Road Trip-Day Five: Detroit/Ann Arbor, MI to St Louis-ish, MO

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog, written in some creative ways.  This time it is Cathy, writing about food across America and back.  We are now heading back ... towards San Diego. 

Hello again.  We are all back in the car and heading west...albeit slowly.  First, breakfast...

Cracker Barrel is along our entire driving route- except, not in California-the closest one to us is 3 hours away, in Yuma. It is good in the sense that all are laid out the same way and I know exactly where the restrooms are-just past the "General Store" lobby (filled with souvenirs and knick knacks and candies)...and they serve breakfast all day. There is a small game on every simply set table. Coffee is $1.39-but I am spoiled by the consistency of Starbucks- cross country(as a side note- we used 6 tanks of fuel and 7 stops at Starbucks on this drive East) I can get a fresh cup of coffee whenever we stop; I can tell you stories of the strangest tasting brown colored hot water I have consumed on prior road trips. This year the signage for Starbucks is better( "Exit 159, Turn Left" with a Starbucks symbol, nothing else) and there are more locations right off the freeway.

So, back to Cracker Barrel, The Mister got the "Holiday Sampler" breakfast plate ($7.19) A choice of country or sugar ham, a slice of wonderful country bacon (it is not crispy, but a cured smoked ham thin sliced and pan fried -different than what most of you grew up with), a wonderful sausage patty, two eggs, hash browns, spiced apples, grits, a regular biscuit, an apple biscuit and country gravy-not too spicy(needed to add pepper), not at all lumpy.Plenty of food. I got the two biscuits with ham and side of spiced apples- they are cooked with the skins on....still crispy in a thick, non-cinnamon, non-sweet sauce. 

One thing I like about Cracker Barrel is that you can get a book on tape (or CD) at one location and then drive while listening to it and return it at any other location whenever.  It ends up costing you less than $5 and is a good way to pass time if you don't have satellite radio.  Regular AM/FM stations end up fading so fast while driving (at best one station will last 2 hours) that having something to hold your concentration, besides conversation, helps tremendously.

Wonderful... said our goodbyes and and we were off in the car again. First stop, the University of Michigan. North Campus. Food.

Yes, you are reading correct- Bagel Fragel. A fragel is ...yep, a fried bagel.

Raisin packed bagel dough, fried to a golden brown (instead of boiled).  Coated in cinnamon sugar. More sugar than cinnamon-perfect.  (I don't crave cinnamon) (89¢) An Ann Arbor tradition for 30 years.  {The original Bagel Fragel place used to be located on South University, but now is North of North Campus, on Plymouth Road.}  I would get one every Saturday morning.  Had to get one now.  Had to. While I could. It is bread-y inside and the crust is lightly crispy...not hard...still chewy but a little crunch. Healthier than a donut...not as healthy as  bagel...like I care. 

A salt bagel, toasted, with butter.  (72¢) It is quite difficult to find salt bagels around San Diego.  These are good, fresh, inexpensive....and salty! The shop also sells muffins, danishes, sandwiches and breakfast bagels.

Then the traditional  Ann Arbor stop at The Cube, a beautiful installation art piece that spins on its axis, either with the help of a push, or just the wind.  Made in 1966-67, by Tony Rosenthal, it is located near the Michigan Union,  {just off of State Street, on Maynard} and has a "twin"of itself in New York City.  As a size reference, the corners parallel to the ground are worn out.  Those corners are arm level - where you push. 

Then, our primary traditional food indulgence.  Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger.  This small restaurant (Capacity of 50) seems to be patronized by a lot of people after graduation. The people working the grill were commenting about how many "old" people were in there when we were.  Eh, after Thanksgiving, the town seemed filled with alumnae.  The Mister and I both lived in South Quad, a dorm located only a block away from Blimpy's and frequented this simple restaurant regularly when undergrads. 

You walk in, between tables, and queue up. The menu is on the wall behind the tray line (click to enlarge and read).

You grab a tray and tell the cook your order. Then you watch it being made. The beef is ground daily, set up as a ball of meat in single, double, triple and quad packs, and slapped down on the grill to cook and seasoned with a salt/pepper mix. If you are getting fried items, you order from the fry cook...finished sandwich items are

topped to your wishes (ketchup, mustard, mayo,  lettuce, tomato, pickles, raw onions, relish, yellow peppers) and wrapped at the end of the line ... you pay and find a seat.

