So we got back on the highway and planned to get off an exit for another restaurant stop, but the exit ramp was closed due to an accident and before we knew it, we were winging our way toward International Departures at O’Hare. You know, for all the bad press that airport has to endure regarding delays, etc., driving through it is really a breeze.

Perhaps I have The Green Zebra and O’Hare debacles reversed in my mind…but stay with me! We did actually make a fine discovery.

For those of you intrepid drivers who do not mind driving through interstates in major cities, let’s turn our attention to the French Market.

First of all, it is very close to I-90 and offers a really welcome break from driving. If you are familiar with the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, it is similar, except it offers the benefit of being smaller (30 vendors), which I found more manageable to navigate during a stop on a road trip. You can do a couple laps around the market and find something delicious without going dithery with too many choices. Which is what usually happens to me…the dithery part. 

They have indoor as well as outdoor seating and we found it very easy to park. I chose the collard salad at Raw, which was delicious and filling. Lots of chopped ribbons of collards, tomato and dill with a sweet and sour dresssing and a nice scoop of raw sauerkraut. Really bountiful, fresh and flavorful. Just what I needed after that dash through O’Hare. With a nice selection of vendors, all your travel companions can find what suits them and meet back at a common table. 

The French Market would also be a great place to pick up a few gifts if you’re planning to stay with people along your way, or for friends back home. Perhaps at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine.

So, in the end Chicago was not a bust. And the French Market is not only French.

As I was planning the most recent Nourish the Journey adventure, it was decided that Sarah, my travel companion, would fly from PA to meet me in Sacramento and we would start our journey on I-5 there. So it seemed perfect to have the cats fly out of Sacramento. They flew a red-eye flight and so they left mere minutes before Sarah arrived. How great! I could get them to their flight at the beginning of our 10 day adventure doing research for Nourish the Journey!

Now the worry was how to handle the 5 hour drive to Sacramento. In my planning I told myself that I would not do any stops on the way North on I-5 because the cats would be in the car. But as I left, I decided that it would be a shame to not do a little research along the way.  Lucky for the animals, there were not really a whole lot of options close to this portion of the I-5, but I did find a few.

The big problem with transporting animals, at least in my mind, is how to provide a potty break?  With dogs it is easy, but cats?  My cats do not do leashes and they were confined to their carriers while we were driving. I decided that if I set up a little litter box in the back of my station wagon, I could let them out and they could take care of business.

Well, what do you think happened when I opened their cages and let them into the car. They were all over that car!  The first time I let them out I was in a vehicle rest area.  Yes, I know what you are thinking … you let them out twice??!  Let me just say that there was a lot of guilt about the impending stressful flight across the country.  Anyway, this first time, they could not settle down enough to do their business.

The second time I let them out was in the parking lot of one of the most surprising NtJ discoveries on this part of the trip. I decided to leave the cats in the car for a while so they could explore and I went to find out more about this restaurant that is located within the Best Western located just next to the highway in Patterson, CA.  Damascos Fine Food and Spirits is so much nicer than the sign outside the hotel suggests.  A labor of love for the chef, the menu is seasonal and creative. The chef is interested in using local produce and so the dishes he serves are filled with produce that is available from the markets. The dining room is nicely decorated and the hotel manager told me that the restaurant has a devoted following.  So discover this gem for yourself and let Nourish the Journey know what you think!

Back to the cats… after interviewing the folks at Damascos, I went back to the car to get the cats herded into their carriers again. These kitties are fast and definitely knew what I was up to because getting a hold of them was an adventure.

Finally the cats were again secured (yes, they did manage to use the litter box), I made it to Sacramento after a mere 8 hours on the road, either driving or herding.  I found the Airline cargo area, sent them on their way and was in time to pick up Sarah at the airport. The next morning, the cats arrived safe and sound in Virginia and the journey north on I-5 to Seattle began without a hitch.  Whew!

