Another food thread, on the road

[BridgeRunner]

Our current plan, if all goes well, is to take a road trip to New Orleans immediately after I sit for the bar, so that I can run in a half-marathon in N.O. the last weekend in February. It is almost traditional to take a vacation after enduring bar study and the subsequent exam, and it's an almost-tradition in which I would like to participate.

The challenge, aside from the running part, is largely culinary. I haven't mapped out the road home yet, but on the way there we have planned stops in Indianapolis (morning, about 9-noon), Mammoth Caves area (afternoon to early evening), Nashville (evening, suppertime), Birmingham (overnight, maybe breakfast), and Hattiesburg (either breakfast or noon-ish, depending on when we get up in the morning).

We'll also be in New Orleans for a couple days.

The food challenge is that we need cheap and good food, and would prefer to avoid national chains, with the exception of Waffle House. Any place we eat needs to have some food with some vague nutritional value, seeing as how I'll be running a half-marathon that weekend.

One possibility is to bring food with us, and to an extent we will do that, but I find if we rely too heavily on sandwiches from home, we end up giving in to the temptation of McD's.

I'm looking for idea for the road and for N.O. I don't eat shellfish, but my spouse does, and will invariably want to have some in N.O. I stayed in New Orleans for a week last spring, but was volunteering all day and too tired to go out at night because I was pregnant, so I didn't really get to experience New Orleans food. We still won't, because we'll have the kids with us (3-1/2 and seven months), and because I'll be eating for energy rather than fun (at least before the race), and because we're poor, but I'd sure appreciate some moderately priced ideas, if anyone knows the area(s).

[Jamisjockey]

If you'd like to change up your on-the-road cuisine, you can add chicken wraps or pita sammichs to the arsenal. 
Cut some chicken into strips and grill it the day before.  Bring along lettuce, shredded cheese, and your favorite sauce.  Wrap that into a tortilla.  Most gas stations and truck stops have microwaves.  Even some rest areas in the midwest have them.
Another thing we did to cut corners on our last long road trip was just bringing the snacks and drinks, and making the kids lunches even when we bought our own lunch. 
We are real bad about giving in to every temptation and whim on the road, which not only costs money, but adds time to a long drive. 

[ramis]

I'm guessing your route will take you through Louisville. If so, you should stop and eat a hot brown sandwich.

http://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown.html

The Brown Hotel is gonna be spendy, but there are many other choices.

[roo_ster]

The food challenge is that we need cheap and good food, and would prefer to avoid national chains, with the exception of Waffle House. Any place we eat needs to have some food with some vague nutritional value, seeing as how I'll be running a half-marathon that weekend.

We must be long-lost siblings, as I despise chains, too..except for Waffle House.  Scattered, covered & smothered, thanks!

One possibility is to bring food with us, and to an extent we will do that, but I find if we rely too heavily on sandwiches from home, we end up giving in to the temptation of McD's.

Old-school home-made cold fried chicken makes for flat-out awesome picnic-by-the-road fare.  Add some fruit, raw carrots, cheese, and decent crackers...yum!  A couple of those small bottles (~ one glass) of Chardonnay are indicated if this is to be dinner, though sparkling grape juice will do in a pinch.

Another idea is "cut and make as you go" roast beef sandwiches with cheddar or swiss cheese & good mustard (yellow need not apply).  Cook the roast until desired doneness, usually medium  or medium-rare for this.  Wrap that sucker up & place it in a cooler.  Bring along a cutting board and serious carving knife.  Bread, also, is "cut as you go."  I prefer ryes and similar hearty breads, but a nice, soft french bread loaf or a baguette are also good choices.  Celery, carrots, & blue cheese dressing make a fine complement in addition to the sparkling grape juice (I am assuming lunch on the road).

Whatever you do, avoid tunafish sandwiches like the plague.  Soggy, nasty, tunafish sandwiches were my bane as a child on the road.


CMP South is a short ways east of Birmingham.  Just saying.  I have made the pilgrimage and am a better man for it, now that I own a M1 Garand & M1 Carbine.

[Brad Johnson]

Mammoth Caves area (afternoon to early evening)

Making a quick afternoon stroll of it, I see.

Take it from someone who's been there - you might want to rethink the time allotment.  Mammoth Cave is, well... mammoth. *snicker* .  I'd suggest about a week or, at the very least, a full morning or afternoon.

Brad

p.s. - Wish I was going, too.  We're stuck in ice this morning and expecting 60+ mph winds this afternoon.  Hmph.

[BridgeRunner]

I've been to Mammoth Caves, briefly.  Actually, before our fridge died and we had to replace it, we had a week-long camping trip planned for the area for this fall.  I think a cave tour might be a nice distraction from driving, especially because it's mostly out of the weather. 

But I also suspect my three year old might be terrified of the caves, and we don't have a lot of money to spend on touristy things, either.  So, yeah a couple hours will have to do.   

[mtnbkr]

But I also suspect my three year old might be terrified of the caves

Why do you say that?  My two kids (<1yr and 5yrs at the time) enjoyed our trip to Luray Caverns this summer.

Chris

[BridgeRunner]

Why do you say that? 

Because I've met my three year old...

[Brad Johnson]

One possibility is to bring food with us, and to an extent we will do that, but I find if we rely too heavily on sandwiches from home, we end up giving in to the temptation of McD's.

Fill the cooler with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mayo, mustard, and a few pounds of assorted lunch meat and cheese.  Throw in some salt & papper, a couple loaves of bread, and bags of chips and your all set.  That was our standard on-the-road rations when I was a kid.

Brad