One of the great things about the RV lifestyle is having the opportunity to eat so many different kinds of food in so many different places. Whenever we can, we pass up the chain restaurants in favor of the local fare. Let’s face it, a Grand Slam breakfast is going to taste the same, whether you order it at a Denny’s in Pittsburgh, Palo Alto, or Paducah.
But in the local restaurants, you find great dishes like the Especial, the world famous hot dog/cheeseburger combo at Lute’s Casino in Yuma; or the Five Cheese burger at Burgers & Beer, also here in Yuma. I’ve had both, and they beat the heck out of anything you’ll ever find at McDonald’s or Burger King.
Move over Long John Silvers and Red Lobster! For real seafood, you need to go to places like Moondog Seaside Eatery 
in Rockport, Texas, pictured here, or Keys Fisheries on Marathon Key in the Florida Keys. Yeah, you may have to wave away the seagulls when they try to steal your food at an outside table, but once you have had a blackened grouper sandwich at either place, you’ll be spoiled for any of the chain eateries.
Regional food is another treat for travelers. I had never heard of a 
Cuban sandwich, which is a delicious combination of ham, roast pork, pulled pork, cheese, and a pickle, served on Cuban bread, until I first tried one in Florida a few years ago. I was immediately hooked. My two favorite places to order a Cuban are at El Siboney in Key West, and Mykonos, in Brooksville, Florida.
For a real taste of local food, you need to find a place like the Boiling Pot in Rockport, Texas, where they bring you a Cajun boil of shrimp, crawfish, sausage, new potatoes, and corn, pour the entire concoction out on butcher paper, and tell you to dig in! No frills, no silverware, just good food you’ll never forget!
I love pizza, and I’ve had delicious pizzas everyplace form New York City to Chicago to Seattle. But I don’t think you can beat the brick oven pizzas we had at several different places around Berlin, New Jersey. Those folks know how to make pizza!
We’ve been busy sampling the local restaurants here in the Yuma area, and yesterday we joined Tom and Barbara Westerfield, along with David and Lynn Cross, at the above mentioned Lute’s Casino in Old Town Yuma. The place isn’t really a casino, but rather a funky little restaurant with all kinds of antiques, artifacts, and junk hanging from the ceilings and decorating the walls. Did you ever notice that food always tastes better when you dine out with good friends?
Fortunately, we have plenty of friends here in Yuma, and plenty of local restaurants to try out yet. I can’t wait to see where we eat tonight!
Bad Nick must be on a diet, because while I was out chowing down, he was busy posting a new Bad Nick Blog titled I Don’t Get It. Check it out and leave a comment.
Thought For The Day – Everything is funny if you wait long enough.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Did you ever eat pasties at Joes’ Pasty Sop in Butte, MT? Or grab a “Double Double” at the street window at Pork Chop John’s uptown in the same city? Gooooood!
Lynda and I went a little crazy on Cuban sandwiches last season and we are doing a repeat this year. We have been making the rounds but did not know about Mykonos in Brooksville. It’s only a twenty minute drivefrom us. Will check it our soon. Thanks for the info. Have a great gathering in Yuma.
I’ll also recommend Joe’s Pasties in Butte. They are huge. We also love the Alpine Inn in Hill City, So. Dakota for the best Filet Mignon at a very reasonable price ($9.95) in 2007. And not to be missed for the best fried chicken ever is “Mr. D’s” in Lorman, MS located in the Old Country Store.
We had to stop by Perry,MO on our way home after seeing that hugh pork tenderloin sandwich on your blog. Can’t wait to try other places.
Thanks, Nick, for reviewing the Boiling Pot in Rockport a few months ago. We were there the other day and would not have gone in had we not read your review. What a fun place! We took photos that will show up in our blog in a few days, and we’ll be sure to give you a plug for your “food prowess.”