Top 10 Tour Foods 2021-2023
Here are the Top 10 things that I got to eat while on tour!
These foods made my Top 10 because they were creative, perfectly flavor-and-texture balanced, and unforgettable. So unforgettable that I would absolutely seek out these specific dishes in the future, and also recommend them to everyone I know.
10 - Vegetarian Carrot Bread from Nook in Tucson, AZ
Carrot protein bread with peanut butter, banana, seed granola, and agave drizzle. It was the bread itself that was special. So light and fluffy, yet also sweet and cake-like. I was so impressed with the texture and the healthy makeup of the ingredients that I asked for the recipe (it was a flat "no".) One of the most interesting new foods that I got to try.
9 - Watercourse Foods (whole meal) in Denver, CO
Bobby (bassist) took me to this all-Vegan restaurant, and I was blown away! We shared a vegan charcuterie with very believable meat-and-cheese flavors and textures. His main dish was a vegan Reuben, and mine was the cauliflower "fried chicken" with a side of creamy mac n' cheese and chickpea salad. It was all very delicious, and not just because it was plant-based; the seasoning and textures were wonderfully balanced and thought out. It is difficult to make a head of cauliflower similar to a piece of friend chicken, or to make vegan mac n' cheese that is just as rich and creamy without the cheese. But they did it!
8 - Pavlova from Banksia in Kansas City MO
Holy heavenly! These people do pavlova RIGHT. It is very hard to make, and this one was perfect. Crispy light meringue on the outside, marshmallowy creamy meringue on the inside, the perfect amount of fresh whipped cream and beautiful berries on top.
7 - Bagel sandwiches from Allie Boy's in Milwaukee, WI
You wouldn't think a simple bagel sandwich could make your eyes roll back in your head with pleasure, but that's what happened. Both sandwiches that I tried were incredible. Not only that, everything was very affordable, meaning even if you don't have a lot of money you can still enjoy an incredible culinary experience. The restaurant has new and exciting specials every week.
The Rikki Tikki Tavi (chicken breast, coconut curry, kale, apricots, raisins, apple, dates, tamarind-marinated onion, fried shallot, mint and cilantro on a honey wheat bagel) and the Chicken Liver Tartine (half-pumpernickel with chicken liver mousse, date molasses, chicken skin granola, bacon, and chives)
6 - Tres Leches Croissant from La Panaderia in San Antonio, TX
A decadent cream-filled croissant with strawberries and powdered sugar. It looks just as good as it tastes. This is one of the bakery's most popular items and sells out very quickly. I got one by being there right at opening time. All of the bakery items and sandwiches here are incredible.
5 - Brennan's (entire meal) in NOLA
You need reservations to eat at Brennan's, so plan ahead! I went with a group of band and cast members, and we had an absolutely wonderful experience. Their menu does change from time to time but two staples you can always expect to see are the Turtle Soup and the Bananas Foster (which Brennan's is credited with creating).
For this meal I enjoyed Turtle Soup with turtle meat, brown butter spinach, grated egg and sherry; Eggs St. Charles (two beautifully poached eggs atop two pieces of light and crispy fried whitefish, on a bed of creamed spinach and topped with blood orange Hollandaise); and Bananas Foster which is bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum, local ice cream, all flambéed tableside.
4 - Falafel Sandwich and Acorn Squash Soup from Field & Fire in Grand Rapids, MI
House-made falafel with spicy carrot hummus, pickled fennel, lettuce and house-made vegan mayo, served on their house-baked multigrain, with a cup of creamy acorn squash soup. I wasn't expecting a falafel sandwich to be MAGICAL. The falafel was super crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside, INCREDIBLY flavorful, and spiced perfectly. The soup was spicier than I was expecting but somehow it complemented the flavors of the sandwich perfectly, and I ate all of it even though it made me sweat! One of the most memorable lunches I've had on tour.
3 - Ice Cream Sandwich from Tricycle Ice Cream in Providence, RI
Brown sugar roasted pumpkin ice cream with a cream cheese frosting swirl, chunks of honey graham streusel throughout, sandwiched between two brown butter blondies. When I tell you this was decadent...flavorful...over-the-top...I've NEVER had ice cream like this. It was one of the hardest choices I've ever made to NOT go back the next day, or even the same day. It was THAT good. They have standard flavors and seasonal flavors, if you are ever in Providence you have GOT to go here, you really have to. I would literally go to Providence just to eat another of these ice cream sandwiches.
