The Red Caboose Motel

Yesterday I left New Jersey and my beloved Rutt's Hut and headed towards Pennsylvania's Amish country. As I neared my destination the landscape began to morph. Gone were billboards hawking Coca Cola or State Farm Insurance. In their place were signs that read "gospel tent meeting" and "horse hay." I must admit the landscape became quite lovely... lush farm land... it was quite beautiful.

Why would someone rent a hotel when they can stay in a caboose? The folks at The Red Caboose Motel purchased dozens of antique train cars and converted them into rentable rooms. Upon my arrival I was greeted by a lovely young woman named Amanda. She did not place me in a proper caboose as hoped but rather in the "mail" car. Then I thought to myself "I think I'll change it to 'male' car." The mind is always working.

It was late afternoon by then so I dropped off my bags and had dinner in the "dining car." Then it was time for my first road beer. I went to a place where locals go to goof off and play pool. I walked in and saw something this NYC boy hasn't seen in a bar for years... ashtrays! And in front of every one of them was a pack of cigarettes! The patrons seemed nice enough but the place was teeming with smoke. It stunk! It was gross! I lasted one beer.

On a positive note they did have a sign hanging behind the bar that read "Save the Earth, it's the only planet with beer!"... amen.

This morning, I woke up early and spent several hours browsing through a bunch of antique malls. I found a couple of cool records but made no major scores. No biggie... it's a long trip. Then I checked out The National Christmas Center in nearby Paradise, PA. I you are a Christmas fanatic make the pilgrimage.

By the way, I saw this Amish gentleman get into a pick-up truck. I thought the Amish couldn't use any mode of transportation that didn't crap on the street! I should report him...

Hot Diggity!

I ascended to hot dog heaven. Yesterday's dalliance at The Goffle Grill was lovely but today's visit to Clifton, NJ's Rutt's Hut was a transcendent love affair. They've been serving not "hot dogs" but "rippers" since 1928. The chefs take ordinary hot dogs, lovingly place them in boiling oil, then wait until the skin splits or "rips" open. What the customer sees is, to the naked eye, a wiener that days ago fell off the kitchen table and rolled under a radiator. What the customer experiences is quite another matter. The rippers at Rutt's Hut have a crunchy outer casing yet the meat remains melt-in-your-mouth tender. My goodness! They are so, so flavorful. It's not polite to talk with one's mouth full. Today I abandoned that self imposed rule by repeating, ad nauseam, two phrases... "oh my god!" and "holy crap!" I probably stomped my foot a couple of times as well...

I did commit a faux pas by ordering my rippers with sour kraut. The guy at the counter said "We don't do dat", "Is dis your first time here?" and "Try da relish!" As it turns out the latter was excellent advice. I've come to learn Rutt's Hut is renowned for their relish. A bit sweet, a bit spicy, it beautifully enhances the already wonderful ripper experience.



So, I'll admit this blog is a bit front heavy with tales of my beloved hot dogs. I'll also admit there are plenty of wieners in my future. Rest assured there are other culinary enticements afoot. Additionally this blog is not solely devoted to the culinary arts. There are other passions yet to explore...

My Theme Song

Here's a funny track by 50's rocker Esquirita (pr. Eskew-Reeta) entitled "Laid Off"...

My First Traffic Jam!

This morning things were going well. I woke early (for me), picked up the rental car and loaded 'er up. In no time at all I was out of northern Manhattan and on Route 4 near Paramus, NJ. It was a breeze. That is until I hit a patch of road construction. Suddenly traffic stopped dead! I sat there and stared at a mall for a bit... then an Applebee's looking restaurant... and I think an electronics store. There's something brutally frustrating about highways that double as parking lots. I worried it was a bad omen for my journey... and only 20 or so miles into it. Eventually, the gods showed mercy, the logjam loosened and I was on my way... thank goodness!

I arrived at my friends house in Passaic County a bit frazzled and weary but with renewed enthusiasm for adventure. It was time to start eating hot dogs. Right around the corner was just the right place... Hawthorne, NJ's Goffle Grill. At the Goffle Grill they call them Texas Wieners. One might also hear them referred to as rippers. I call them awesome!

I hung out with my friends for a few hours and had an amazing home cooked, old-school, North Jersey Italian dinner of spaghetti and meatballs. I love my friends!

Later in the evening I was back in the car heading south to Union, NJ where I'm spending the night with my buddies Mark and Robin. After a good night's sleep I'm hoping to chase down a few more hot dogs before heading to Pennsylvania for the next leg of Al's US Tour.


Mmmmmm... Deep fried heaven!

Keep On Pushin'

I am in the midst of a "work interruption." After sixteen years of service, my company decided to move it's operations to Georgia. My colleagues and I were given two options. The first to apply for available positions at the new location in Atlanta. The second to voluntarily terminate our employment in exchange for a severance package. I hungrily took the latter.

Truth be told, the first couple of weeks being unemployed were quite unsettling. I dearly missed friends and colleagues (even the knuckleheads). Losing work was losing an important part of my identity and I was terribly concerned about an uncertain future. Then one day I realized several things simultaneously... I was sleeping until 11am every day... I still had my family and friends... and the world did not collapse around me. It was at that moment I became a man of leisure.

This time has truly been a gift.

Alas, a return to the workforce looms. Before that cursed day I will be embarking on a journey. It's long been a desire to take a cross country road trip. So tomorrow that's exactly what I'm going to do. Many adventures await! Without giving too much away the route is as follows: south to Georgia, west to California, then home via the mid west.

People can learn a great deal about themselves from the choices they make. I have chosen to eschew responsibility in favor of adventure. I've chosen roadside eateries over resumes. I've chosen women's roller derby over job interviews. I've chosen live music over live television. I've chosen tiki bars over linkedin. I've chosen Route 66 over commuter trains. I want to see this country with it's strange and wonderful inhabitants. Hopefully I'll learn a thing or two about myself along the way.

So... where do I begin this soul searching journey of self discovery?

The answer seems obvious... Passaic County, NJ!