Eating a Sandwich and a Snack

Most of the Hotel Jacaranda looks like this. I put on my bathing suit and pretended like I was going to go in the pool outside but it was too cold. There was nothing to do in town and the only place with wifi was the lobby so I had to do things like read and run. On the weekends, the quasi abandoned building is filled with people who come out of nowhere for brunch. There's a piano player, crackers, and a dessert spread I wouldn't let myself touch.

 This is the Burrito Gallery Downtown in Jacksonville. The nachos flowed.

We were in middle of nowhere Clewiston, Florida for so long. Meredith and I looked for the allusive Lake Okeechobee trail, and we eventually ended up at the Clewiston Museum watching videos about oranges and sugar. It was actually fascinating. There used to be a beauty contest down here. One of the winners was photographed on a mountain of sugar. Anyway we went to Hawaiian Ice.

The atmosphere in Poogan’s Smokehouse in Charleston, SC is like that of a home designed by Chip and Joanna. Mm. Here's my tomato and cucumber salad and potato salad.

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen gives out free pralines and fudge samples. In this world there is always free fudge and I always take too much sorry. Just outside of this candy/ice cream shop was a huge outdoor market which featured paintings of scenic Charleston, jewelry, woven palm baskets, cheese plates made of wine bottles, and oils. 

In this town resides a giant Abraham Lincoln head, a swing tree branch, and houses I want to buy. I won't post pictures you just have to find them. 

The Answer Brew Pub has games and these foods.

I'm really sorry for getting this unforgettable veggie burger at Farm Burger. I feel like I should have gotten meat as much as possible while in Asheville because everything is organic, but veggie burgers are so good.

The Jackson Underground Cafe is actually underground and kind of secret. 

See nature in Asheville. The front desk person gave me a map and told me about a number of nearby trails I could visit.

The Battery Park Book Exchange sells biscotti and booze and books. Of the three I got the latter. I found a book about World War II with period newspaper articles taped inside. My favorite author loves World War II, and the newspaper clippings were so cool, so I had to buy it.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge looks like it has a small library inside, but actually it's just shelves of chocolate wrapped in beautiful paper. I got this ice cream. 

Almost immediately after getting ice cream, Sarah and I went to Tupelo Honey Cafe to eat more. Not pictured: our awesome server Darien and pecan pie. 

The Taco Project in Tarrytown, NY was where I decided that tacos are too small.

Cash only warning. We waited outside the very small Daily Catch in Boston's North End for about twenty minutes. Once we were in the food came fast. My black noodles were made of squid ink, and I watched the meal preparation! The entire restaurant (kitchen in included) is about the size of my living room (my parents' living room.)

My Emerson friends recommended Trident Cafe for food and books. My avocado smoothie was like ice cream. Sometimes I'm suspicious that the smoothies I order are actually ice cream. 

I got this Kale Mango smoothie between shows at Muddy Waters in Burlington, VT.The art, wood beams, and cookies will make you stay forever.

Visiting the dead

The reason I only got a smoothie between shows was because we all went to Ben & Jerry’s for a tour of the ice cream factory and the biggest free sample of ice cream I've ever had. I was expecting just a spoonful of brownie batter ice cream but I got a full scoop in a cup. Meredith's birthday wish was for the six of us to share a Vermonster, but we didn't do that. We did get to try the exclusive Maple flavor only served in Vermont. 

We made our way to Penn State's Ye Olde College Diner where I got a cup of chili. You must get their stickies. I didn't eat a lot for lunch because we planned to go to The Creamery for dessert. It was exciting to eat the ice cream that inspired Ben & Jerry. They don't mix flavors at Penn State. 

This is The Tavern on the Square in New Wilmington. You must get their sticky buns.

The Holiday Inn Express New Castle is amazing. Nightly 25¢ cocktails with soup and Chexmix plus two enormous French chocolates on the pillows and a bag full of candy?? And fruit in the lobby?

Tío Juan’s Margaritas in Salem NH had a paint and drink wine class. I didn't do that but I did get food here two nights in a row.

Real quick, if you're in New London, CT go to the beach. It is filled with little domed pink seashells. There is also a little light house that looks like a square colonial building just off shore. While you're there, drive through the Eugene O'Neil Theatre Center. It's so quaint, and you feel the magic.

We had a three show day in Brooklyn. With a day off and the end of contract quickly approaching we went to Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria where I willingly ordered beer again (Purple Haze.)

There we were at Sweet Jane's Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt. I'm always going to get pistachio and sprinkles.

Five months and many nachos later I unpacked my suitcase and sat on my parents porch with a bowl of my dad's chili. I'd like to give a shout out to Tropical Smoothie Cafe for being my go-to smoothie place throughout tour, and my cast's love for adventure and melted cheese. 

Makin' My Way Down South

My mom came to see the show when we were back in New York! We made our way to Cognac for some French things. I’m very glad the server forced the cheese on us. This is one of the poofiest desserts I’ve had. It’s an edible plush on top of melted ice cream. 

I stood in line for a very long time at Vanilla Bean Café in Pomfret, CT because literally everything was appetizing. This is rare since I don't eat pork or seafood. A regular came in and told me I have to get chili. I say that everyone knows that when I’m missing home even just a little bit I order a cup of chili and I mean it. She knew. Upon her request I ordered a cup of chili with my sandwich. My dad’s chili will always be my favorite, but this comes in second. This place understands that chili isn’t soup. Surprisingly I never had chili with nachos before this day. The scallions are something I know I’ll be adding to my future chili crafting attempts. Spouts are one of my favorite things, so this on top of avocados made it the obvious choice for my post-show eats. 

