Feasting on Asphalt

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Feasting on Asphalt is a television series starring Alton Brown of the Food Network programs Good Eats and Iron Chef America.

Brown's third series, Feasting on Asphalt explores "road food" (eating establishments which cater to travelers) in the historical and present-day United States, with an emphasis on unique restaurants and regional cuisine. In a quest to find "good eats" across the country, Brown embarks on a mission via his BMW motorcycle. "As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way to experience the road than from the back of a bike," says Brown.

Contents

[edit] Season 1

Season 1 consisted of four episodes, initially broadcast July 29, August 5, August 12, and August 19, 2006. Brown traveled from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, and sampled food along his travel route. The episodes included segments documenting famous journeys and travelers (from the Odyssey to the Crusades, to Lewis and Clark, and Jack Kerouac), and interviews with many of the restaurant owners and patrons he met en route.

Brown suffered a motorcycle crash during the shooting of the Nevada segment, injuring his right clavicle. This injury was caught on camera and was shown in episode 4.

Brown began his trip in Mt. Pleasant, SC, then wound his way through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and then to the California coast.

[edit] Episode 1

Title: "The South Shall Fry Again"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Mt. Pleasant, SC 32°51.38′N, 79°47.92′W Jack's Cosmic Dogs This was the only (open) food establishment Alton Brown admits to being familiar with prior to the roadtrip
Mt. Pleasant, SC 32°47.22′N, 79°52.59′W Pitt's Pharmacy Soda Jerk
Savannah, GA 32°03.81′N, 81°05.94′W Streamliner Diner
Gilsonville, SC not given Robert Lee Smalls Store Pickled Pig's Feet
Place and establishment identified on foodnetwork.com, but not on the broadcast.
Washington, GA 33°43.6242′N, 82°43.119′W Bones Biscuit-bar & Grill
Toccoa, GA 34°34.62′N, 83°19.90′W The Chicken Basket Closed
Toccoa, GA 34°34.62′N, 83°19.90′W Shirley's Soul Food Cafe
Spartanburg, SC 35°02.55′N, 81°48.51′W Hobo Hollar Produce
Charlotte, NC 35°11.57′N, 80°52.41′W 21 South Drive-In

[edit] Episode 2

Title: "I Smell Pork"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Cashiers, NC 35°17.95′N, 83°08.86′W Carolina Smokehouse
Sunbright, TN 36°21.76′N, 84°45.86′W Lou's Cafe
Corbin, KY 36°56.64′N, 84°05.73′W Sanders Cafe Original Colonel Sanders
Bowling Green, KY 36°59.67′N, 86°26.73′W Duncan Hines' Home
Bowling Green, KY 36°59.98′N, 86°26.80′W Smokey Pig BBQ
Evansville, IN 37°58.61′N, 87°33.84′W Greyhound Bus Station Vending machines
Evansville, IN 37°58.30′N, 87°34.53′W YWCA Tea Room
Evansville-New Harmony Road, IN 37°59.16′N, 87°36.44′W Hilltop Inn Brain Sandwich, Squirrel Burgoo
St. Louis, MO 38°35.37′N, 90°18.47′W Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

[edit] Episode 3

Title: "High Plains Feaster"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Saint Louis, MO 38°38.62′N, 90°17.46′W Grounds, 1904 World's Fair
Weaubleau, MO 37°53.44′N, 93°32.47′W Anonymous tourist court
Florence, KS 38°14.51′N, 96°55.59′W Spring Fling event Brisket BBQ
Florence, KS 38°14.51′N, 96°55.59′W Harvey house
La Junta, CO 37°59.26′N, 103°32.59′W Former Woolworth's lunch counter closed
La Junta, CO 37°59.26′N, 103°32.59′W Copper Kitchen Cafe
Pikes Peak, CO 38°50.45′N, 105°02.84′W Brown's campstove on Pikes Peak summit Coffee at 14,000 feet, brewed with Pikes Peak snow
Mancos, CO 37°22.27′N, 108°15.88′W Ted's Taco frybread
Mexican Hat, UT 37°09.04′N, 109°51.97′W Mexican Hat Lodge

[edit] Episode 4

Title: "California or Bust"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Monument Valley, UT not given Linda and Woody's RV hash browns, made using "Essence of Emeril" (which Alton points out "doesn't actually smell like Emeril")
Kayenta, AZ not given Linda W.'s house mutton stew, fry bread, intestine, stomach fat, blue cornmeal mush, wild pine nuts, Navajo tea, Navajo tacos
Indian Springs, NV 36°27.86′N, 115°26.04′W anonymous gravel road Alton's motorcycle mishap, he traveled by car from this moment on
Las Vegas, NV not given Curly Q Camp chuck wagon re-enactment; due to Alton's injuries from above incident he was unable to attend although remainder of crew did
Rialto, CA 34°06.40′N, 117°20.95′W Wigwam Motel hardtack, homemade by Alton from "an authentic Civil War recipe"
Ontario, CA 34°03.16′N, 117°61.80′W Cathy and John's semi and Fork in the Road Restaurant muffler beef stew (made with an accessory originally designed for snowmobiles) and meatloaf cooked using plug-in cooker
Hawthorne, CA not given (mobile) lunch wagon breakfast burrito
Hawthorne 33°54.90′N, 118°20.63′W Continental Gourmet market empanadas
Hawthorne 33°54.11′N, 118°19.99′W B&R Old Fashion Burgers royal burger (2.5 lb. - pastrami, egg, etc.)
Hawthorne not given Dino's drive-through pastrami hot dog
Hawthorne 33°55.45′N, 118°21.16′W Fosters Freeze soft serve ice cream with Hawthorne PD Detective (now Hawthorne PD Sergeant and host of The Hungry Detective) Chris Cognac ; supposed site of inspiration for the Beach Boys song Fun, Fun, Fun; ice cream; pepper balls
Hawthorne 33°55.85′N, 118°21.36′W Acosta's tacos