Having just returned from a 10-day road trip with Nicole, I would have to say it is definitely worth it. There is nothing like getting out of your element. There is something about the landscapes of those 12 states we drove through that can somehow change a person. Or as Nicole would note, ‘can you imagine traveling across this in a covered wagon?’. Picture the Badlands National Park…it seems like you are on top of the hills and everything slopes down under you.

Well, we did have the wagon, but it was Nicole’s VW Passat. I am ambivalent about driving, but the driving was easy, traffic light, weather fantastic. Nicole spent a lot of time in her ‘office’ (passenger seat) on the trip with the GPS, iPad, phone, binders and other reference materials planning our next Nourish the Journey stop.

I guess that is the other thing about travel. Where to stop? What’s ahead but not too far off the beaten path where you can be refreshed, eat something healthy (with a delicious treat thrown in now and again), see something of the local town but still get to your destination on time?

Well, we found them. Lots of them in some areas and perhaps the one stop in 100 miles on other stretches of highway.

Look for lots of new entries for the I-5 and take that trip along I-90.

Now it is time to bring all of this information to you via Nourish the Journey. Keep your eyes open over the next few weeks/months as new restaurants are added and blogs are posted with stories from both Sarah (my counterpart in the journey) and I with stories of our travels.  I promise you will experience a peak in appetite as you browse what we found. This summer will certainly find travelers on the road and we hope we can help many of you find a memorable meal on your journeys.

Nicole

While I have done 3 road trips across the country over the years, this will be my first time traveling along I-90 and visiting some of the northern states, including Montana and South Dakota!   We have scheduled in a few ‘fun’ stops including a visit to Mt. Rushmore and The Badlands National Park.  I know it is kind of kitschy, but I have always wanted to see those heads that were carved into the side of a mountain.

 A CALL FOR RECOMMENDATIONS!

 Have you every traveled the I-5 or I-90?  If so, I need your help.  I really want to hear about your  favorite place to stop for a fabulously healthy meal along these thoroughfares. If I hear from you this month, your name will be put into a drawing to win a To-Go Ware bamboo cutlery set.   I LOVE giving these away.  They are such a great set to take on the road so you can minimize your impact as you take carry out.

The next post will be from the road – so stay tuned!

I recently had lunch in Paso Robles with my friend Danielle and tried Thomas Hill Organics for the first time. This unique bistro specializes in using seasonally fresh produce picked on their organic farm to create their daily menu. The offerings are simple and varied, with seafood, veggie and beef options. It was charming and welcoming.  There is an indoor seating area and a covered outdoor patio that is heated on the cooler days of the year.   A nice wine list allows you to give some of the local Central Coast award winning wines a try if you are so inclined.

So next time you are driving through the northern part of San Luis Obispo County, give them a try. Note that their day of rest is Tuesday, so be sure you check the day of the week before you head over there.

Since returning from Norway, I am finding the speed of life is breathtaking. Each day is full of driving to school and activities and my efforts to eat right and excersize have been challenged at every turn. I don’t think I realized how simple our lives were in Svalbard, with no car and relative isolation from the greater society. I am so grateful for the months we had to recharge our batteries. Now we are back in the game and I am feeling more confident in my ability to keep up the pace with each day that passes.

While you have not heard from me via this blog, I have revisited some of the restaurants along CA Hwy 101 here in San Luis Obispo County and  have found some changes with location and serving times for a few of them. Thank goodness changing information is a piece of cake in this virtual medium. When the concept for Nourish the Journey first came into being, it was in the form of a book. After some research into the publishing industry and its requirements for putting something into print, I decided to start the journey with this website, even though my experience with online networking was limited. It has been an incredible process and the help and encouragement I have received from friends in the industry has eased me into this world of immediate publication. So, not only can I make changes easily, I can add locations that I may have overlooked in the past.

Speaking of changes, I would like to revisit a restaurant located on the Central Coast of California in Atascadero. Colby Jack’s Cafe was once a small cafe that has now evolved into a nice size restaurant. Taking over a space in the historic Carlton Hotel, Colby Jack’s is now able to serve larger groups and more of the community. The hours have changed a bit, the most exciting being that they now offer dinner four nights a week.  Check out the pictures I took while ‘lunching’ with my friend Sonja.