So we’re in Baltimore going to a preseason baseball game seeing two of the cast members’ home teams, and before going to the field for black and orange dip n’ dots a few of us went to the Wharf Rat for drinks. They were the first place we found that served food with their drinks. Amazing. I got a portobello burger with Stella. I like this beer <-a rare sentence. The table is embedded with coins and the bathroom is covered in vibrant graffiti. I bought gold sharpies last August and this is one of the occasions I wish I was in possession of my backpack filled with everything, but no one wants a backpack in a bar (I’ve done this.) The Union Jack was everywhere and I know Pop Pop would not approve. 

Two very important things happened on April 11, 2016. The first was what the creation of Meredith’s nickname, and the second was the feeling I got after finishing my egg and spinach sharp provolone hoagie. Meredith was asked to spell her name when giving her order. What was yelled at the time her order was ready was “Mertha.” Her receipt read “Mertha.” Meredith was now Mertha. It was a joy to be a part of my fellow cast members’ first Philly cheesesteak experience. One of the happiest moments in my life was the hour surrounding the consumption of my Tony Luke’s hoagie.

Our one night in Savannah started with "I'm not drinking tonight" and me ordering a clementine chill at Moon River. I also had a spinach salad and some potatoes. My cast said they would share them with me but it was actually a trick to get me to eat a lot of potatoes. The cider helped me finish them all. I didn't think I was going to try mead on this night but we ended up at Savannah Bee Company where I had a tasting, ate a honeycomb with brie and apple, and bought some grill honey for my dad. We walked down to 

River Street Sweets and tasted pralines and more. It was surprisingly chilly that night, so we warmed ourselves by the fire at Rocks on Roof. I was drinking a coffee du monde and sharing stories and knowledge about New York with our waiter who was getting ready to go to a rave in Brooklyn. A couple from Florida sat across from us and was fascinated with our lifestyle and journey. Sometimes I forget that I'm working when I'm on tour.

Here's Sarah talking to the keyboardist. She's going to get so mad at me.

The live music journey continued at Tree House. I was ready to sleep but stayed awake by dancing with Meredith and ordering more shots. I purposely threw away the receipts from this bar because I don't want to know. 

In preparation for our inevitable beach trip in Florida we all went to Paradise Nail and Spa and got pedicures. This was a first for me and Zach. There are pictures of this event but I feel weird about posting them because there are people out there who get too rowdy about feet and then make comments I do not like.

I don't have a picture of the house salad i got at Ruby's Diner in Tallahassee but I wanted to mention it because it had a small town feel to it. It felt like Gilmore Girls but in Florida.

Our hotel in Kissimmee was right next to The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek

We went to Disney World and Universal Studios. I was too absorbed in talking paintings and fast passes to really think about documenting anything but here are my dining suggestions from this experience:

For din din, Raglan Road is in Downtown Disney. Sit outside for live Irish music and dancing.

I didn't drink around the world at Epcot but once the sun went down I went to Joffrey’s for a Baileys Frozen Chai Latte. I was persuaded by the barista to make it a double.

Morocco as a new restaurant: Spice Road Table. This has the best hummus and cheeses, and it's right on the water.

Once you get to Universal go straight to Diagon Alley and get in line at Gringots. Once you've taken care of that do whatever, but also go to the Leaky Cauldron for Pumpkin Juice and the Cottage Pie Platter.

Hop on the Hogwarts Express and get your ass to class. Once you exit Hogwarts and explore Hogsmeade get some Butterbeer and the Cornish Pasti Platter at Three Broomsticks. 

Hello It's Cheese

We spent a great deal of time in and around Chicago. It wasn’t as windy as people make it out to be so if you plan on going to fart and have it immediately blow away think again. Our casting director required us to go to Giordano's to get a made to order deep dish pizza and we were like k. This deep dish pizza B is modeling is my first impression of Chicago, and a pizza I will remember forever. Part of me says two slices is enough but the other part of me says I will never be satisfied/the limit does not exist. The sauce. The cheese. The depth. Luckily, Giordano's delivers NATION WIDE.

As I was walking through Old Town in Chicago I heard something wonderful. Someone was  screaming Adele's “Hello” out a car window.

Bakersfield in Indianapolis got the Papa’s salad which is everything you could want in a taco but on a salad and hard shell.

Look at this Vietnamese iced coffee from Egg Roll #1. I wasn't even planning on eating here but Sarah and Meredith asked if I wanted to and it just happened and I'm glad because culture. 

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! We were once again in search of live music, but so was everyone in Chicago. The Kerryman was crowded and had no live music but it also had the shortest line and served Magners. You’ll be surprised how many bars and pubs don’t have Magners. It was quite some time before we were seated so we had many toasts before we got shepherd’s pies all around. “Like a ghost, I’ll be gone.” -Shepherd’s Pie to drunk me

Jess and I were running around Chicago doing idk and we took a bathroom stop. That’s when I found Protein Bar. The best smoothie I will ever have. Maybe we’ll meet again. Maybe it was just a moment in the woods.

Look at this big ass spoon at Blueberry Hill Pancake House. I ended up here after church one day and brought the goods home to Red Roof to eat on my bed and make a mess.

Go

This was a ratchet travel day and we were all very hungry for no reason. Here are some fried cheese curds. Deforest Family Restaurant.

This is the first time I ordered veggies at a Chinese restaurant and they were served raw. It was a nice surprise! We were all missing our families extra this week so it was nice. I can't find the Bansa Express website or a Yelp page but it's in Grand Rapids.

I’ve been blessed with a number of life changing potatoes on this tour. Here are some of the potatoes from BLD Diner in Larchmont, NY.

JV Hot Bagels II. I don’t know where the father is, but this establishment has very moist banana muffins. Oo daddy.