One of the many joys or travelling is being able to sample food form all over the World. I couldn't wait to get my mouth around tasty Thai grub, and sample the steak in Argentina. The States too had a world of food available for me to munch through!
I always remember my first time in New York, I just wanted to take some time to walk around a supermarket. Not to buy anything, but just to see what was available. Take a look at some of the junk you hear so much about. Some of my friends think its a little strange (and I might almost agree with them) but I love just walking around food stores and markets abroad checking out some of the local delights.
Whats better than looking is eating though and I was getting my chance all over the place already. You only have to take one look at the photo of my brunch in Chicago to know what that was like, but pizza in New York and, well, more pizza in Chicago. Two legends in the pizza making business. Now here I was in St Louis, where more food awaited me!
Whilst the aforementioned places are world famous for their slices of pizzas, St Louis is not. However it does have its unique brand. Unlike its Chicago counterpart St Louis pizza is thin and I mean super thin! Packed to the brim with toppings (I'm still yet to understand the New York one topping pizzas that seem to have been adopted by Pizza delivery companies throughout the country) and incredible tasty! Its certainly my preference out of the three cities pizzas.
I'd managed to meet up with a friend of mine who lives out here and talking to her before I left she mentioned two things I MUST try while I'm in town. Toasted Ravioli and Ted Drewes. The night we met up I got to sample both!
Toasted Ravs as the locals seem to call them is a St Louis speciality. Basically Ravioli breaded and deep fried and often (as ours was) served with a maranara style sauce. Its considered an appetiser so when we went into the restaurant and ordered two lots of Toasted ravs we were looked upon with scorn. No that was it, that's all we wanted. It appeared we were taking up valuable table room and with our minimal order. Still, it wasn't going to stop me sampling these delights. They looked like a heart attack waiting to happen and tasted like one but certainly weren't horrible. I'm not sure I'd order them again but sampling these things is a part of the trip for me and one i thoroughly enjoy!
If Toasted Ravioli is a local tradition then Ted Drewes is a local institution. Its Ice Cream, but not just any ice cream. Possibly the best ice cream anywhere in the world!!! A custard based concoction that is sold strictly just in St Louis. You can find a few pots of the stuff in the local grocery stores but the real deal is to be had from one of, what I believe are just 2 Ted Drewes counters. The one we visited was well out Downtown (as I believe the other is) and really only accessible by car (thankfully Emily had hers and was able to drive us around). Its a bizarre location for such a place. Something virtually every St Lousian knows about is so far detached from a town centre. Was it worth it? Hell yeah! If it wasn't ice cream I'd have filled my bag full of the stuff!
Travelling is about so many things to me and its a thrill to be able to sample local goodies wherever I am. Its something that just makes this trip even more of a thrill than it already is. So if anyone ever asks you what there is to do in St Louis apart from watch baseball and see the arch, you can tell them to eat the food! Its well worth it!
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Monday, 30 July 2007
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Get in My Belly!!!
One of those preconceived ideas that you have about the US is that they eat a lot of food...big portions are always served and its all about the big eat. Today, I uncovered the truth! Well, actually I didn't but I did get a glimpse of how it gets its reputation.
I'd met up with Jen as planned around midday, although her choice of location, in Addison, was probably not the wisest decision. Home of The Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, scene of yesterdays madness, we had chosen to meet just before game time, meaning I was clamouring to hold tight to a spot on the pavement hoping to be noticed amongst teh thousands of Cub fans now swamping me. I passed the guy selling the "Cardinals fans take it up the Pujols" T-shirts and a mixed smirk come growl could be seen across my mutt. Fortunately for me, as A Cardinals fan, I stood out handsomely above the blue dullness of Chicago's North Side and was located by Jen.
So we set about the main purpose of meeting at this hour...brunch. An American thing that has turned popular the world over it would seem, I was ready to tuck into a heart dish of fatty goodness. The cafe/bar/restaurant that didn't really know what it actually wanted to be was located right by the El, allowing you top soak up the sound of trains every few minutes as they rattled past. It was, in essence, a true slice of America!
