Food In America
By far the most common form of lodging in rural United States and along many Interstates is the motel. Providing inexpensive rooms ($30-$150 per night) to automotive travellers, most motels are clean and reasonable with a limited array of amenities: telephone, TV, bed, bathroom. Motel 6 is a national chain with reasonable rates ($30-$70, depending on the city). Super 8 Motels provide reasonable accommodations throughout the country as well. Reservations are typically unnecessary, which is convenient since you don’t have to arbitrarily interrupt a long road trip; you can simply drive until you’re tired then find a room.
Business or extended-stay hotels are increasingly available across the country. They can be found in smaller towns across the midwest or in coastal urban areas. Generally they are more expensive than motels, but not as expensive as full-scale hotels, with prices around $70 to $170. While the hotels may appear to be the size of a motel, they may offer amenities from larger hotels. Examples include the Marriott’s chain of Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inns, and Residence Inns; Hampton Inn; or Holiday Inn’s Holiday Inn Express. Some of the hotels are for long term stays directed at business travelers or families, as they might feature kitchens in most rooms, afternoon social events (generally by a pool), and generally serve continental breakfast.
The most significant change that is taking place with respect to the food and beverage area in hotels, that of contracting out operations to external operators, whether individual restaurateurs or branded restaurant chain names. This development is widely regretted by many traditionalists but represents a reality in north America and, increasingly, in the United Kingdom as well.
Hotels are available in most cities and usually offer more services and amenities than motels. Rooms usually run about $80-$200 per night, but very large, glamorous, and expensive hotels can be found in most major cities, offering luxury suites larger than some houses. An affordable and nationwide set of hotel brands exist such as Amerisuites, Hawthorn, Days Inn, and Microtel, all boasting the amenities and services of an expensive hotel at budget to reasonable rates.AmericInn offers very nice but reasonable lodging for families and business travelers alike throughout the 50 states.
There are also youth hostels across the U.S. Most are affiliated with the American Youth Hostel organization (a Hostelling International member). Quality of hostels varies widely, but at $8-$24 per night, the prices are unbeatable. Despite the name, AYH membership is open to people of any age. Non-AYH hostels are also available, particularly in larger cities. Be aware that hostels are clustered in more touristy locations, do not assume that all mid sized towns will have a hostel.
Food Eaten By The Locals
United States / The Caven Family
The Caven family in the kitchen of their home in American Canyon (Napa County), with a week’s worth of food. Craig Caven (holding Ryan, 3), 38, and Regan Ronayne, 42, stand behind the kitchen island; in the foreground is Andrea, 5. Cooking methods: electric stove, microwave, outdoor BBQ. Food preservation: refrigerator-freezer, freezer. Favorite foods – Craig: beef stew. Regan: berry yogurt sundae (from Costco). Andrea: clam chowder. Ryan: ice cream.
One Week’s Food in April
Grains & Other Starchy Foods: $30.11 San Luis sourdough bread, sliced, 2 loaves; Oroweat cinnamon raisin bagels, 2.5 lb; Oroweat onion bagels, 2.5 lb; potatoes, 2 lb; Kellogg’s raisin bran cereal, 1 lb; Quaker oatmeal, instant, 1 lb; Bohemian Hearth seven-grain bread, sliced, half loaf; No Yolk egg noodles, 12 oz; Mission Gorditas flour tortillas, 10 oz; Buitoni five-cheese tortellini, 8 oz; Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour, 8 oz; Progresso bread crumbs, 4 oz.
Dairy: $6.22 Sunny Select (store brand) milk,‡ 1 gal; cheese,‡ shredded, 8 oz; Kraft parmesan cheese, grated, 3 oz.
Meat, Fish & Eggs: $22.87 Foster Farms chicken breast tenders, 4 lb; Sunnyside eggs, 12; beef, ground, 1.5 lb; tuna fish,‡ canned, 1 lb.