2 - Handmade Pierogi from Eva's European Sweets in Syracuse, NY
It blows my mind that I almost didn't eat here because it was "a pretty far walk."
VERY glad that I sucked it up and did the walk because it was worth it, worth it, worth it. I grew up on Mrs. T's Pierogis...the ones in the freezer section that have thick dough, are filled with instant potatoes and loads of salt, and have a chewy rubbery texture unless you deep-fry them.
The carefully-crafted pierogis from Eva's blew my mind open about what a pierogi SHOULD be. The dough was thinly rolled and delicate, buttery but not overly greasy. You could see every individual piece of potato, mushroom, onion, and herb in the filling, and the flavors were warm and comforting like a hug from Grandma. I could eat these every day until I die. And if I ever go to Syracuse again, I am not leaving until I eat these pierogi (or something else from Eva's awesome and extensive Eastern European menu.) Highly recommended to everyone I know from now until forever.
And the Number One Food that I got to eat on tour.........*DRUMROLL*..........
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1 - Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich from Gateway Market in Des Moines, IA
Southern fried chicken breast with hot honey glaze, pickles, and green apple slaw.
This wasn't even served in a restaurant.
It's a cafe inside a tiny co-op grocery in frigid Des Moines.
But somehow this ugly sandwich was The Best Thing That I Ate For The Entire Two Year Tour.
It was fried so perfectly, super super crunchy.
The glaze was equally hot and sweet, and it didn't make the batter soggy at all, just coated it like a perfect flavor-filled lacquer.
The chicken breast was juicy and tender, cooked to perfection.
The ratio of crunchy fried batter to juicy tender chicken was absolutely perfect.
The slaw was tart and tangy from the apples and cabbage, and the mayonnaise just creamy enough, that it elevated the whole sandwich into Sweet Hot Tart Creamy Crunchy MAGIC.
The bun was...well, it was a toasted burger bun, which was the perfect blank canvas for this epic flavor and texture combination.
Usually I have incredible self-control when it comes to portion sizes, delaying gratification, and "saving some for later."
This sandwich DESTROYED all of that. I was eating it with my eyes closed, I freaking forgot where I was, that's how good it was.
And then I was surprised when it was gone, and sat there seriously debating whether I needed to buy another one to bring home, or if maybe I should come back tomorrow.
I never thought that a fried chicken sandwich could be what this was.
So although I don’t know many people who would go to Des Moines for any reason,
if you do, I will INSIST that you visit Gateway Market and try one of their fried chicken sandwiches.
(This one was a seasonal special, I got it in September. You could try asking about it and see if they can make it for you.)
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Honorable Mentions 11 through 15
These were extremely memorable foods that may not have made my eyes roll back in my head, but still made me say "Wow!" out loud. These are foods I would definitely recommend if you can find them.
11 - Dragon's Milk-Brined Smoked Salmon from Big O Smokehouse in Grand Rapids, MI
They brined ocean-raised salmon in New Holland's Dragon's Milk beer for 5 days with brown sugar and vanilla, then smoked it over wood from the beer barrels and tossed it in cracked peppercorns. I bought it on a whim because I saw that it was made locally, and it was so good that I swore out loud on the first bite. I've never had anything like it and probably never will again (pretty sure it was a Limited Edition batch). Sweet and rich, smoky, not chewy at all...it's kind of hard to describe actually but it was amazing.
12 - "Umami Burst" Rustic Bread from The Foundry in St. Louis, MO
Rustic sourdough boule made with Japanese miso, shiitake mushrooms, nori, and scallions. This bakery has a lot of innovative and creative flavors going on, and it was hard to choose just one flavor of bread to take home. The smell of this loaf was incredible, very earthy and briny and inviting. The texture was perfect, moist but also chewy and crusty, and the entire loaf stayed soft as I slowly ate it over a week and a half, without it going moldy. The flavor was so incredible that I mostly ate it on its own, but was also fantastic with cold cuts. My only regret was that I didn't get to toast it and try it that way, I'll bet it would have been amazing.
