[SIZE=12pt]Pre-race Train Rides, Eating and Other Fun[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] The gastronomic adventures for 2014 have begun! We are kicking it up a notch this year. We will continue to take Amtrak to our destinations, as much as possible, and we will explore many eating and drinking establishments along the way. This year we are planning to visit a number of thoroughbred race tracks. Not only are these horses beautiful animals and very exciting to watch run, the racetracks across the country are beautiful settings, quite possibly second only to golf courses. And the bonus, the tracks boast about their food, especially the corned beef sandwiches! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] Just a quick review for those who haven't followed the 2 Joe’s Gastronomic Adventures from 2013. We are JoeH (hessjm on AU) and JoeG (grounded flyboy). Our mission profile for this trip is to meet in St Louis for a couple of days, then watch the NFC/AFC championship football games at JoeG's house, make a couple of points runs while JoeG finishes up some physical therapy, and then head to Little Rock followed by the horse races at Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I start this adventure in frigid Grand Rapids (about 0 degrees) where I board the Pere Marquette to CHI, then transfer to the Texas Eagle bound for Alton, IL for the rendezvous with JoeG. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] The Eagle is running ahead of schedule thru northern Illinois...actually have to dwell in a couple of stations. THEN, just north of Springfield a freight train in front of us hits a woman near the tracks. At the time, we thought she was on the tracks and we would have a long wait for the investigations and clean-up. We did not move for 3 1/2 hours and most passengers were taking it in stride although, as the hours passed, our conductor was starting to do a slow burn. Once underway again, we learn that the woman was hit on her shoulder. I can understand taking care and preserving the dignity of the situation when a death is involved but the ambulance picked this lady up minutes after the accident. She was likely treated at the hospital and dismissed hours before we rolled. It seems that blood testing the crew and completing the initial investigation couldn't possibly take 3 1/2 hours, thanks a lot UP! Meanwhile JoeG is waiting at the Alton station for my arrival. Or at least I think that is where he was...there is a casino in Alton about 5 minutes from the station! I finally arrive in Alton, too late for our dinner reservation, and we head for a motel in St Louis.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] The next morning the St Louis Symphony is performing a Beethoven Concerto. The symphony sometimes does a “coffee and donuts” concert on Fri. at 10:30 am before their weekend performances. JoeG has tickets and he's driving, so off we go for a couple of “free” Krispy Kremes and a cup of coffee. I have a philosophy that during my years on this earth, my brain has become completely full of meaningless facts so anytime I introduce anything new in one ear it forces other stuff out the other ear, especially when it come to the culture of symphonies, museums and the like. That being said, the music was very relaxing and enjoyable...I might even try it again sometime![/SIZE]
St Louis Symphony by 2 Joe's JoeH, on Flickr
[SIZE=12pt] The best thing about the morning concert was that it ends just in time for lunch. We are just a few blocks from Pappy's BBQ, one of St Louis' noted rib houses. There is always a line to get in but it is so cold on this day that our wait was just a few minutes and it was all inside. I tried the brisket and burnt ends with beans and slaw and JoeG had a 1/2 rack of ribs with beans and potato salad. The burnt ends were tender and had excellent flavor and the 1/2 rack was a substantial lunch for JoeG. While this is very good BBQ, if you are traveling on the Missouri River Runner and only want to eat ribs at one end of the run, stick with Oklahoma Joe's in Kansas City. For the afternoon JoeG tries to drag me to the art museum but I quickly figure a more appealing idea. We go watch a 3D movie. I hadn't seen one of these movies in years...the technology has come a LONG way and was exciting enough to whet our appetite. We head for a pizza on “the Hill” at Rigazzi's, famous for its frozen fishbowls of beer. The fishbowls are huge and very heavy...one will get you through a whole pizza. Our pizza choice is DaBomb. Suffice it to say, it has a whole lot of stuff on it and was very tasty!![/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] The next morning we plan a points run on the Missouri River Runner from Kirkwood to Hermann then catch the sister train back in about an hour. Before boarding the train we hit Spencer's, one of our favorite greasy spoon diners for breakfast. I have the eggs, ham, and hash browns and JoeG does the eggs, ham, and biscuits and gravy! Now, we are ready to ride the rails. In Hermann, we go to the always wonderful Hermann Wurst House for a bag full of delicious smoked meats to take home. Upon return to Kirkwood we say good bye to St Louis and head to JoeG's house in southern Illinois.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] Along the way, JoeG is telling me about one of the great pit masters, Mike Mills, which lives in his neighborhood. We stop at his BBQ joint in Murphysboro, IL, the 17th St. BBQ. When you walk in you are greeted by an unprecedented 3 Memphis In May World Championship best all around BBQ trophies!! JoeG has a very spicy hot link sandwich with BBQ beans on the side. I try the Ruben sandwich and also have the beans. These beans are off the chart good but the corned beef on the Ruben is the absolute best I have ever had. The corned beef is actually smoked and the flavor is outrageously good. There is no doubt about Mike's mastery of the smoker.[/SIZE]
Hot Link Sandwich @ 17th Street by 2 Joe's JoeH, on Flickr
[SIZE=12pt] We plan to stay in at JoeG's for the football games but he has some treats in mind that he traditionally does for the Superbowl but we'll work on them two weeks early this year. He makes a ground beef concoction with lots of onion, salsa, olives, scallions, and, of course, cheese. This Sombrero Dip is served hot in a fondue pot and you eat it with Frito scoops...almost no clean up!! I help put together a hot beef spread made with dried beef, mayo, cream cheese, onions and wine. It only takes a few tablespoons full of wine but we had to open a whole bottle. I wonder what happened to the rest!?!? Hope your team advanced to the Superbowl, our appetizers were championship contenders![/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] On Monday we take the Illini to Centralia to eat some Mexican food at Tequilas. When we board the train, the conductor asked us if we are making a points run to Centralia for dinner. I guess we have been doing this run too many times. The cheese enchiladas and tamales were very good and the conversation with Jesus, the owner, was even better. On Tuesday we picked up a spoon and tried our hand at making some red beans and rice with some of the great smoked sausage we bought in Hermann. It looks like a pretty tasty plate, if I do say so myself!! One more points run on the Saluki to Mattoon for breakfast at the Downtown Diner, and once JoeG has completed his physical therapy we are ready to leave the next day for the races!![/SIZE]
Red Beans and Rice @ JoeG's by 2 Joe's JoeH, on Flickr
Stay tuned for part 2!