Fruits, Vegetables & Nuts: $21.30 Del Monte yellow bananas, 5 lb; Braeburn variety apples, 2.5 lb; Golden Delicious variety apples, 2.5 lb; tangerines, 2 lb; red grapes, 1.5 lb; baby carrots, 2 lb; broccoli, 1 lb; carrots, 1 lb; Sunny Select mixed vegetables, frozen, 8 oz; Sunny Select peas, frozen, 8 oz.
Condiments: $9.43 Skippy Roasted Honey Nut peanut butter, 1.1 lb; C&H white cane sugar, 8 oz; Mary Ellen apricot jam, 4 oz; Best Foods mayonnaise,‡ 2 oz; French’s yellow mustard,‡ 2 oz; Heinz ketchup,‡ 2 oz; salt, 1.6 oz.
Snacks & Desserts: $11.54 Snyders sourdough nibbler pretzels, 1 lb; Sunny Select raisins, 12 oz; Sunny Select vanilla wafers, 12 oz; Sunny Select Blueberry Fruit & Grain cereal bars, 10.4 oz; Sunny Select Raspberry Fruit & Grain cereal bars, 10.4 oz.
Prepared Food: $19.33 Red Baron pepperoni pizza, 4 lb; ham submarine sandwiches, 2 12-oz, Craig buys a sandwich at school two times a week; Foster Farms corn dogs, 1.3 lb; Five Brothers marinara sauce, 12 oz; Rice-A-Roni, chicken flavor, 6.9 oz.
Fast Food: $7.50 McDonald’s: 2 Happy Meals, (each containing 1 6-piece chicken McNuggets, 1 small French fries, 1 low-fat milk); chocolate chip cookies, 1 pkg. Restaurants: $4.50 Fresh Choice Restaurant, the family eats here once a month, using a coupon to defray the cost. Price shown reflects one-fourth of the cost of one visit per month.
Beverages: $22.89 Alhambra water, 5 gal; Coca-Cola,‡ 2.6 qt; diet Coca-Cola, 2.2 qt, one fountain drink purchased before daily drive to work; Capri Sun juice drink, 10 6.8-fl oz pkgs; apple juice, 2 qt; Tropicana homestyle orange juice, 2 qt; Sunny Select instant coffee, 12 oz; tap water for cooking.
Miscellaneous: $3.49 Whiskas Savory Nuggets cat food, 3.3 lb.
Food Expenditure for One Week: $159.18
Eating Out
The variety of restaurants throughout the US is remarkable. One thing that a traveler from Europe or Latin America will notice is that many restaurants do not serve alcohol. Another is the sheer number and variety of fast food and chain restaurants. Most open early in the morning and stay open late at night; a few are open 24 hours a day. A third remarkable fact is the size of the portions generally served by U.S. restaurants. Although the trend has moderated in recent years, portions have grown surprisingly large over the past two or three decades.
Many restaurants aren’t open for breakfast. Those that do, serve eggs, toast, cereals, coffee, etc. Most restaurants stop serving breakfast before noon, but some, especially diners, will serve breakfast all day.
Continental Breakfast is usually a cheap way of getting food in the morning. Normally only cold foods such as cereal, breads, muffins, fruit, etc. are available. Milk, fruit juices, hot coffee and tea are the typical beverages. There is usually a toaster for your bread. Most frequently seen at hotels and motels.
Lunch can be a good way to get food from a restaurant whose dinners are out of your price range. Dinner, the main meal. Depending on culture, region, and personal preference, is usually enjoyed between 5 and 9pm. Most restaurants will be willing to box up your leftover food. Making reservations in advance is a good idea if the restaurant is popular, or you are dining in a large group.
Buffets are generally a cheap way to get a large amount of food. For a single, flat, rate, you can have as many servings of whatever foods are set out. However, since food can be sitting out in the heat for hours, the quality can suffer. Generally the food is American, though Chinese-style food is also popular.
Many restaurants serve Sunday brunch, served morning through noon, with both breakfast and lunch items. There is usually a buffet. Usually fairly cheap. Food quality is usually poor; it is an excuse for restaurants to get rid of the leftovers they have accumulated before fresh food arrives.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 11:14 am and is filed under Food. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.