Cooky's

Golden City, MO

BEST PIE. When you talk about this marvelous dessert, you must pronounce it "pahye". Everything I've had at Cooky's is good. Really freakin' awesome. It's an hour drive north from Joplin and yes, it is totally worth it.

Strawberry Pie: fresh strawberries, just outstanding. Not overly crusty, leaving the focus on the fruit.

Butterscotch Pie: If you don't like butterscotch, well, you are missing out. This slice of pie was orgasmic. And gone in about 30 seconds... I tried to savor, but was helpless.

That coming from the girl who can eat a hot funnel cake in less than 2 minutes.

Cheeseburger: not too greasy, just good flavor.

Susie Qs: I'd never had these before exploring Southwest MO... It's basically one giant curly fry. But better, fresh-cut flavor. Great with Ranch.

Three of us went last time: 3 Dr Peppers, 3 cheeseburgers with Susie Qs and 3 pieces of pie. Less than $25. You really can't beat that, especially for the amount you get and great service.

A Little Bit About Me

I'm a TV News Reporter. I frequently spend my lunches in small town in between interviews... meaning I eat at a lot of hole-in-the-wall places. And In my personal experience, they're usually the best food for your money.

Expect to read about a lot of places in towns you may have never heard of... And remember, I don't celebrate mediocrity, so when I say something is awesome, I mean it.

Happy eating!

Egg McMuffin

Ahh, the elusive Egg McMuffin. Salty and tasty. I'll never understand why they don't serve it all day... is it to make me want them more? BECAUSE IT'S WORKING.

The ham, the cheese (which, yes, I lick off the wrapper) the egg. The muffin. No complaints here. Except at 10:30.

You've gotta get the combo. The hashbrown sets off the McMuffin-ness. Crispy, salty, hot and soft in the middle. I like the orange juice, too. Especially if it's in the Grimace cup.

(Egg McMuffin and Grimace trademarks of the McDonald's company.)

Andy's Frozen Custard

Apparently, I have a bit of a sweet tooth at the moment.

One of the things I miss most about Columbia, MO (aside from college of course) is the prevalence of ice cream and frozen custard shops. Andy's and Sparky's being my faves.

Andy's frozen custard will make you any combination of stuff on their menu or you can choose from their list of concoctions. I've never gone wrong with either option.

Call me 'stuck in my ways' but I always battle it out between the chocolate custard and cookie dough concrete and the chocolate custard with raspberries concrete. What can I say? I just don't like to mess with success.

Braum's

It's been awhile! I apologize to anyone who reads my blog regularly--I've been eating home-cooked meals. So really, no, I'm not sorry.

My grandfather, may he rest in peace, loved Braum's. I'm not sure if he really liked the food, or he went there because there always seems to be babies there. But then again he really liked anything his wife didn't cook (she was the worst cook I have ever known. Known for using the phrase, "it's just a little brown" followed by the sound 'scrape, scrape, scrape'.).

But I digress. Braum's always smells like they have great hamburgers, but I always go for the dairy stuff. They have all sorts of ice creams that rival Blue Bell (to be discussed in another post) and melt in your mouth with a rich creaminess you can only get from a good bowl if fresh ice cream.

You can also buy all that in tubs in the store part of your favorite Braum's.

But the chocolate milk. FAN-FREAKIN'-TASTIC. You can't make chocolate milk this good. It's rich and delicious and in no way watery. When you buy a half gallon, you'll have to shake it up so it's the right consistency and flavor (not all preservative-y like the store bought kind, with which I'm also obsessed).

So next time you're down South, or on your way home from work, get some. Because seriously, it's almost as awesome as I am.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Hello, All. I'm a fatty (not really, I just feel like one).

I really, REALLY need that new pair of running shoes after my latest trip to Lubbock, TX. So many delicious food options, so little time and stomach space.

I got the "little" cheeseburger. With bacon. Still the size of a regular cheeseburger. And you can get all the toppings you want. Tasty, tasty.

Fries. Quite delicious, y'all. Just like homemade. Fresh. I don't really like ketchup all that much, but it was good on Five Guys fries. A large is WAYYYYY to many though. Share them with at least 2 other people.

