We’ve eaten very well and very inexpensively on the “Eating Our Way Across America” portion of our trip. From the $1.75 hot dogs at Coney Island in Fort Wayne, IN to a little joint in Coeur D’Alene, ID whose name I have forgotten. The place only offered hamburgers (with or without sauce), fries, and a drink. The line moved quickly and the food was delicious, and under $2.00 a hamburger. In Tempe, AZ we had fabulous Mexican food at a little inconspicuous place set away from strip malls and trendy areas.
However, we have encountered a few meals where we ask “why?” when discovering the taste/price ratio. These places tend to be in touristy areas where the tourists must feel it is part of the experience to dish out too many dollars for too little taste. A coastal town in California was part of this experience. We heard the place’s (I’ll keep the place nameless) cookies were the best around and worth having with their $4.00 cup of coffee. That price should have given us a warning.
But, since MC and I enjoy a cookie now and then (more of “NOW!” for me actually), we walked over to try the cookies. At first the price wasn’t so daunting, $3 for a couple of cookies – I mean, they had brown butter and sea salt in the ingredients so they must be gourmet (I was trying to not to sound too uncouth otherwise). Two surprises came – they weren’t that tasty and they were small! We had committed to pay for barely more than a quarter-sized cookie! Maybe the sea salt shrinks them.
Oh well, the weather was good and the beach fun. On to eating our way across America!
Let's go get a cookie!