Dining “Off the Chain”

When you travel with me, the rule is we eat with the locals and avoid chain restaurants if at all possible. Of course, many of the places I travel have no chain restaurants. My girls laugh and say when they travel with me, “We’re off the chain.” Through the years I’ve had good meals, best meals and an occasional worst meal. When I think of the best meals I’ve had while traveling, many come to mind.

One of the best meals in the mountains backpacking with my dad was rice cakes cooked over a campfire in a skillet of butter and drizzled with honey. The best meal after coming out of the mountains on backpacking trips was anything that Aunt Barbara cooked – usually fresh beef, potatoes, gravy, and fresh bread. The best meal while camping in the high desert was left over Costco rotisserie chicken mixed with boxed Mac ‘n Cheese with fresh Aunt Betty tomatoes on the side. It seems that food just tastes better cooked over a campfire in the mountains! The best cream puffs were a toss-up between Aunt Lois and Aunt Barbara, both made with real butter and topped with fresh whipped cream and wild berries.

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There have been three best Mexican restaurants: a Mexican restaurant on the outskirts of Omak, Washington; a taco bus in Dillon, MT; and El Rodeo bus in Bozeman, MT.

One of my favorite historic places to visit was the Historic Marysville House. Who would think of finding a restaurant serving the best of steaks and seafood in a partially inhabited ghost town off the beaten path? At one time the dining room was the freight & baggage room of the railroad station. They say it’s “worth the ride,” and it is! Two more historic great dining experiences were the old inn at Gold Hill, CA and the Grand Union Hotel in Ft. Benton, MT. Hands down, the best milkshake was and is at Cole Drug in Big Timber, MT. Madison’s Restaurant in the Old Edward Inn situated in the quaint little town of Highlands, NC was one of the best all-around fine dining experiences with good food, beautiful presentation, wonderful atmosphere, and exquisite service. The Woodbridge Inn in Jasper, GA was also a great place to eat with a Dutch twist. The best breakfast was at the Adair Manor B & B in Adairsville, GA. It’s worth a stay in this restored 1895 home full of Southern charm and Country French style. The hosts shower their guests with Southern hospitality. They set the table with the most exquisite breakfast served on their fine china.

The best huckleberry pie was at Park Café at St. Mary, MT. The best cinnamon roll was at Polebridge, MT (unless you get one at cousin Bobbie’s house). The best fish was a toss-up between fresh caught trout cooked over a campfire and fresh salmon Aunt Lois cooked on a wood-burning stove. The best water is from a mountain spring at my grandmother’s old place. One of my very favorite places to eat is at Sweet Grass Ranch. I’ve had the privilege to eat there a few times, and it has been marvelous every time. One reason the food tastes great is because the friendship, history and atmosphere are outstanding.

There have been worst places to eat, too. The VERY WORST of all time was Denny’s, a chain restaurant in Bishop, CA. It was the only place open when we got to town. I ordered spaghetti, and I got spaghetti noodles tossed in ketchup. Yep – it was terrible – the worst ever! I’m sure glad there are more best places on my list!

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