Last evening, I had my usual dinner at Jerry's Cafe in Gallup with "Uncle Bob" Weekes.
Earlier, I was chatting on the phone with by former roommate Jessica and mentioned that would be going there. She asked me to send her some photos, including one of the enchilada/chile relleno dinner.
So, I obliged.
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| Above, a Blake's Lotaburger in Gallup, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Fast food chains are not created equal. Some are better than others and some are more RV-friendly than others (parking-wise).
RV Travel posted an article on the best regional fast food chains in every state. For New Mexico, Blake's Lotaburger is their pick.
The article begins with:
Sometimes, when you’re on the road and in a hurry, fast food is the only option. But did you know that regional fast food chains often offer better options than the big national chains?
In the video down below by Mashed [5.46M subscribers, 2.16B views], you can see their picks of each state’s best regional fast food chain.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery in Amarillo, Texas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Last December, my ex-roommate Jessica and I stopped in Amarillo, Texas to visit the Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery. We were en route from the Des Moines, Iowa area to Orange County, California. We made the stop along the way.
The Big Texan is famous for their big 72 ounce steak challenge. If someone takes the challenge, and completely eats the entire steak, it is free. We didn't take the challenge, but browsed around for about an hour and a half before hitting the road again.
Well, as things turn out, in celebration of the centennial of Route 66, the Big Texan will be hitting the road along the Mother Road. They will be in Gallup on June 11.
From KOAT:
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Big Texan Steak Ranch will take its 72 ounce steak challenge to the Mother Road for its centennial celebration.
The Big Texan will make appearances in Gallup, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Santa Rosa.
The Big Texan posted this on Facebook:
I hope to be at the Gallup McKinley County Courthouse to watch. It should be fun!
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| Above, grillin' a steak in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
As today is Memorial Day, many people will be barbecuing their meals, whether they do it at home or camping in a national or state park. Personally, I will be barbecuing hamburgers today.
RV Travel posted an interesting article on a "cowboy cook trick" to make a tasty barbecued steak.
It begins with:
A cheap steak doesn’t have to eat like one. In the video at the end of this post, Cowboy Kent Rollins [3.52M subscribers, 425.7M views] takes a thick sirloin, one of the leaner and tougher cuts at the meat counter, and turns it into something far closer to a steakhouse plate with one simple move, a cold coffee marinade.
The trick isn’t fancy, but the details matter. Once the coffee, seasoning, and fire all line up, that budget cut gets tender, smoky, and full of beef flavor.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, at the Barstow Tommy's last December. |
If I go (chances are I will) to this year's multi-class reunion for those of us from Hawthorne High School in September, there's definitely one thing on the agenda: have a Tommy Burger from Original Tommy's.
I last ate at Tommy's last December as I was driving my ex-roommate Jessica to California from Iowa. We stayed one night in Needles, but we stopped at Tommy's in Barstow before proceeding on to Orange County.
There, we had breakfast sandwiches. This was the first time Jessica had anything from Tommy's. She liked it.
I'll have to arrange with friends to go to Tommy's (somewhere) while I am in L.A.
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| Above, inside the Best Maid pickle store in Fort Worth. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The only time I usually eat pickles is when sliced ones are in a cheeseburger or as relish on a hot dog.
RV Travel has posted a poll: Do You Like Pickles?
I know of some who are pickle fanatics. While in Fort Worth, Texas a few years ago, we stopped in the Best Maid Pickle Emporium store so that a friend can get his wife a supply of them.
The poll starts with:
Pickles, you either love them or you hate them! Or, maybe not! Maybe you like them, but you don’t LOVE them, and maybe you think they’re just okay.
For many RVers, pickles are the perfect snack to keep in the fridge for a road trip. They’re portable, easy to pack, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways—whether on a sandwich, alongside a hot dog, or just on their own. Plus, they last a long time, making them an ideal pantry staple when you’re on the move.
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| Above, Best Maid pickles in Fort Worth. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To read more and participate in the poll, go here.
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| Above, the lobster tails I had aboard the Norwegian Sky two years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Outside of hanging around a cruise ship's pool area, using exercise rooms or drinking adult beverages, cruisers main activity is eating.
Most cruise ships have several restaurants or other eateries on board to choose from.
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| Above, a friend and I dining aboard the Norwegian Sky. |
Travel + Leisure posted what they consider the seven best cruise lines for the "foodie set" of travelers.
