Eating Along Highway 99

Last week I decided to drive 6 hours to Davis, CA to adopt a new puppy. Of course any road trip involves careful planning around food. Here’s are some of my highlights from the drive up Highway 99.

Dewars in Bakersfield

My first stop was at Dewars, a candy shop in Bakersfield. This was a Jonathan Gold recommendation – on an episode of Good Food, he mentioned a few spots in Bakersfield. One thing stuck in my mind: nut chews from Dewars. It’s part tootsie roll, part salt water taffy, part Bit-o-Honey (which I think is totally underrated, but that’s another story). They have some wacky flavors (peanut butter and jelly, spumoni), which are pretty good. But I advise you to stick with the originals. My assorted bag of chews really helped me get to my next destination.

Superior Dairy in Hanford, CA

At a pit stop in Fresno, I met a guy who works for Foster Farms chickens. After our brief conversation about industrial agriculture, he suggested I stop in Hanford, CA, his hometown. Specifically, Superior Dairy. It’s an old-fashioned ice cream parlor serving incredible fresh flavors – peach ice cream, handmade strawberry sauce with real strawberries, and a banana split to die for. If it weren’t for the long lines of families on their cell phones, I would have thought I was in Mayberry, Pleasantville, or any other 50’s-era main street. While you’re eating your giant cone, take a walk in the park across the street and ponder the surprising architecture of the town.

H & W Drive-In in Merced, CA

I’ve never been to a drive-in restaurant. I mean a real drive in where you sit in your car while you order and eat. Keeping with the independently-owned theme, I decided to hit H & W in Merced. It’s a bit rundown from the outside. But that all goes away when you get your burger wrapped in white paper and the ice-cold homemade rootbeer. The day I went, it was surprisingly cool for the Central Valley, so I opted to eat at their outdoor picnic tables. Oh, and the waffle-cut fries are pretty tasty too.

Don Pepe’s Taqueria in Fresno

Don Pepe’s in Fresno. This hole-in-the-wall was jammed. Yelp told me to order the shrimp tacos so I ordered – one spicy and one regular. The tacos were rolled Tijuana-style (like a cone) and were filled with beans (!), rice, guacamole and incredibly tender shrimp. The spicy version had a red salsa too. Since I had another 3 hours to drive, I didn’t partake in their “the works” beers: bottles of beer with lime, salt, hot sauce and topped with a shrimp. The wait was a little long but it was worth it.

And, in case you’re interested, my new dog is Buddy, a 6-month old pit bull mix.