Note: Coordinates were incorrectly shown in ddmmss format on the program.

Alton Brown is shown wearing a sling for three quarters of this episode after his motorcycle accident and resulting shoulder injury. On the sling is written: "If you can read this odds are I'm about to scream."

[edit] Season 2

The second season, Feasting on Asphalt 2 - The River Run, began airing August 4, 2007 on the Food Network. The journey began in Venice, Louisiana, with Brown and his crew tracing the Mississippi River north. According to Brown's website, Feasting on Asphalt 2 was filmed during April and May of 2007, and consists of six episodes along the Great River Road. Brown deviates from the Great River Road, however, missing several of the cities that travel along the Mississippi River; rather than following the river through towns such as Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and Bemidji, Minnesota, Brown cuts straight over from Crosby, Minnesota to Itasca State Park in order to reach the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.

[edit] Episode 1

Title: "A Strong Brown God"

According to Brown, A strong brown god is a term used by T. S. Eliot to describe the Mississippi River.

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Just outside New Orleans, LA Luzianne Tea blends formulated for iced tea. According to Brown, Luzianne kept its employees on full salary during the months the company was closed following Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans, LA 29°56.65′N, 90°03.88′W Mulate's Gumbo, grilled alligator, frog legs, bread pudding.
New Orleans, LA Big Fisherman Boiled crawfish, crawfish pies, sausage, stuffed artichoke.
Hammond, LA 30°27.29′N, 90°29.10′W Kliebert's Gator & Turtle Farm Has been raising alligators since the 1940's. Kliebert's ranching methods are said to have increased the alligator population. The alligators are fed frozen nutria.
Vacherie, LA B&C Seafood Red beans and rice, alligator, gumbo, boudin balls, sausage, potato salad.
La Place, LA 30°04.34′N, 90°28.34′W Bailey's Andouille Andouille, tasso, hog head cheese.

[edit] Episode 2

Title: "Fry Me a River"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Baton Rouge, LA Uncle Bill's Spices A demonstration on grinding sassafras leaves into filé powder.
Natchez, MS 31°32.34′N, 91°23.77′W The Donut Shop Drive-thru donut shop.
Natchez, MS 31°33.64′N, 91°23.81′W Club 601 Spaghetti and fried catfish.
Outside Natchez, MS Natchez State Park Alton cooked breakfast for the crew. Grits with head cheese, picante scrambled eggs, and fried andouille.
Natchez Trace Parkway A brief history of this historic road, while traveling to their next destination.
Lorman, MS 31°49.24′N, 91°03.02′W Old Country Store Fried chicken, corn bread, and greens. Alton said it was the best fried chicken he'd ever had.
Vicksburg, MS 32°21.12′N, 90°52.08′W Biedenharn Candy Co. Alton discussed the strategic importance of Vicksburg during the American Civil War, and Biedenharn first bottling Coca-Cola in 1894.
Greenville, MS 33°51.21′N, 91°03.71′W Jim's Cafe Beef tips on pancakes.

[edit] Episode 3

Title: "Soul Food Survivor"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Greenville, MS Doe's Eat Place Tamale Trail. Preparation of tamales, and theories about their popularity on the Mississippi delta.
Rosedale, MS 33°51.21′N, 91°01.65′W Joe's White Front Cafe "Koolickles" (pickles made with cherry Kool-Aid), and corn husk tamales.
West Helena-Helena, AR 34°35.86′N, 90°47.80′W Ray's Dairy Maid Pecan and coconut meringue pies. City erroneously given as Helena, Alaska (AK) on map.
Memphis, TN 35°07.55′N, 89°57.55′W Pink Palace Museum Replica of the original Piggly Wiggly grocery store.
Memphis, TN 35°05.15′N, 90°03.42′W Jim Neely's Interstate Bar-B-Que Memphis school of barbecue. Pork skins, baby back ribs, chopped pork on spaghetti, deep fried sausage.
Memphis, TN Wiles-Smith Drugs Cherry milk shakes at a drug store lunch counter. Alton mistook a stuffed porcupine for a nutria.
Memphis, TN 35°10.05′N, 90°00.61′W Melanie's Soul Food Restaurant Soul food – turkey leg, greens, corn bread, beans, caramel cake.

