In this blog, I often talk about foods that I eat--and have eaten--before, during and after rides.
I got to thinking about that while reading something that appeared in my mailbox: The Worst Foods To Eat In Every State.
Now, even for someone with my refined sensibilities (Yes, I typed that with a straight face!), such a title is "click bait". I am sure that Wil Fulton, the author of that article, or the editors of the "Thrillist" website know as much.
Of course, "worst" can be interpreted in all sorts of ways. Mr. Fulton seemed to use the term to mean "whatever looks or sounds grossest to someone who's never eaten it before". And, I have to admit, I probably would have to be stranded in North Dakota before I'd try lutefisk. On the other hand, Illionois Gravy Bread doesn't sound any different from what I've eaten during, or at the end of, many a meal: bread used as a sponge for gravy or meat drippings. Nothing wrong with that. But people actually have it delivered?
Anyway, I've eaten a few of the items in that article--yes, before, during and after bike rides. Interestingly, even though I lived in Brooklyn until I was twelve--and have lived in New York City since I was twenty-five--I have eaten the Garbage Plate proper (Is that an oxymoron?) only twice in my life, both times during bike trips upstate.
One food I often ate during rides, as well as devant and apres, is Pork Roll. No one in my family, or I, had even heard of it while we were living in Brooklyn. But, after we moved to New Jersey, it became a staple of our diets. Of course, I didn't see it when I was living in France, but even after I moved to New York during the mid-80s, no one in the Big Apple seemed to know about it--or they thought it was something pornographic.
Now stores in this town are selling it. I think people here were introduced to it a few months ago, when Dunkin' Donuts offered a "limited-time special" sandwich that included it. When I was living in The Garden State, I often had the "Jersey Classic"--a sandwich of pork roll, egg and cheese--at diners, coffee shops and roadside stands during rides.
What does pork roll taste like? Some might say it's a better version of Spam, or a milder version of their favorite ham. It really tastes better than it sounds: It's pork with a nice combination of sweet and mild spices with salt.
Is it "healthy"? Of course not! (Well, as a "comfort food", perhaps it's good for your mental health.) But I have eaten all manner of pizzas and baked goods during rides, not to mention chili, burgers, tacos, take-out Chinese foods and such delicacies as the jambon-beurre.
By the way: I have eaten scrapple, the Pennsylvania Dutch-country "mystery meat". It's actually pretty good--though, I confess, I prefer good ol' Jersey Pork Roll. Or jambon-beurre.
I got to thinking about that while reading something that appeared in my mailbox: The Worst Foods To Eat In Every State.
Now, even for someone with my refined sensibilities (Yes, I typed that with a straight face!), such a title is "click bait". I am sure that Wil Fulton, the author of that article, or the editors of the "Thrillist" website know as much.
Of course, "worst" can be interpreted in all sorts of ways. Mr. Fulton seemed to use the term to mean "whatever looks or sounds grossest to someone who's never eaten it before". And, I have to admit, I probably would have to be stranded in North Dakota before I'd try lutefisk. On the other hand, Illionois Gravy Bread doesn't sound any different from what I've eaten during, or at the end of, many a meal: bread used as a sponge for gravy or meat drippings. Nothing wrong with that. But people actually have it delivered?
Anyway, I've eaten a few of the items in that article--yes, before, during and after bike rides. Interestingly, even though I lived in Brooklyn until I was twelve--and have lived in New York City since I was twenty-five--I have eaten the Garbage Plate proper (Is that an oxymoron?) only twice in my life, both times during bike trips upstate.
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| This is what you eat during a ride in New Jersey |
One food I often ate during rides, as well as devant and apres, is Pork Roll. No one in my family, or I, had even heard of it while we were living in Brooklyn. But, after we moved to New Jersey, it became a staple of our diets. Of course, I didn't see it when I was living in France, but even after I moved to New York during the mid-80s, no one in the Big Apple seemed to know about it--or they thought it was something pornographic.
Now stores in this town are selling it. I think people here were introduced to it a few months ago, when Dunkin' Donuts offered a "limited-time special" sandwich that included it. When I was living in The Garden State, I often had the "Jersey Classic"--a sandwich of pork roll, egg and cheese--at diners, coffee shops and roadside stands during rides.
What does pork roll taste like? Some might say it's a better version of Spam, or a milder version of their favorite ham. It really tastes better than it sounds: It's pork with a nice combination of sweet and mild spices with salt.
Is it "healthy"? Of course not! (Well, as a "comfort food", perhaps it's good for your mental health.) But I have eaten all manner of pizzas and baked goods during rides, not to mention chili, burgers, tacos, take-out Chinese foods and such delicacies as the jambon-beurre.
By the way: I have eaten scrapple, the Pennsylvania Dutch-country "mystery meat". It's actually pretty good--though, I confess, I prefer good ol' Jersey Pork Roll. Or jambon-beurre.