Go, seriously. But don't expect to go for cheap. A little burger runs for about $4.

Las Vegas: Rosemary's Restaurant

My mom declared her meal here "the best [she'd] ever eaten."

This is a big deal, people. She has "eaten a lot of things."

For once, I'll start with dessert. My mom and brother got the coconut bread pudding, but were disappointedly "too full to eat it." They both made an effort and looked so sad when their stomachs declared themselves closed for business. They also brought some freebie desserts that while delicious, did not take precedence over me frambois float. My dad thought they were great though ANNNND ate all of his flourless chocolate cake.

The frambois float=deliciousness. I mean it's just frambois and ice cream, but I didn't think of it, so I have to deem it genius on the chef's part.

I'll tell you right now I wish I could eat scallops. My mom got them and I got to eat part of one. They were in a buerre blanc sauce with bacon. They sat on a bed of parsnip mashed potatoes and had a dressing of fried parsnips on top. Just incredible, people.

My brother got rack of lamb and declared it the best he'd ever eaten. He's going to be on Jeopardy! so I trust his judgement. My dad got veal; he was too busy eating it to tell us how it was. He ate it like he liked it... I got the filet mignon and while it was not cooked how I wanted it, it was still tasty-tasty. Little fried wads of mashed potatoes accompanied the dish along with some asparagus.

Now the appetizers. My mom had a caesar salad and it looked better than any salad ever. The croutons were a bit too large and one flew across the room as she tried to make it smaller (okay, it just fell on the floor). My brother got the Texas shrimp with a bleu cheese coleslaw. num num. The barbeque sauce had cream in it! Gooooood. My dad and I both had the signature appetizer: figs stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in prosciutto and sitting in a pool of fresh pesto. Dude--fantastic.

Drinks! My dad and brother sampled some beers, and while I tasted them all, I wouldn't dare take a guess at what they were called. But they did all have their own glasses so the beer would taste as they were intended to taste. I had an orange chocolate drop martini. It was like eating a chocolate orange peel!

Go to Rosemary's. It's a little out of the way, but it is certainly the best food in Vegas.

Charleston's: Immediate Seating Available

Fort Worth, Texas

When a new restaurant opens in your town, and has a sign that constantly reads, "Immediate Seating Available," one might think, That place must suck if it always has available seating.

Not so in the case of Charleston's. My family avoided it as long as possible because of the sign, but one day, we decided to give it a shot since it was still open after about a year.

And it was delicious. The house salad is great (always fresh and tasty tomatoes) as is the baked potato soup. The house honey mustard dressing is good on everything. I also like their burgers and chicken tenders. The steaks look good, but I usually go for lunch and that's a little heavy for me at noon.

They also have honey croissants, hot and fresh. MMMMM.

The wait staff is probably the best around. They are prompt, attentive and well-trained. Certainly one of those places where your glass is never empty.

The moral of the story: immediate seating is not congruent with suckiness.

Zeke's Fish and Chips

Fort Worth, Texas

Don't worry, folks. I have not been skimping on meals. Just been busy what with graduating and moving back to Texas. GOOD LIFE.

For those who love foreign cuisine, fish and chips are high on most London travelers' list of local fare. But you needn't go to London for the best fish and chips... they can be found Fort Worth, Texas.

There isn't anything about Zeke's that isn't great. The restaurant is known for its Icelandic Cod, deep-friend and fantabulous. It's crispy but the fish is still fresh and hot in the middle. They also have great fried mushrooms, shrimp and fries. I hear the spaghetti is good, too. The portions are pretty large, so you might consider splitting. Get extra dill sauce and ask for malt vinegar if it's not on your table.

The food is reasonably priced and the beer is always cold. So journey down Camp Bowie and stop at Zeke's, but don't forget your ID! You won't regret it.

Seriously, I've had London fish and chips and they just don't compare to Zeke's. Not at all.

Doritos and... What???

Hopefully you aren't one of those people who thinks Fritos Bean Dip could only be good with Fritos corn chips, because then you'd be wrong. So wrong.

Fritos Bean Dip is, in fact, actually better with Nacho Cheese Doritos! Try it!!!! You'll have eaten the whole bag with a can of Bean Dip or two in no time.