[edit] Episode 4

Title: "Take Me To The River"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Paducah, KY Alton's barge trip ends here.
Chester, IL 37°54.32′N, 89°50.01′W Home of Popeye Home of Popeye's creator and Alton’s taste of canned spinach.
Alton, IL Alton IL, Visitor Center Where Alton Brown learns how midwesterners pronounce the name Alton.
Alton, IL 38°53.29′N, 90°09.78′W Fast Eddie's - Bon Air Off the river road road-house. Built in the 1920's by Anheuser Busch.
Alton, IL 38°54.204′N, 90°08.947′W Pie Town Best pecan pie north of the Mason-Dixon line according to Alton.
Saint Louis, MO 38°35.521′N, 90°18.169′W Donut Drive-In 6525 Chippewa Street - Best donuts Alton has ever consumed
Saint Louis, MO 38°37.016′N, 90°15.712′W Worlds Fair Donuts 1904 S Vandeventer - Peggy the fastest change maker doesn't have much time for Alton after the camara man gets in her way. Old school donuts.
Saint Louis, MO 38°34.377′N, 90°17.707′W Saint Louis Hills Donut Shop 6917 Hampton - Where Alton teaches a kid how to drink coffee and does a taste test with cold milk.
Quincy, IL 39°56.221′N, 91°23.794′W Maid Rite 507 North 12th Street - Home of the Maid Rite Sloppy Joe.

[edit] Episode 5

Title: "Mid-American Pie"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinates Establishment Notes
Monroe City, MO 39°58.11′N, 91°66.57′W Civil War battle reenactment Union vs. Confederate coffee taste test. (Note: The GPS coordinates shown are not close to Monroe City MO.)
Taylor, MO The 18 Wheeler Restaurant The truck stop with the country's biggest breakfast.
Nauvoo, IL 40°32.560′N, 91°22.329′W Baxter's Vineyard 2010 Parley St - Where Mike the sound guy gets to taste midwestern wine. Alton also tries rhubarb pie with concord grape juice.
Niota, IL 40°37.560′N, 91°17.333′W Quality Fisheries On IL Hwy 96 - 157 Arbor. River fish that have been hot smoked. Deep fried morel mushrooms.
Muscatine, IA 41°25.22′N, 91°02.15′W The Clam Shell Valentine Diner number 2111. Also where pearl buttons come from river mollusc shells.
Moline, IL 44°30.45′N, 90°31.13′W John Deere Visitors Pavilion Deere Prairie Breaker plow
Savanna, IL U-Pick Asparagus Pick your own asparagus outside of Savanna on the Great River Road.
Saint Donatus, IA 42°21.85′N, 90°32.36′W Kalmes Store Fried chicken livers with seafood cocktail sauce and pork tenderloin sandwiches with Luxembourg noodles. And the special machine to make the noodles.
Balltown, IA 42°38.36′N, 90°31.10′W Breitbach's Restaurant Iowa's oldest bar. Lots of pies including rhubarb custard.

[edit] Episode 6

Title: "Lutefisk Express"

Places Visited:

Place Coordinate Establishment Notes
Alma, WI 44°19.30′N, 91°42.35′W Great Alma Fishing Float "The Mess" with smoked fish and sauerkraut named "Best road breakfast yet" by Alton.
Frontenac, MN 44°33.20′N, 92°28.32′W Whistle Stop Cafe A good example of a great "Road Joint."
St. Paul, MN 44°52.32′N, 93°10.48′W Piroshki Russian Hamburgers A Russian Tea House once visited by U2.
Minneapolis, MN 44°54.43′N, 93°11.48′W Olsen Fish Company Providers of Alton's Lutefisk enjoyed at the end of the show.
St. Paul, MN 44°56′50″N, 93°5′53″W Mickey's Dining Car Authentic diner food.
St. Paul, MN 44°56.78′N, 93°11.48′W Unnamed catering company with Soile Anderson Smorgasbord is defined and enjoyed.
Minneapolis, MN 44°57.78′N, 93°17.13′W Bob's Java Hut Alton gets a tattoo in the shop upstairs.
Crosby, MN 46°29.06′N, 93°57.25′W The Nordic Inn Nordic theme restaurant built in a converted Methodist Church
Itasca State Park 47°14.23′N, 95°12.27′W End of the road, source the Mississippi River.

[edit] Season 3

[edit] Motorcycles and gear

[edit] Season 1

In the series, Alton Brown is seen riding a 2005 BMW R 1200 RT touring motorcycle, with a number of farkles. He wears a variety of gear including textile jackets or suits made by BMW, Aerostich, and Bates, and Aerostich "Combat Touring" boots. His web site lists his motorcycle and camping gear, much of it procured from Aerostich. His motorcycle was purchased used from a BMW dealer and has made prior appearances on Good Eats.[1]

[edit] Season 2

For Season 2 Alton Brown and his riders appear to be riding BMW R 1200 GS adventure touring motorcycles. He is wearing BMW motorcycle apparel. It is unknown whether the R 1200 GS Alton Brown rides is his personal motorcycle, or whether BMW or a dealer provided it and the others for use during show production.

[edit] References

  1. ^ AB's Motogear. Alton Brown official web site. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.

[edit] External links