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The Indigenous Food Tour
The Indigenous Food Tour - a limited series
Of the many memorable people and places one encounters on the road, there are events that etch themselves as permanent graffiti in one’s brain. Then there are the times when a tour can happen without incident, without meeting people who remind us of cartoon characters, without adventure beyond that of performing on a new stage in a new town. But of all the things remembered or forgotten, the one thing stands out to me and at least one other person in the band is the food we eat wherever we are.
We make it a point to try and eat the local fare, the blue-plate specials, and the food that the area is known for. I call this the Indigenous Food Tour.
Sometimes the food is fantastic. Sometimes it is dreadful, and sometimes we buy a case of it for the road. Food may be just food for some folks, but for a couple band members, it’s a visit to a kitchen table that’s not the one at home. We certainly have eaten our share ….our share of fat, greasy, horrid, delectable, sweet, and even dried, “stuff”. From chocolate covered cherry nougat bars to buffalo jerky and fried oysters. This great land provides a patchwork of regional and culturally rooted recipes, which in turn become a varietal smorgasbord of culinary delights and disasters.
Now there are books and blogs out there listing foods and restaurants from across the land. There are TV shows highlighting the best diners and drive ins. We've even been to some. It is easy to be captivated by them, but nothing compares to the actual instance when you close your eyes and bite into something that you have never tasted before. We all have our own comfort foods, things from the neighborhood, things Grandma made on Sundays. Ever have a banana and mayonnaise sandwiches on white bread? How about Ritz crackers with peanut butter and cocktail onions. Both sweet and sour based ideas. Sounds strange, right? Well I've tried them, I liked them, I ate them. And... I have eaten them again. Dad always said, “take a very small portion, and try everything, if you don’t like it, don’t eat it again, but if you like it, get some more”. It’s the only way you’ll really know what you like and what you don’t like. And so it was that members of the band would start the search for the best grub that the country has to offer. Sometimes we find it, other times, we wish we hadn’t.
Stay tuned for ..."Victory in Jesus Poke Steak"