Also, regular bean dip is really mild, so for a little extra kick try the Hot flavor. It's what I remember Bean Dip tasting like when I was little.

Another great secret is the combination of Taco flavored Doritos and yellow mustard. The Taco flavor choices include Taco and Tacos at Midnight. Tacos at Midnight emit the smell of tomato and lettuce as soon as you open the bag. Just don't be that guy in class trying to quietly open your bag of chips. It doesn't work.

Another good one is salsa. It's good on pretty much any variety.

This one time in London, right after TGIFriday's went transatlantic, they baked some Cool Ranch ones and gave us duck sauce to dip them in. NOT GOOD. But we were so hungry, we ate them anyway.

Powdered Sugar Donuts

Yeah, you're right, they're messy... probably not something you'd eat in the car. But they'll take you back to the first time you ever ate one every time you eat one.

No matter the brand, it's all about freshness. The soft, cakey ring melts in your mouth... and when really fresh, sticks to the roof of your mouth, too.

The chocolate variety is also a great find, though I wouldn't expect them to taste like chocolate if you've never tried one before now (and shame on you!).

These go great with milk or chocolate milk, so be ready with your choice of beverage...

Gas Station Delights: Hot Dogs

Gas station hot dogs are pretty hit or miss. I prefer the ones from QT, partially because I've seen them clean the roller things that cook the weenies.

They have a warming tray underneath so your bun isn't ever stale. There's also a plenties of condiments of all varieties. Any type of mustard you could want, seriously.

There is also a pump dispenser for nacho cheese and chili! SO GOOD!

All of the other stuff on QT's roller display is delicious as well. So try some new things!

Krispy Kreme

I'm a hungry, hungry hippo just thinking about them. They way they melt in your mouth. The way you want milk afterward. The way I can eat a while box in two sittings or less. Okay, some of you did not know of my stomach's full prowess. It's magic. Like a unicorn. Only real.

I have a hard time ordering anything but the Original Glaze. The snowmen they had in the wintertime were also great. But Krispy Kreme won't ever be the same to you until you've been inside and stuck your face up to the glass to see the machine making donuts. They will even turn on the HOT NOW light so you know when to go in...

But everything is good there. The only thing I would not recommend is getting donuts AND the donut flavored drink. Too much. The drink really does taste like a donut.

Snuffer's

Dallas, TX

Every single time I'm in Dallas, I make a stop at Snuffer's. You just have to. No, it isn't healthy. But it's the best.

The salads look great (I've never had one; just not a salad kind of girl...). My dad gets them sometimes. There is nothing salad-y about them. Plenty of bacon. And dressing. I don't like actually tasting the lettuce in my salad, so if I were going to order one, this is what I'd get: Bacon wedge.

The burgers are also great. Along the same lines as the salad: more than you can eat with plenty of bacon and condiments.

But you should really go for the Cheddar Fries. I always get them, loaded. Cheddar, bacon, green onions, jalapenos. DUDE. So good. comes with Ranch. A small order is more than enough for one person, especially if you order something else. But you really don't need to, unless it's a delicious beer from the tap. Nothing like cheddar fries and a Coors Light for lunch when you've been shopping all day...

Boiled Peanuts

The South

Hey, all. I know it's been awhile. I have been sick and so busy with school stuff (so not ready to enter big people world). I hope this post leaves you salivating.

Boiled peanuts. Those of you not from the South are probably thinking, "That sounds sick." But as usual, you are wrong. Boiled peanuts are delightful and entirely addicting.

They come in several varieties, from your standard, "let's pawn these off on the Yankees" full grown variety to fresh green peanuts to the flavored varieties.

I'd steer clear of the full grown variety as they just don't suck in the flavor of the salt and what not. The flavoring (usually Cajun) just isn't worth it. Wait until they are green before heading South. This will be mid-summer.

The green ones are moist and delicious. Pop one into your mouth (yes, in the shell) and bite gently at the back of your mouth. Saltiness will permeate every cranny in your mouth. Loosen the nuts (yes, I know, they are really legumes) with your tongue and spit out the shell. Chew the nuts. Repeat until bag is empty. And it will be, soon.

