And then we did.
It might have taken us three days but we certainly did it. We got into west Cleveland at 3:30am, since we didn't leave Madison until 4pm. Whoops. The second day we stopped at Niagara Falls and then drove on to family in Albany, NY. Then, on day three we arrived in Meredith, NH by way of southern Vermont and Keene, NH. I mean really, who takes the turnpike anymore? That, and we'd sort of run out of cash for the toll. Route 90 is pretty darned expensive these days.
Next time we're taking the train.
And Baby miraculously didn't break down AT ALL. I mean, wow. Seriously, guys, this car is a 1996.
BUT
or I should say
AND
we ate out at a couple special places that I, of course, want to share with you below.
At 8pm we rolled into South Bend, Indiana and attempted to find The Fiddler's Hearth. We succeeded, and were treated to several live bands and a packed pub. We sat down with dubious looks at each other and had to shout to be heard. It was free seating, so any chairs open were fair game. Despite the crowd we soon found a place to sit, alongside a gaggle of high school music teachers. We also had some fast, decently-paced service. I wish I had gotten the gal's name, all I know is that she looks like Emmy's sister. I got their Lamb Stew which was wow. It's really hard to cook tender lamb, I've had some misadventures myself. It's also really hard to find a stew that isn't over or under-salted. This one was perfect. Emmy stuck with one of her favorites here, Fish N Chips. Nothing bad to say, and she was stoked that it actually came wrapped in newspaper (which apparently is a thing if you're in the UK). If you're traveling along Route 90, I highly recomend this place. Also, the pricing was perfect, even for dinner.
Then, a surprise. For once on the trip, something I didn't plan.
We met up with a friend of mine from work while still in Ohio and requested "the best bacon in town". Oh, boy, and did he ever deliver!
Bagley's Grill, aka, a family restaurant. Even though it was clearly afternoon, they kept the pancake griddle on for us. Blueberry pancakes you guys. Blueberry. Pancakes. With real blueberries in them. Don't make me say it again. Omnomnomnom. And yes, it really does have the best bacon in town. Crunchy, not too thick, not limp, and not quite burned, either. Damn, heaven on earth is clearly defined by having the best bacon.
Again, another good pick if you're traveling along Route 90 or stop in Cleveland on business!
I don't know how we avoided buying anything at Niagara, it must be some kind of fantastical feat of strength. Might also have to do with the fact that I got totally drenched at the Falls. I'll also swear up and down that I saw Robert DeNiro. In other news
WE SAW CANADA.
It looks like the Midwest. Moving on.
Charlie the Butcher! We stopped here on our way out of town and got asked, "Why hea?" (This is how people talk in the east). "It's a little fah offa the highway."
"Yeah," we said, "We did a search on the Food Network." And we had. I'm pretty sure this place was reviewed by Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. And it deserves it, too. It had a sign on the door proudly declaring "LOCAL" (so had the Fiddler's Hearth, actually). I got their traditional Beef on Weck and Emmy got her own Pork & Turkey BBQ. E's had a nice spiciness to it that you don't get in store-bought bbq sauces. Also the turkey gave it a smoothing flavour overall, so that it didn't try to kick you in the mouth. She gave hers two thumbs up. Now, I'm not German by any stretch of the imagination, and the salted top of the bun became a bit too much for me about 3/4s of the way through. But other than that this was the best beef I've had in a long time. Also totally affordable.
And then
we made it
TO PORTLAND! Woooooo!
I'm afraid we had a rather mediocre luncheon at The Old Port Sea Grill. The atmosphere was very chic with aquariums everywhere, but the pricing for lunch was in the $20's. I'm no cheapskate, but can you say "ouch"? I'm sorry to say that the food wasn't even that good. I mean, who has clam chowder, but not *fish* chowder? Huh, huh? I got their lamb shepherd's pie. To be honest I don't even know what that was. There was potato and corn, yes. But the lamb? Blackened and didn't taste like any lamb I've ever eaten. It was sort of...in tiny flattened crisps. Onion rings were okay, and our server (Tom?) was excellent. Emmy got the House Burger with bacon and white cheddar. She gives her thumbs up for that one, and really liked that there were chunks of bacon instead of strings bits hanging off the sides. Actually she demolished hers while I was still picking at mine.