13 - "Dark Side of the Mocha" Spiked Coffee from Stitch Cafe in Oklahoma City, OK
Ok yes, having a VERY pleasant buzz after drinking this coffee might have contributed to this rating :p
But it was also a very good coffee. Like, the coffee itself was great, and the spices were warm and wonderful.
And whatever alcohol they used (I suspect Rum Chata) brought it all together and made me feel like I was on a relaxing vacation.
So extremely good. Their house-made Pop Tarts were legit as well.
14 - Maple Walnut and Caramel Apple Ice Creams from Pittsford Farms Dairy in Rochester, NY
Small-batch, seasonally flavored ice creams made with milk and cream from local dairy cows.
This was another situational favorite; it was a crisp fall day, the smell of smoke and leaves and ice crystals was on the air, and as I sat on a park bench taking bites of creamy maple walnut and caramel apple, I thought of my mother, and I felt fully present in this beautiful fall moment, and this ice cream became part of that feeling and that memory that I'll carry with me long after this tour ends.
15 - The Vegan Wrap from The Kitchen in Hartford, CT
Another unexpected vegan delight! Smoked tempeh, roasted sweet potatoes, shaved Brussels sprouts, carrots, arugula, cranberries, and butternut hummus on a wheat wrap. It didn't look like anything special, but the portion size was perfect and the ingredients were fresh, vibrant, and went very well together. Most noticeably, after eating it I didn't feel overfull or bloated, and felt very energetic and ready to do my shows that day. I really wanted to go back the next day for another one, but unfortunately they were closed.
UPDATE: The Kitchen is now known as Fire by Forge. They still have an amazing menu and they still provide transitional employment opportunities for the underprivileged. Highly recommend stopping by if you're ever in Hartford.
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That sums it up!
It has been a HUGE privilege, more than I could have ever dreamed, to be able to try so many incredible foods across nearly the whole United States. I will always be grateful food-wise for everything that I got to experience on this tour, whether I ended up liking it or not. I am lucky to have been born in a time when there is a lot of food innovation happening, especially when it comes to plant-based foods (I was amazed at how many vegan foods ended up on this list!!).
Pretty soon I won't be on tour any more, but that doesn't mean I'll stop enjoying great food, looking for unique and exciting eats around me, or experimenting in my own kitchen :)
Thanks for coming along on this culinary adventure with me!
These foods made my Top 10 because they were creative, perfectly flavor-and-texture balanced, and unforgettable. So unforgettable that I would absolutely seek out these specific dishes in the future, and also recommend them to everyone I know.
10 - Vegetarian Carrot Bread from Nook in Tucson, AZ
Carrot protein bread with peanut butter, banana, seed granola, and agave drizzle. It was the bread itself that was special. So light and fluffy, yet also sweet and cake-like. I was so impressed with the texture and the healthy makeup of the ingredients that I asked for the recipe (it was a flat "no".) One of the most interesting new foods that I got to try.
9 - Watercourse Foods (whole meal) in Denver, CO
Bobby (bassist) took me to this all-Vegan restaurant, and I was blown away! We shared a vegan charcuterie with very believable meat-and-cheese flavors and textures. His main dish was a vegan Reuben, and mine was the cauliflower "fried chicken" with a side of creamy mac n' cheese and chickpea salad. It was all very delicious, and not just because it was plant-based; the seasoning and textures were wonderfully balanced and thought out. It is difficult to make a head of cauliflower similar to a piece of friend chicken, or to make vegan mac n' cheese that is just as rich and creamy without the cheese. But they did it!
8 - Pavlova from Banksia in Kansas City MO
Holy heavenly! These people do pavlova RIGHT. It is very hard to make, and this one was perfect. Crispy light meringue on the outside, marshmallowy creamy meringue on the inside, the perfect amount of fresh whipped cream and beautiful berries on top.
7 - Bagel sandwiches from Allie Boy's in Milwaukee, WI
You wouldn't think a simple bagel sandwich could make your eyes roll back in your head with pleasure, but that's what happened. Both sandwiches that I tried were incredible. Not only that, everything was very affordable, meaning even if you don't have a lot of money you can still enjoy an incredible culinary experience. The restaurant has new and exciting specials every week.
