to the heart)
-Pretzels (25 cents)
-Grilled Chicken sandwich (lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and secret creamy sauce)
-Falafel (for when you're not trying to commit suicide)
-Indian curries (to clear your sinus, or for the $6.95 dinner buffet)
-Bento Box (japanese fast food)
-Crepes (nutella, strawberries and walnuts)
-Taylor pork roll (if you dare)
-Scrapple (Camden like what?)
The best part of it is, there are thousand little corner stores with this stuff, but all over the city are little trailered food carts, with some poor immigrant sweating over a propane stove. This is where it's at. Walk out of your building to the end of the block and get a cheesesteak that beats Pat's or Geno's for 3 bucks.
-Cheesesteaks (the obvious and most holy of working class eats)
-Hoagies (don't call them subs or grinders)
-Slices (big thin and floppy)
-Mozzarella sticks (straight to the heart)
-Pretzels (25 cents)
-Grilled Chicken sandwich (lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and secret creamy sauce)
-Falafel (for when you're not trying to commit suicide)
-Indian curries (to clear your sinus, or for the $6.95 dinner buffet)
-Bento Box (japanese fast food)
-Crepes (nutella, strawberries and walnuts)
-Taylor pork roll (if you dare)
-Scrapple (Camden like what?)
The best part of it is, there are thousand little corner stores with this stuff, but all over the city are little trailered food carts, with some poor immigrant sweating over a propane stove. This is where it's at. Walk out of your building to the end of the block and get a cheesesteak that beats Pat's or Geno's for 3 bucks.
Back in the spirit of best trail lunches...
I like to bring a roll of some kind since bread just winds up getting smashed. So, one of my recent favorites is Focaccia bread, with roast beef, and crumbled blue cheese. Along with a Sobe, and a ziploc full of fresh strawberries, it's usually more than enough.
On a cold day, I heat soup up in the morning (clam chowder or salmon chowder) and bring it in a thermos. Pour it into a cup with a lid and you can drink it whenever you are idling on the trail. Toss in a couple of good rolls (cheese optional) and you are set.
I like both of these options because they taste great, but are also really convenient. When I'm with a larger group I don't like having to pull out any cooking gear, spread mayo, etc since there may never be time.
I like to bring a roll of some kind since bread just winds up getting smashed. So, one of my recent favorites is Focaccia bread, with roast beef, and crumbled blue cheese. Along with a Sobe, and a ziploc full of fresh strawberries, it's usually more than enough.
On a cold day, I heat soup up in the morning (clam chowder or salmon chowder) and bring it in a thermos. Pour it into a cup with a lid and you can drink it whenever you are idling on the trail. Toss in a couple of good rolls (cheese optional) and you are set.
I like both of these options because they taste great, but are also really convenient. When I'm with a larger group I don't like having to pull out any cooking gear, spread mayo, etc since there may never be time.
For my birthday, I got a Chicago food shipment consisting of 2 Lou Malnatis deep dish pizzas and a couple packages of Italian beef. I made some Italian beef sandwiches for dinner the other night. After the euphoria wore off, I started thinking that these sandwiches would be perfect for a trailside lunch. All you need is a small pot to warm up the broth. Then you have to immerse the beef in the broth long enough just to warm it up. Throw it on the roll, toss on some hot giardiniera and you're good to go.
Mike_Rupp said:
Like maybe a JetBoil? I finally got one of these after watching my trail partner brew up some coffee in 5 minutes in the middle of nowhere. Then another guy had a cup of tea. All before the caravan continued on. They are awesome.
I've heard that the Jetboils are pretty sweet, but the secret to good Italian beef is not to boil the broth. 185F is the perfect temperature.
Another thing I've learned about coffee and tea making is that boiling water will scorch the coffee beans and tea leaves. Making good coffee or tea can't be rushed. If you can't take the time to make it properly, don't waste the time.
Another thing I've learned about coffee and tea making is that boiling water will scorch the coffee beans and tea leaves. Making good coffee or tea can't be rushed. If you can't take the time to make it properly, don't waste the time.
Well it may not be the "best", in fact it’s far from it but I always just pick up a couple pre-made sandwiches at the grocery store in the morning and stop a McDonalds on the way out for breakfast. I could see if you were going on an extended trip bringing out the gourmet stuff but for a one day trip I'll take the convenience of a quick stop on the way out to the trail. Besides I have no interest in all the prep work involved or waiting for someone else to cook. I'd rather be out on the trail - but that's just me. To each his own.
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I likes me some good ol fashion PB'n J with a big ass nalgene of cold milk.
Or a big ass sandwich with brown sugar turkey, provolone, sprouts, mayo, mustard, roma tomatoes, salt n' pepper on a hogie bun with a cold ass Full Suspension pale ale
I'm just a simple man though...
Or a big ass sandwich with brown sugar turkey, provolone, sprouts, mayo, mustard, roma tomatoes, salt n' pepper on a hogie bun with a cold ass Full Suspension pale ale
I'm just a simple man though...