To end on a high note, we had the BEST doughnut earlier that day. At the Coffee By Design cafe on Congress St, they had these doughnuts in the case that were light and fluffy, just like potato doughnuts (yes, that's a thing). And it had this yummy, mmm, delicious slightly lemony frosting. I mean like wow. Go there. Get this. And eat it. Forever.
Tomorrow we will hole ourselves up at Kara's in Meredith, NH and taste their delicious coffee. Also, Ben & Jerry's is awesome. Just sayin'. I mean, I did all the driving. Like, all 20 hours of it. Most of it in the dark and the rain, dodging enormous 18-wheelers and construction equipment at 2 in the morning. I should be praised. And I was. With ice cream. Coffee ice cream, in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with rainbow sprin--I'm sorry--rainbow jimmies. We've gotta do things the right way now, now that we're east to the north, homies.
I can't believe I just said that. I'm really trying to ignore all the funny youtube shinanegans going on in the background. Omg I can't even spell anymore. Why is every fun attraction in this state (NH) ever so bloody EXPENSIVE. Wtf, NH? Why you gotta be that way, huh?
Tomorrow in this order: Dentist, Kara's Coffee, hiking, then yoga.
WE WILL HIKE ALL THE THINGS OMNOMNOMNOM. And eat them.
Not the mountains. Just the food. All the food.
All of it.
Also, cheddar. CABOT cheddar. There is no other way. I'm serious. Do it. Do it NAOW.
xoxoxo,
Kim & Emmy
ps. Emmy would like to add that margarine is NOT butter. I'm not allowed to eat it. Like, ever.
It might have taken us three days but we certainly did it. We got into west Cleveland at 3:30am, since we didn't leave Madison until 4pm. Whoops. The second day we stopped at Niagara Falls and then drove on to family in Albany, NY. Then, on day three we arrived in Meredith, NH by way of southern Vermont and Keene, NH. I mean really, who takes the turnpike anymore? That, and we'd sort of run out of cash for the toll. Route 90 is pretty darned expensive these days.
Next time we're taking the train.
And Baby miraculously didn't break down AT ALL. I mean, wow. Seriously, guys, this car is a 1996.
BUT
or I should say
AND
we ate out at a couple special places that I, of course, want to share with you below.
At 8pm we rolled into South Bend, Indiana and attempted to find The Fiddler's Hearth. We succeeded, and were treated to several live bands and a packed pub. We sat down with dubious looks at each other and had to shout to be heard. It was free seating, so any chairs open were fair game. Despite the crowd we soon found a place to sit, alongside a gaggle of high school music teachers. We also had some fast, decently-paced service. I wish I had gotten the gal's name, all I know is that she looks like Emmy's sister. I got their Lamb Stew which was wow. It's really hard to cook tender lamb, I've had some misadventures myself. It's also really hard to find a stew that isn't over or under-salted. This one was perfect. Emmy stuck with one of her favorites here, Fish N Chips. Nothing bad to say, and she was stoked that it actually came wrapped in newspaper (which apparently is a thing if you're in the UK). If you're traveling along Route 90, I highly recomend this place. Also, the pricing was perfect, even for dinner.
Then, a surprise. For once on the trip, something I didn't plan.
We met up with a friend of mine from work while still in Ohio and requested "the best bacon in town". Oh, boy, and did he ever deliver!
