Road Eats

With the sun up and a three day weekend only hours away, the open road may be calling you like that creepy disembodied voice in Field of Dreams. Sacramento being that great metropolis lauded for its proximity to prime destinations, it’s inevitable. The decision to hit the road usually involves two decisions–where to go, and when to leave. The one decision we leave to the traveling gods is what we’ll eat on the way there, so here are a few suggestions organized by driving routes:

80-East: If you’re heading up to Truckee, Tahoe, or points beyond, don’t forget to stop at Ikeda’s in Auburn. A great place to stop for fresh fruit, killer pies, and gourmet groceries, Ikeda’s (pronounced ee-kay-das) also has a mean grill that turns out some ridiculously good burgers and perhaps the finest BLT west of the International Date Line.

80-West: I know, I know, you miss the Nut Tree too. Well, trust me, it’s universal. Not one person who drives by the sorry excuse calling itself the Nut Tree is happy to see a bunch of big box retailers taking the place of their beloved memories. The ‘Tree was by far the best roadside attraction in recent memory after Texaco stopped their “Gas, Food, BJ” campaign. And while there’s not nearly as much fun to be had in the faceless shoppers’ paradise that Vacaville has become, you can still find some decent grub in the surrounding communities. If you’re heading west on I-80, pull off at t Travis Blvd in Fairfield and grab a sandwich at Kinder’s fine meats. The barbecue ball-tip sandwich is happy-dance inducing. Try it with he solid potato salad and you’ll be a happy traveler.

50-East: Heading to South Shore? Don’t forget to stop off at Apple Hill. Sure, it’s not exactly the high season, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t pick up some good wine at Boeger Vineyards, or some gourds shaped like penis-shaped swans at Boa Vista Orchards. Hungry? Stop off at the Forester in Camino. The meals are hearty and Jack Russel brews are on tap.

I-5 North: With the untimely destruction of Granzella’s in Williams, good eats along I-5 are a little hard to find. Here’s hoping that Granzella’s can rebuild with the same piss and vinegar with which they picked their peppers.

I-5 South: What would any trip down south be without a stop at Pea Soup Andersen’s? Mrs. Eats and I happened to be on the road on Valentine’s Day and wound up having a “romantic” meal at the venerable favorite in Santa Nella. If you haven’t been in Andersen’s in a while, don’t worry, nothing’s changed. The pea soup is still green and smooth, and the kitsch is still on sale in the gift shop. The Mrs. and I were actually amazed at the number of locals who were in all sincerity having their special Valentine’s dinner there, but on further reflection, we realized that there might not be another sit down restaurant in a sixty mile radius. When I mentioned this to Papa Eats, who I spoke with on the phone while driving back to Sacramento, he said, “Oh sure. That Andersen’s used to be the nicest restaurant in central California. One thing though, once you eat that pea soup, you better keep an eye out for the roadside bathrooms, because that stuff goes right through you.” Happy Valentine’s Day indeed.