Since we can't all load up for the beach this spring break, we've compiled a list of a foodie-inspired road trips. Maybe you have a day off and just want to get out of town for a bit, to drive aimlessly (or pointedly for ribs) on old back roads and discover great swaths of empty land and wonder how we evolved into crowded-parking-lot dwellers.
Branching out in every direction, here are four places that, while not beer on the beach, should make for memorable road trips.
North of Mineral Wells: Hash Knife BBQ (Above) This barbeque spot at the southwest corner of the middle of nowhere continually gains recognition, particularly for its ribs, although I loved the fresh homemade bread, which is a recipe passed down from the owner's mother. In addition to the full barbecue menu, Hash Knife is mighty proud of its burgers and fresh from-scratch pies. Mineral Wells State Park is along the way and a good place to work-up a healthy appetite with a hike along the lake. It's a little over 80 miles from Dallas to Mineral Wells.
Glen Rose: Pie Peddlers and the Green Pickle
Glen Rose isn't just for dinosaur tracks anymore. You can see those, too, but even more fascinating than footprints of a 70-foot Apatosaurus and 45-foot T-Rex embedded in the river bottom are burgers and homemade pies. Pie Peddlers peddles more than a dozen varieties of fresh pies, and the Green Pickle boasts a great burger and fried jalapenos. The town square hosts different events on the weekends, and The Green Pickle and Pie Peddlers are within walking distance of each other. Full details are here. Glen Rose is about 80 miles southwest of Dallas and, considering the aforementioned footprints, makes for a solid day trip.
Ladonia, TX: Fat Boy's BBQ The Texas BBQ Posse recently visited Fat Boys BBQ, which is 80 miles east of Dallas, and turned in a thorough inspection of the cooking process (low and slow over pecan wood smoke) and the Psycho BBQ sauce made with Naga Jolokia peppers. This is a great review, but go ahead and fill up the tank before you read it.
Saint Jo, TX: Ancient Ovens Nestled in the rolling hills outside of the tiny town of Saint Jo, west of Muenster, is a family-run, outdoor, brick-oven pizza place. The owners are a Navy family and were stationed in Italy where they became fascinated with the brick ovens used to make Neapolitan pizza. Once retired, they opened this restaurant where they serve a five-course wood-fired Italian meals. They're open Thursday through Saturday and reservations are required. It's about 100 miles northeast of Dallas, but worth the drive.
