How many miles are we willing to travel for decent food?

So we admit it.. we are foodies, food tourists, food snobs, whatever you want to call us. Both of us grew up with somewhat lower quality food (Marian's mom egg and cold beet salad, Wayne's parents ham and cheese rollups) So over the years, we have both acquired tastes for better and higher end foods, wine, and beer.

So let me explain a few things about Rhode Island, especially Newport and surronding communities. Pretty much 60% of businessess shut their doors Nov 1st and do not reopen until Memorial Day weekend. Wayne has been cursed by the Navy to only be stationed here between mid October and mid May. Allegedly there is a summer which is nice but I think its a myth!

So a few times thus far, we have been hornswaggled by visiting a place that was highly recommended on the web and drive there (more on that in a sec) to find it closed for the season. Which is great when you are not hungry but not so bueno when you are considering gnawing off the arm of your significant other.

So to the driving part, Marian got me a Garmin NUVI 205W for my birthday. It is very handy and tells you all sorts of stuff, like not getting lost, nearest gas station (for our next trip through AZ or TX), nearest food, hotels, etc. Wayne added on a cable that receives a wireless signal that alerts you and routes you around traffic, allows you to download directions, show you gas prices, weather, movie times, news, stock prices, and local events. Anyway, NUVI told us that the distance from our room to the restaurant was 9.5 miles. Unfortunately, this is pure straight line, as a bird flies distance. Concepts which Rhode Islanders find distasteful and geographically implausible. When you select the destination, NUVI know tells you the route distance and time. Most of the time in the civilized world, mileage is 5% farther or less. In RI, count on 200%. So our 9.5 miles became 19.5 miles and 30 minutes. Some of this accounts for speed limits that were apparently set when Henry Ford was driving automobiles. When in doubt, the speed limit is 25mph. Dont care if it is a rural backround or state highway with no congestion, speed limit is 25, 40 if you are lucky.

So with that, Marian found a burger place, if you don't how Marian loves a good burger, you don't Marian very well. She has extensive time on her hands to do foodie research while I am at school. So she found Crazy Burger, and the first thing she did was call and see if they were open or closed for the season. They were open and we set off. Many "foodie" restaurants of great quality in RI also mean it might be necessary to mortgage your unborn children into white slavery for an appetizer let alone an entree. Also, price here does not necessarily imply quality. So we were pleasantly suprised to find we were wrong at crazy burger. Magic combination of outstanding quality, innovative cuisine, amazing service all in a beach bunglow run by tattooed hippies with zero snob factor.

Marian had the Wassuppy burger, Wayne built one with bacon and cheddar. Marian had the zucchini latkes and wayne had fries. All great! Some take home key lime pie. A couple of frozen beverages and all in all a good night.

Except for the 35 minute drive home!