None of the cruise lines I've cruised with made the list.
They start it with:
While cruise ship cuisine used to get a bad rap, a lot has changed over the years. In fact, today, some onboard culinary programming can rival what you’d find on land in any major food city. Moreover, many cruise lines are taking food seriously, partnering with Michelin-starred chefs and the James Beard Foundation, using regional ingredients, and bringing respected land-based restaurants to sea. Some have reworked the traditional cruise model, folding what once counted as specialty dining into the base fare; others up the ante even further with culinary excursions and themed sailings spotlighting local flavors.
From mainstream brands to small-ship luxury lines, we take a closer look at the cruise companies that are truly delivering when it comes to food, with insight from cruise experts.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, outside of Jerry's Cafe last evening. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I remember how difficult it is to go out to dinner on New Years Eve in Los Angeles. Restaurants at that time would have long waits for tables.
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| Above, the last supper of 2025. My usual enchilada and chile relleno. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I don't know what today's outlook is for restaurant dining. I am planning to eat at home tonight.
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| Above, yesterday's breakfast. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I decided to try out the breakfast menu at Jerry's Café in Gallup. I tried the Chile Relleno con Huevos. As usual, the chile relleno was good as was the rest of it (hash browns, scrambled eggs and beans). This was the first time I went there for breakfast. It was busy when I got there and it took about 15 minutes to be seated.
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| Above, Jerry's breakfast menu. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
From there, I headed to the market to pick up some wine for tonight's dinner at the Lucier's and some other groceries. (I bought some pinot noir, chardonnay and a riesling.)
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| Above, the Robert Mondavi pinot noir (2023) I bought yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
That was enough running around for one day.
Cooking A Thanksgiving Turkey in a RV... For The First Time
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| Above, the Waffle House near the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Last month, I stayed the night in Albuquerque near the Albuquerque Sunport as I had an early morning flight to Des Moines, Iowa.
While there, I ate at the local Waffle House near the airport. I went there for dinner and breakfast.
RV Travel has a poll asking, Have You Ever Eaten At A Waffle House?
It begins with:
Think back to your last road trip. Maybe it was late at night, maybe you were hungry, maybe the neon lights were calling… If there’s a Waffle House nearby, maybe we can always find you there. For today’s poll, we want to know: Have you ever eaten at a Waffle House?
For some of you, the answer is an easy yes. Waffle House is a roadside institution, especially in the South. Did you know there are more than 2,100 Waffle House locations across 25 states?
To read more and take part in the poll, go here.
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| Above, the stateroom aboard NCL's Majesty of the Seas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Although I have been on three cruises over the years, I have never dined in the ship's staterooms.
It's a good thing I haven't since the cruise lines tack on extra charges along with a 20% gratuity. We've always dined in the dining rooms.
Norwegian Cruise Line is now adding dining limits to room service.
According to Cruise Hive:
Just days after adding fees for a second entree in the Main Dining Room, Norwegian Cruise Line is now imposing fairly strict limits on room service orders.
The change is a recent one, but guests are quickly noticing the restriction, which didn’t exist in September but is now present for October sailings. Specifically, it has been noted aboard Norwegian Sun, which is currently sailing a 16-night sailing between Honolulu and Vancouver.
“Each stateroom occupant may order 1 hot item and 1 cold item (bento box) per delivery,” the room service restriction reads.
This is just more nickel and diming of cruise passengers.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, our senior group cut back on restaurant gatherings from five days to two due to rising prices. |
It is getting harder and harder to save money for retirement.
Thanks to inflation, it costs more to buy food, pay for rent, buy a house, healthcare and just everyday living expenses.
CBS News reports that more people are living paycheck-to-paycheck these days and finding it nearly impossible to save for retirement.
They begin with:
Many Americans are eager to put money away for retirement, but that goal is increasingly out of reach because more workers are living paycheck to paycheck, a new Goldman Sachs study finds.
Roughly 42% of younger working Americans — spanning Gen Z, millennials and Gen X — report having no spare savings after covering their basic living expenses, according to the analysis, which surveyed about 3,600 workers and 1,500 retirees. Among those just getting by, about three-quarters said they are struggling to save for retirement, the survey found.
The share of U.S. workers in this precarious financial position has grown significantly since 1997, when 31% lived paycheck to paycheck, according to Goldman. The investment bank projects that figure could climb to well over half of Americans by 2033 as essentials like housing and health care continue to rise in cost.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the chile relleno lunch at Gordo's Cafe. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I went to USA RV Park to use their dump station to empty the motorhome's holding tanks in preparation to winterizing it.
