Chapter 6
The Foodie Fam Super Official Map to Eating Across America
Who knows? Perhaps I am looked at as the man about town who could truly appreciate his food experiences when the food brings MORE than just character to my palette.
White table cloth Michelin star dining rooms and hot dog vendors at Central Park all have one thing in common: experience. They all want you to not just taste the food, but to experience it.
I want the full experience when it comes down to each bite. There are times that I sit in my vehicle, just thinking where should I go next for a food review? I want to be inspired by my food. Inspired in a way that I can look directly into the camera and scream out upon the mountaintops just how GOOD this burger, chicken sandwich, pizza, taco, hot dog truly is; but in my line of work, that is not always the case.
I do not always get lost in the moment of pure tasteful bliss and more times than not, I am met with some foods that should have never made it to the menu. But because we spend our hard-earned money everywhere, from 5-star dishes to a fast food burger, our expectations tend to be that we should be met with value worthy of our time for each bite…but that’s not always the case. THAT is where I come in: The YouTube Food Titan.
I hope that this guide helps you get closer to your taste buds. By the last page I want you to understand what food means; what the experience of eating from a food truck or cheap eats dive actually means to the cooks, the chefs, the owners, and most importantly, you. So let’s get started!
A CRASH COURSE ON FOOD TRUCKS AND CHEAP EATS
If you’re familiar with my channel, you’ll know that my dining experience tends to center on my car’s dashboard. For a YouTube food review, it is the BEST option for enjoying and detailing what makes a certain order stand out. With that in mind, I was inspired to think of all the unique ways we enjoy food: family dinners, BBQs with friends, picnics, happy hour sliders, fish tacos and so many more. With all these different ways to eat and connect, I thought we’d start off with the community. And nothing brings people together quite like food made by hard-working, caring people. While you can find these dishes all across the restaurant world, I find that the ones that speak to me come from trucks and Mom and Pop spots.
Food trucks are a traveling person’s best friend. Regardless if you are a block away from home or exploring the streets of Italy, you may not always be looking for a restaurant to sit down in. Sometimes you want to be by the water or roam about the city on your lunch break. Most areas will have a food truck posted nearby with some amazing hidden gems when it comes down to selection.
Have you ever been inside of a food truck? Do allow me to take you for a mental tour. On the passenger’s side of the truck, we slide that door back and walk up two steps; all to be met at times with another door to our immediate left.
Once you slide this door back, you have just enough room for perhaps two or three people at best to work in what looks to be a small kitchen area, equipped with a grill(s), storage space, and their respective inventory to ensure they can get several hungry souls through their lunch breaks.
Now, I will not say that every food truck experience will be a good one. If those working the grill have no understanding of what it takes to prepare an amazing dish, your money and time will be quickly wasted. But let me tell you right now, should you have the patience to wait after you order that Lobster Roll, that Philly Style Cheesesteak, that free-range chicken sandwich, or a stuffed potato that could challenge a half loaf of bread in size, you will quickly be taken to foodie heaven. That initial bite and the burst of flavor alone will remind you that the wait was truly worth it!
The convenience of a food truck is that it moves about from place to place. If you can pinpoint a schedule by checking their websites and/or social media platforms, it is a short ride (depending on where you are) to take on something that may be new for you. Perhaps you never thought a food truck would be a great source to get something worthwhile, but let me tell you, most trucks that I have come across in my travels and at local events serve up the type of delightful selections that would challenge a few 4-star restaurants right now!
Never count out the underdog in the big game, for they too keep many tricks and treats up their sleeves that keep the locals and those abroad coming back for more. And customers tell their friends DAILY about their overall experiences.
The operational costs of a food truck are not cheap, and so to ensure they can continue to service the community, you will notice that not all foods prepared for you will ever challenge that of something found on a dollar menu. So, expect to pay a little more for what you crave, but more often than not, it is truly worth it.
Your pockets are light and payday is not necessarily around the corner, but your stomach has been talking to you all morning on your way to work. Let’s explore a few cheap eats at local Mom & Pop spots. These venues can help curb your hunger with a price point that can and will satisfy you just as much as their menu.
It is no secret that you can find some amazing dishes at any Mom and Pop establishment. The local diners are filled with items that will have you sitting back with a smile, and the feel of being home amongst family is found at many of these locations.
Are you craving fluffy buttermilk pancakes, two eggs fried hard (lightly salted), and some hash browns with a coffee all for under $6.00? Well, if you are dining at one of these local locations, that is exactly what you will receive for that price point.
I simply love searching for restaurants that are clean once I step inside, mixed with a friendly atmosphere and a team that knows how to make you feel like you are part of their family. Again, to me that overall experience does more in terms of making me return