I would also like to alert you of a new stop in Santa Barbara that was recommended by another friend of mine who often makes the drive south on 101 with the athletes she trains at our local college. Cantwell’s is a market/deli that might allow you to stock up on snacks for the road, but I hear that the draw is a large salad bar and deli area that allows a larger group of people to find exactly what each would like to eat in one location.

How are all of you adjusting to the longer days and the Spring in pace of life’s steps that comes with this season?

Lassen’s Natural Foods, the Santa Rosa Community Market and New Frontiers are some of the options that you have along CA Hwy 101. Most of these spots have associated cafes where you can also get a meal if you wish.  One of my favorite places to stop for fresh fruit and snacks happens to be  close to where I live, but is also smack dab between San Francisco and LA along 101.  Nature’s Touch Harvest and Nursery, which we have talked about before, is a fantastic farm stand/natural food store that includes access to organic produce  grown by local farmers (in season of course).  This shop is run and owned by Melanie Blankenship, an incredible woman who saw a need to provide the public with daily access to the area’s incredible organic produce.  Local farmers have had a hard time of it, as most of the larger natural food stores have contracts with larger farms. In San Luis Obispo county we are lucky to have daily farmer’s markets all over the county.  Melanie serves a need in our community to provide access to farmer’s market goods 7 days a week in a single location.  On your next trip through, consider stopping in Templeton and visiting Nature’s Touch.  You will love the kind service and the selection of goods.

I encourage you to try out some of these markets as you travel.  It will give you a great taste of the community as well as access to something healthy to snack on while you are enjoying the open road ahead of you.  Happy, healthy travels to you!

My research of these restaurants was limited to the visual and a search on the internet that uncovered excellent reviews for all. We will start with Baramii Thai Restaurant which when I visited was still named ‘Vegan Thai Factory’ (it is good they changed the name).  Baramii is distinctive in that it has held onto its vegan initiative by offering, in addition to a traditional thai menu, a menu made up of entirely vegan fare. They offer varied options including Pad Thai with soy fish or vegan squid and a Protein Lover’s Salad with Italian Dressing. Whether you are following a vegan diet or not, this spot is a true delight of choices and reviews say that the food does not disappoint.

Next to Baramii is Cho Cho San, a Japanese restaurant whose menu includes sushi, teriyaki and tempura, but this is not your usual sushi joint.  Its uniqueness comes from the revolving  belt that displays your food choices. Our family calls this style of service, ‘Conveyor Belt Sushi’ and here they call it Revolving Sushi.  Whatever the name, it is an exciting way to make your meal choices. As you sit at your seat, food comes floating by in front of you on the moving belt. The chefs are busily creating new options and so the choices change throughout your meal.  The best part about it, in my opinion, is that you get to have a visual on your food before you choose it. Kids love the excitement of it and so a revolving sushi restaurant can be a fun place to bring your family. The atmosphere of Cho Cho San, however, seemed more adult than family oriented.  The interior is a bit dark, with a LA feel, but you can take check it out and see if it is right for you.

Finally, in this little hub of diversity is India’s Tandoori. Serving authentic Indian cuisine, the menu options will please any Indian food lover. I especially like the section titled, ‘Combination Bargain Dinners’.  When eating at an Indian food restaurant, I often tally up quite a bill because I cannot go without the naan, chapati, daal and raita. These ‘bargain dinners’ give you, along with your main dish a sampling of the different sides all for under $15 per person. I love having choices on my plate and a ‘Bargain’ dinner sounds right up my alley. Online reviews of this spot are great and the restaurant advertises that they have been featured in many magazines and media outlets.

In conclusion, Tarzana could be a great spot to get a boost of ethnic flavor, so next time you are looking for an exit in the middle of LA traffic consider taking a break here.