The Rikki Tikki Tavi (chicken breast, coconut curry, kale, apricots, raisins, apple, dates, tamarind-marinated onion, fried shallot, mint and cilantro on a honey wheat bagel) and the Chicken Liver Tartine (half-pumpernickel with chicken liver mousse, date molasses, chicken skin granola, bacon, and chives)
6 - Tres Leches Croissant from La Panaderia in San Antonio, TX
A decadent cream-filled croissant with strawberries and powdered sugar. It looks just as good as it tastes. This is one of the bakery's most popular items and sells out very quickly. I got one by being there right at opening time. All of the bakery items and sandwiches here are incredible.
5 - Brennan's (entire meal) in NOLA
You need reservations to eat at Brennan's, so plan ahead! I went with a group of band and cast members, and we had an absolutely wonderful experience. Their menu does change from time to time but two staples you can always expect to see are the Turtle Soup and the Bananas Foster (which Brennan's is credited with creating).
For this meal I enjoyed Turtle Soup with turtle meat, brown butter spinach, grated egg and sherry; Eggs St. Charles (two beautifully poached eggs atop two pieces of light and crispy fried whitefish, on a bed of creamed spinach and topped with blood orange Hollandaise); and Bananas Foster which is bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum, local ice cream, all flambéed tableside.
4 - Falafel Sandwich and Acorn Squash Soup from Field & Fire in Grand Rapids, MI
House-made falafel with spicy carrot hummus, pickled fennel, lettuce and house-made vegan mayo, served on their house-baked multigrain, with a cup of creamy acorn squash soup. I wasn't expecting a falafel sandwich to be MAGICAL. The falafel was super crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside, INCREDIBLY flavorful, and spiced perfectly. The soup was spicier than I was expecting but somehow it complemented the flavors of the sandwich perfectly, and I ate all of it even though it made me sweat! One of the most memorable lunches I've had on tour.
3 - Ice Cream Sandwich from Tricycle Ice Cream in Providence, RI
Brown sugar roasted pumpkin ice cream with a cream cheese frosting swirl, chunks of honey graham streusel throughout, sandwiched between two brown butter blondies. When I tell you this was decadent...flavorful...over-the-top...I've NEVER had ice cream like this. It was one of the hardest choices I've ever made to NOT go back the next day, or even the same day. It was THAT good. They have standard flavors and seasonal flavors, if you are ever in Providence you have GOT to go here, you really have to. I would literally go to Providence just to eat another of these ice cream sandwiches.
2 - Handmade Pierogi from Eva's European Sweets in Syracuse, NY
It blows my mind that I almost didn't eat here because it was "a pretty far walk."
VERY glad that I sucked it up and did the walk because it was worth it, worth it, worth it. I grew up on Mrs. T's Pierogis...the ones in the freezer section that have thick dough, are filled with instant potatoes and loads of salt, and have a chewy rubbery texture unless you deep-fry them.
The carefully-crafted pierogis from Eva's blew my mind open about what a pierogi SHOULD be. The dough was thinly rolled and delicate, buttery but not overly greasy. You could see every individual piece of potato, mushroom, onion, and herb in the filling, and the flavors were warm and comforting like a hug from Grandma. I could eat these every day until I die. And if I ever go to Syracuse again, I am not leaving until I eat these pierogi (or something else from Eva's awesome and extensive Eastern European menu.) Highly recommended to everyone I know from now until forever.
And the Number One Food that I got to eat on tour.........*DRUMROLL*..........
*
*
*
1 - Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich from Gateway Market in Des Moines, IA
Southern fried chicken breast with hot honey glaze, pickles, and green apple slaw.
This wasn't even served in a restaurant.
It's a cafe inside a tiny co-op grocery in frigid Des Moines.
But somehow this ugly sandwich was The Best Thing That I Ate For The Entire Two Year Tour.
It was fried so perfectly, super super crunchy.
The glaze was equally hot and sweet, and it didn't make the batter soggy at all, just coated it like a perfect flavor-filled lacquer.
The chicken breast was juicy and tender, cooked to perfection.
The ratio of crunchy fried batter to juicy tender chicken was absolutely perfect.
The slaw was tart and tangy from the apples and cabbage, and the mayonnaise just creamy enough, that it elevated the whole sandwich into Sweet Hot Tart Creamy Crunchy MAGIC.
The bun was...well, it was a toasted burger bun, which was the perfect blank canvas for this epic flavor and texture combination.
Usually I have incredible self-control when it comes to portion sizes, delaying gratification, and "saving some for later."