The first time my dad had them, he kept saying, "Just one more," then my mom would hear the bag crinkle down yet again. This will happen to you.

The Broadway Diner

22 S. 4th St., Columbia, MO

The Diner is one of those places that makes the Mizzou experience. Pretty genius set up really. It's open in the morning and late at night, for your post-drinking dining experience.

The diner is famous for The Stretch. Just go and order it. Don't wimp out, get it like it comes. The Half-stretch is more than enough food though and not wimpy.

Pancakes: great. Omelets: great (lots of meat and cheese). Oatmeal: great, and you get the toppings you want to put in it. Cheese Fries: great. Cheeseburger: great. Beverages: great (no booze, and you can't bring any in). French toast: GREAT.

Just go. You won't regret it. It's also wallet-friendly.

Spanky's

Lubbock, TX

Okay, you caught me. The reason I wanted to go to this restaurant when I went to visit a friend at Tech was the name.

Little did I know how in love I would be with their food. I love fried stuff. It just tastes better. The fried cheese really is famous... and with good reason. It's hand battered and just good. They've really raised the bar for fried cheese products in my book. I cannot say enough good things about them (and now I really want some). They come with Ranch and Marinara for dippin'.

I also had the All-Techsan burger. FREAKIN' HUGE. But oh so tasty. Guacamole on a burger really does make it fabulously delicious. But, no I couldn't finish it AND my cheese sticks.

Dan's Beef Jerky

Weatherford, TX

You might not know this if you're just meeting me, but I like beef. A lot. So what could be better for me than beef to go?

I've tried the beef jerky they have everywhere, you know, the mass produced kind. It'll do in a pinch. But nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to Dan's.

The original is just classic. It's done right... and by that I mean it still tastes like beef. For the teriyaki flavor lovers out there, it's good, too. I used to like the peppered variety best of all UNTIL...

I tried the X-treme hot. It has crushed red peppercorns on it. It's just delightful. So delightful that I might let you try a bite, but don't you dare ask me for another piece.

While perusing Dan's website, I discovered they make beef sticks too. I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to marry into this family of meat lovers...

Gas Station Delights: Breakfast Pizza

I found this one at the Break Time on Deer Park, just south of Columbia, MO.

DUUUUUUUUUUUDE.

If you don't think the food cooked at your gas station of choice is "clean" enough to eat, you are missing out on one of life's greatest joys. How can you go on a road trip with out sampling local cuisine on the same stop as your potty break? So go get another gigantic soda and pony up to the gas station grill...

Okay, picture this: you're spying the goods in the case. And then, you spot it... a pizza crust. White gravy, instead of pizza sauce. Mozzarella. Scrambled eggs. Sausage. Bacon. A little American cheese scattered throughout. You ask for one. The attendant pulls a slice out of the case and puts it in a to-go container. The smell wafts your direction. Your mouth instantly waters. You are hungry, even though you've been eating chips and powdered sugar donuts all day. But you know you've made the right decision. You pay, but the transaction seems to take longer than usual. Your breath quickens and your heart races. You hastily take the container and dash to the car. As you sit down, you take a look at the prize, but remember to not look like the Beast gobbling at his porridge.

You make it home and it is still hot. You slowly move it to your mouth and take a bite. And it is so worth the wait. The gravy moves through your mouth and the flavors of all the ingredients rush your senses. What a feelin'. Such a guilty pleasure. Such perfection.

Taco Casa

The best taco chain. Bar none.

They have the best hot sauce. I don't know what's in it, but oh man, it's goooooood. I always get extra packets, just in case. It also makes tacos from anywhere else taste that much better.

The menu. I've tried pretty much everything. It's all great. I ALWAYS get two tacos (hardshell, but the soft ones are delicious as well) and frijoles. The frijoles have the signature hot sauce and lots of cheese.

I recently decided to try the nachos. I love nachos. I had had the regular nachos before and they were good. But the Super Nachos??? I have no idea how I do not weight 400 pounds. Meat, cheese, jalapenos, beans, sour cream, tomatoes. Life is good.

I also highly recommend the tostadas and the burritos. The iced tea in both varieties: also baller.