I then set an appointment for 2:00 to get an affidavit notarized for my ex-roommate Jessica. As I had a couple of hours to kill, I decided to have lunch.
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| Above, about to put the RV in its garage a few winters ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
This time, I had a chili relleno. I like to try the rellenos in different restaurants to see how good, or not-so-good, they are. It wasn't bad.
After lunch, I headed to the UPS Store for my notary appointment and mailing of the affidavit.
Once that was done, I headed back home. Today, I will be winterizing the motorhome and put it in its garage.
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| Above, a hot-air balloon as seen from an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I've been to the one in Gallup, New Mexico. I've been to two in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And, I've been to one in Kingman, Arizona.
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| Above, the fireplace at an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, an Elvis Presley gospel CD from Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, the Gallup Cracker Barrel fireplace. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Cracker Barrel has been making a lot of changes lately, and many of them aren't landing well with longtime fans. Most recently, the chain of restaurants and retail stores removed Uncle Hershel from the logo and received backlash for it. Last year, the chain modernized the interiors of the restaurants, and that, too, came under scrutiny. The old-fashioned interiors of Cracker Barrel restaurants held a lot of nostalgia, so it's not surprising that diners didn't like it when the look changed so drastically. It turns out that the restaurants are just doing a little refresh and, in response to a viral TikTok video, they assured patrons that the old-timey decor would be back on the walls sooner rather than later.
What you may not know is that the old decor actually holds meaning. Every single antique that decorates the inside of a Cracker Barrel is real and was at least inspired by local history. It all started with the first restaurant-store that opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1969. Founder Dan Evins enlisted the help of Don and Kathleen Singleton, who owned a local antiques store, to come and decorate the interior to feel like an old country store.
As Evins opened more Cracker Barrels, the Singletons came on board as full-time designers, setting up the decor for each location. In 1979, after Kathleen got sick, their son, Larry Singleton, took over. He retired in 2018 after almost 40 years. Joe Stewart, who worked with Singleton for 33 years, is now the decor manager.
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| Above, Russell Azbill and Larry Lucier getting their orders taken at the Gallup Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, the finished casserole. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Even though the New Mexico supermarkets now have boxes of them, they will fast disappear.
Last evening, I made the chile relleno casserole from a recipe I found. This is the third year I've made the casserole.
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| Above, right after putting to peppers on the grill. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, having a brewski while the peppers roast. |
I have enough to make another batch. After that, it will be it for me this year.
For those of you intrigued enough, here's the recipe:
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| Above, Hatch chile peppers I bought. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Among the items I picked up at the market were some Hatch Valley chile peppers. Yes, it's that time of year!
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| Above, a lot of people in New Mexico buy Hatch chile peppers by the box. These will be gone in no time! Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Bon appetit!
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| Above, Zayra's Café in Springer, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Last week was the first time I drove from Colorado to Albuquerque on Interstate 25.
After entering New Mexico, the highway takes drivers through Raton, New Mexico. Raton is the home of the NRA Whittington Center.
According to Wikipedia:
The NRA Whittington Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive shooting facilities in the United States. Owned and operated by the National Rifle Association of America, the centre is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colfax County, New Mexico.
I didn't see any signs along the highway for the NRA Whittington Center.
Anyway, Interstate 25 is a long stretch of road between Raton to Albuquerque. At least there's a few towns sprinkled here and there along the route. It mainly is in cattle ranch country.
One such town is Springer. There isn't too much there, but at least there's Zayra's Café.
Zayra's Café is a small family-run restaurant with a western motif inside. Thankfully, when we stopped there for a food break, the food was good. I had chicken enchiladas.
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| Above, the front of the Custer Battlefield Trading Post. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
After touring the Little Bighorn Battlefield, we headed out and went to Custer Battlefield Trading Post.
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| Above, inside the restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Along with a big gift store, they also have a restaurant. I had an Indian Taco (known in New Mexico as a Navajo taco). It was quite good and filling.
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| Above, the Indian taco. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Outside the park, they are the nearest restaurant to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
For more information, go here.
One of the best restaurants in Gallup for breakfasts (and anything else) is Grandpa's Grill.
The Jamestown gang met up there for breakfast yesterday morning.
Here's a photo of the group (courtesy of Russell Azbill):
