Upstate Eats Trail
The Road Trip. It’s what Americans do. It’s what we have done for years. There are whole books dedicated to the road. There are also jukeboxes stuffed with songs about riding to find the promised land. At one point or another, we’ve all looked for America. What are we really looking for? A great place to eat. A classic hot dog stand. A roadside scoop shop. Barbecue joints. Diners. Bakeries. A corner cafe that serves hamburgers on an open grill every night. These are the places that fuel our travels and inspire the stories we share with friends and family back home.
Now you’re ready for the breeze to blow your hair, roll down your window. Easy. You can point your car in the direction Upstate New York to find some of the best sandwich makers, bakers, and chicken wings shakers in the country. There isn’t another group of regional specialties like the one found along the highways connecting Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Rochester, and Buffalo. This menu features culinary traditions that date back to the time when the region was booming thanks to the opening of Erie Canal and the influx of immigrants. Chicken spiedies. Hot pies. Salt potatoes. Snappy grillers. Garbage plates White hots. Buffalo wings Beef on weck. Frozen custard. Sponge Candy.
It’s a legacy that offers comfort food that is affordable, delicious, and memorable.
The author of 5 books, 3 of which are New York Times bestsellers. I’ve been published in more than 100 newspapers and magazines and am a frequent commentator on NPR.