If names are anything to go by I was feeling a mistake had been made. I'd looked at what was included in the meal, but not its name, realising afterwards that anything called "The Hog" is probably a substantial eating experience. I wasn't to be disappointed. What was delivered to me prompted "now that deserves a photo!", a comment only used on those special occasions where mere words cant do it justice! Let me attempt the description...3 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon, a decent chunk of ham, 2 sausages, 2 big pieces of french toast, 3 pancakes all on top of a mound of cheesy potato. Now, I like my food but this was one of those rare occasions when the food beat me. I failed in my attempt to devour the lot and my body, I believe has thanked me ever since!
To try and alleviate the strain now being put on my belt we took a walk out and around Lincoln Park and the free zoo. As zoos go its not the greatest but its free and a decent hours entertainment.
We put the fun on hold for a while as I was enlisted to help install a newly purchased air con unit in Jen's new apartment. Whilst she was purchasing the air con units I was trying to find some pain relief for my shoulder which had been killing me all day, unfortunately it seems you cant buy any decent medical cream here...the nearest thing to an ibuprofen cream was some hot and cold cream whose strongest ingredient was menthol!
I'm not exactly known for my DIY skills but between us we manged to get two of these units fixed up nicely and followed it up the best way, by going for a beer! I was lucky enough to be driven all over and a nice trip up Lake Shore Drive was certainly worth it. I'm glad I got to do this, I'm not entirely sure why, its just something that had me quietly pleased.
Keeping the food tradition of the day up, the early evening brought me a cake batter ice cream in close contact with each other. Something I never thought I'd eat, in fact never even knew existed but hey, when in Rome and all that...It was actually pretty darn good!
I'd met up with Jen as planned around midday, although her choice of location, in Addison, was probably not the wisest decision. Home of The Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, scene of yesterdays madness, we had chosen to meet just before game time, meaning I was clamouring to hold tight to a spot on the pavement hoping to be noticed amongst teh thousands of Cub fans now swamping me. I passed the guy selling the "Cardinals fans take it up the Pujols" T-shirts and a mixed smirk come growl could be seen across my mutt. Fortunately for me, as A Cardinals fan, I stood out handsomely above the blue dullness of Chicago's North Side and was located by Jen.
So we set about the main purpose of meeting at this hour...brunch. An American thing that has turned popular the world over it would seem, I was ready to tuck into a heart dish of fatty goodness. The cafe/bar/restaurant that didn't really know what it actually wanted to be was located right by the El, allowing you top soak up the sound of trains every few minutes as they rattled past. It was, in essence, a true slice of America!
If names are anything to go by I was feeling a mistake had been made. I'd looked at what was included in the meal, but not its name, realising afterwards that anything called "The Hog" is probably a substantial eating experience. I wasn't to be disappointed. What was delivered to me prompted "now that deserves a photo!", a comment only used on those special occasions where mere words cant do it justice! Let me attempt the description...3 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon, a decent chunk of ham, 2 sausages, 2 big pieces of french toast, 3 pancakes all on top of a mound of cheesy potato. Now, I like my food but this was one of those rare occasions when the food beat me. I failed in my attempt to devour the lot and my body, I believe has thanked me ever since!
To try and alleviate the strain now being put on my belt we took a walk out and around Lincoln Park and the free zoo. As zoos go its not the greatest but its free and a decent hours entertainment.
We put the fun on hold for a while as I was enlisted to help install a newly purchased air con unit in Jen's new apartment. Whilst she was purchasing the air con units I was trying to find some pain relief for my shoulder which had been killing me all day, unfortunately it seems you cant buy any decent medical cream here...the nearest thing to an ibuprofen cream was some hot and cold cream whose strongest ingredient was menthol!
I'm not exactly known for my DIY skills but between us we manged to get two of these units fixed up nicely and followed it up the best way, by going for a beer! I was lucky enough to be driven all over and a nice trip up Lake Shore Drive was certainly worth it. I'm glad I got to do this, I'm not entirely sure why, its just something that had me quietly pleased.
Keeping the food tradition of the day up, the early evening brought me a cake batter ice cream in close contact with each other. Something I never thought I'd eat, in fact never even knew existed but hey, when in Rome and all that...It was actually pretty darn good!
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