This sandwich DESTROYED all of that. I was eating it with my eyes closed, I freaking forgot where I was, that's how good it was.
And then I was surprised when it was gone, and sat there seriously debating whether I needed to buy another one to bring home, or if maybe I should come back tomorrow.
I never thought that a fried chicken sandwich could be what this was.
So although I don’t know many people who would go to Des Moines for any reason,
if you do, I will INSIST that you visit Gateway Market and try one of their fried chicken sandwiches.
(This one was a seasonal special, I got it in September. You could try asking about it and see if they can make it for you.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honorable Mentions 11 through 15
These were extremely memorable foods that may not have made my eyes roll back in my head, but still made me say "Wow!" out loud. These are foods I would definitely recommend if you can find them.
11 - Dragon's Milk-Brined Smoked Salmon from Big O Smokehouse in Grand Rapids, MI
They brined ocean-raised salmon in New Holland's Dragon's Milk beer for 5 days with brown sugar and vanilla, then smoked it over wood from the beer barrels and tossed it in cracked peppercorns. I bought it on a whim because I saw that it was made locally, and it was so good that I swore out loud on the first bite. I've never had anything like it and probably never will again (pretty sure it was a Limited Edition batch). Sweet and rich, smoky, not chewy at all...it's kind of hard to describe actually but it was amazing.
12 - "Umami Burst" Rustic Bread from The Foundry in St. Louis, MO
Rustic sourdough boule made with Japanese miso, shiitake mushrooms, nori, and scallions. This bakery has a lot of innovative and creative flavors going on, and it was hard to choose just one flavor of bread to take home. The smell of this loaf was incredible, very earthy and briny and inviting. The texture was perfect, moist but also chewy and crusty, and the entire loaf stayed soft as I slowly ate it over a week and a half, without it going moldy. The flavor was so incredible that I mostly ate it on its own, but was also fantastic with cold cuts. My only regret was that I didn't get to toast it and try it that way, I'll bet it would have been amazing.
13 - "Dark Side of the Mocha" Spiked Coffee from Stitch Cafe in Oklahoma City, OK
Ok yes, having a VERY pleasant buzz after drinking this coffee might have contributed to this rating :p
But it was also a very good coffee. Like, the coffee itself was great, and the spices were warm and wonderful.
And whatever alcohol they used (I suspect Rum Chata) brought it all together and made me feel like I was on a relaxing vacation.
So extremely good. Their house-made Pop Tarts were legit as well.
14 - Maple Walnut and Caramel Apple Ice Creams from Pittsford Farms Dairy in Rochester, NY
Small-batch, seasonally flavored ice creams made with milk and cream from local dairy cows.
This was another situational favorite; it was a crisp fall day, the smell of smoke and leaves and ice crystals was on the air, and as I sat on a park bench taking bites of creamy maple walnut and caramel apple, I thought of my mother, and I felt fully present in this beautiful fall moment, and this ice cream became part of that feeling and that memory that I'll carry with me long after this tour ends.
15 - The Vegan Wrap from The Kitchen in Hartford, CT
Another unexpected vegan delight! Smoked tempeh, roasted sweet potatoes, shaved Brussels sprouts, carrots, arugula, cranberries, and butternut hummus on a wheat wrap. It didn't look like anything special, but the portion size was perfect and the ingredients were fresh, vibrant, and went very well together. Most noticeably, after eating it I didn't feel overfull or bloated, and felt very energetic and ready to do my shows that day. I really wanted to go back the next day for another one, but unfortunately they were closed.
UPDATE: The Kitchen is now known as Fire by Forge. They still have an amazing menu and they still provide transitional employment opportunities for the underprivileged. Highly recommend stopping by if you're ever in Hartford.
---------------------------------------------------------------
That sums it up!
It has been a HUGE privilege, more than I could have ever dreamed, to be able to try so many incredible foods across nearly the whole United States. I will always be grateful food-wise for everything that I got to experience on this tour, whether I ended up liking it or not. I am lucky to have been born in a time when there is a lot of food innovation happening, especially when it comes to plant-based foods (I was amazed at how many vegan foods ended up on this list!!).
Pretty soon I won't be on tour any more, but that doesn't mean I'll stop enjoying great food, looking for unique and exciting eats around me, or experimenting in my own kitchen :)
Thanks for coming along on this culinary adventure with me!