Bagley's Grill, aka, a family restaurant. Even though it was clearly afternoon, they kept the pancake griddle on for us. Blueberry pancakes you guys. Blueberry. Pancakes. With real blueberries in them. Don't make me say it again. Omnomnomnom. And yes, it really does have the best bacon in town. Crunchy, not too thick, not limp, and not quite burned, either. Damn, heaven on earth is clearly defined by having the best bacon.
Again, another good pick if you're traveling along Route 90 or stop in Cleveland on business!
I don't know how we avoided buying anything at Niagara, it must be some kind of fantastical feat of strength. Might also have to do with the fact that I got totally drenched at the Falls. I'll also swear up and down that I saw Robert DeNiro. In other news
WE SAW CANADA.
It looks like the Midwest. Moving on.
Charlie the Butcher! We stopped here on our way out of town and got asked, "Why hea?" (This is how people talk in the east). "It's a little fah offa the highway."
"Yeah," we said, "We did a search on the Food Network." And we had. I'm pretty sure this place was reviewed by Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. And it deserves it, too. It had a sign on the door proudly declaring "LOCAL" (so had the Fiddler's Hearth, actually). I got their traditional Beef on Weck and Emmy got her own Pork & Turkey BBQ. E's had a nice spiciness to it that you don't get in store-bought bbq sauces. Also the turkey gave it a smoothing flavour overall, so that it didn't try to kick you in the mouth. She gave hers two thumbs up. Now, I'm not German by any stretch of the imagination, and the salted top of the bun became a bit too much for me about 3/4s of the way through. But other than that this was the best beef I've had in a long time. Also totally affordable.
And then
we made it
TO PORTLAND! Woooooo!
I'm afraid we had a rather mediocre luncheon at The Old Port Sea Grill. The atmosphere was very chic with aquariums everywhere, but the pricing for lunch was in the $20's. I'm no cheapskate, but can you say "ouch"? I'm sorry to say that the food wasn't even that good. I mean, who has clam chowder, but not *fish* chowder? Huh, huh? I got their lamb shepherd's pie. To be honest I don't even know what that was. There was potato and corn, yes. But the lamb? Blackened and didn't taste like any lamb I've ever eaten. It was sort of...in tiny flattened crisps. Onion rings were okay, and our server (Tom?) was excellent. Emmy got the House Burger with bacon and white cheddar. She gives her thumbs up for that one, and really liked that there were chunks of bacon instead of strings bits hanging off the sides. Actually she demolished hers while I was still picking at mine.
To end on a high note, we had the BEST doughnut earlier that day. At the Coffee By Design cafe on Congress St, they had these doughnuts in the case that were light and fluffy, just like potato doughnuts (yes, that's a thing). And it had this yummy, mmm, delicious slightly lemony frosting. I mean like wow. Go there. Get this. And eat it. Forever.
Tomorrow we will hole ourselves up at Kara's in Meredith, NH and taste their delicious coffee. Also, Ben & Jerry's is awesome. Just sayin'. I mean, I did all the driving. Like, all 20 hours of it. Most of it in the dark and the rain, dodging enormous 18-wheelers and construction equipment at 2 in the morning. I should be praised. And I was. With ice cream. Coffee ice cream, in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with rainbow sprin--I'm sorry--rainbow jimmies. We've gotta do things the right way now, now that we're east to the north, homies.
I can't believe I just said that. I'm really trying to ignore all the funny youtube shinanegans going on in the background. Omg I can't even spell anymore. Why is every fun attraction in this state (NH) ever so bloody EXPENSIVE. Wtf, NH? Why you gotta be that way, huh?
Tomorrow in this order: Dentist, Kara's Coffee, hiking, then yoga.
WE WILL HIKE ALL THE THINGS OMNOMNOMNOM. And eat them.
Not the mountains. Just the food. All the food.
All of it.
Also, cheddar. CABOT cheddar. There is no other way. I'm serious. Do it. Do it NAOW.
xoxoxo,
Kim & Emmy
ps. Emmy would like to add that margarine is NOT butter. I'm not allowed to eat it. Like, ever.
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