Mine. Double. Provolone. Fried egg. Mayo. Tomato. Onion. Pickle. ($2.85 plus 55 cents for the egg)

His. Triple. Blue cheese. Everything but onion. ($3.95)

Small mixed fried veggies. ($3.45) We sat at 2 of the 5 barstools looking out the front window,  onto South Division, as we had many years ago. Enjoyed every last bite. 

Oh, the burgers are juicy, flavorful and absolutely the best you will ever have.  It has been said you can feel your arteries hardening with each bite.  The mixed fries are plentiful, lightly crispy, not too greasy..a mix of onions, zucchini, cauliflower, mushrooms-no potatoes...perfect. We cleaned our tray and left...already awaiting the next visit. It is cheaper than food...and so good.

We ate more today, but I will just add it to tomorrow's post...

Cracker Barrel website.  Numerous locations.

MD Bagel Fragel  (734)332-1020  North Campus (Plymouth Road)

Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger 551 S. Division, Ann Arbor 48104 (734)663-4590

 

***Krazy Jim's closed on August 15, 2013 after 60 years.  It should be re-opening and the date and location will be announced on its Web Page

Comments

[Denver]

That's some crazy burgers! I couldn't help but think of The Simpson's "Good Morning Burger".

[yummieyummy]

Happy holidays!!!!!! Long time no post =) That bagel looks so yummy!

[Carol]

Those burgers look great!

The Cube! I only recognize it from the audition tape from the winner of the USA Ninja Warrior try-outs (Collin B). Sorry, totally off track here.

Have a safe trip back!

[nhbilly]

I love the blimpy burger review I wish there was something simple and yummy like that around here.

[Nate]

Those burgers are cheap!

[Cathy]

Hi, Denver! The closest similar burger (that is also less than $3) is the Carl's Jr. Breakfast Burger, which I get. Regularly.

Hello YummieYummy! Yes, I was wondering where you were. I am exhausted. Still crave the salt bagels, but even more crave the fragel, which isn't a great photo, but tasted so good-warm and chewy and crunchy...

It's OK, Carol. You can see how scattered my posting was. I had so many thoughts that I wanted to express and...apparently did so. We are actually home now, but the trip postings will continue. It was an unusually accident free drive.

Bill- I keep looking of those hole-in-the-wall places...because- I guess-no, I know- Blimpy's was my "standard".

Hi, Nate. Thing is, those are the highest prices we ever paid...You can see that menu is pretty much left over from the 70's, with that style of art...the only change is the pricing. But, yes, the overall prices are dirt cheap. Still. So very, very worth it...

[yummieyummy]

Hi Cathy!! I still come in here once in a while, but too busy w/ the holidays and family visiting so I didn't post anything =) They all left now so I'm back to my normal food blogging :P

[Rachel]

Oh wow I always thought cracker barrel would be cool to stop by on the florida turnpike but my ex-boyfriend never made an effort to stop by. Note that he is an ex- :P Thanks for sharing that about it at least I now know a bit more about the chain. Too bad I live in Aus but will definitely try to make it there on any road trips next time I am int he US.

Krazy Jims also sounds like a yummy burger joint.

[Cathy]

YY! Holidays can change so many schedules...and then it is January and we try to change them ourselves with "New Years Resolutions" and everything seems different from now until...I dunno, it all somehow turns into "normal" for most of us...Glad to hear from you. Still have to post about that place in El Cajon...
Rachel- Hello Down There! Yes, you sort of now know what you missed. Cracker Barrel is not expensive -and yet not fast food-and located off of a freeway exit- and not in the middle of any Town in America. Most locations make a *really good* fried chicken on Sunday only. If you *ever* were to get to Ann Arbor, you know the best place to stop...great food, inexpensive and soooo good.

[yummieyummy]

Yes it changes quite a bit lately. This year I'm a little behind on Christmas decoration too =( Usually I don't make New Year Resolutions, but this year I do. It's okay about the post. I'm really proud of the Pho over there, so I used to always wonder have you or Kirk try it yet. It's that time for Pho again =)

[Messy Jessy]

Mmmm...Cracker Barrel! I love the hash brown casserole and I often get breakfast for dinner! Yum!

Burgers look fantastic! I like home style burger joints! Great Post!

[Cathy]

Oh boy is today a pho day, or what, YY? That one is the closest to my home and I have been there quite a few times. I think Christmas decorating is put off for a few more days...and I try to make a resolution I will stick to, so I don't disappoint myself. Wow, I now have two posts!
Messy Jessy-I totally did not blog the hash brown casserole and I do so love it...next time. Crazy Jim's is now a sort of legend and yet wasn't when I went there to eat: it was just cheap, College Student Food, that still tastes the same, almost as many years later as you are old...(Happy Birthday, BTW)