Thank you. To all the people who cared!!

Again, thanks to all the businesses who helped us out, hooked us up, and welcomed us with open arms. As Chicago Tribune writer Kevin Pang put it via Twitter “The Folks at @BaconRoadTrip are on an adventure of a lifetime, … Continue reading →

Seventh and final stop: Zingerman’s – Ann Arbor, MI

They will slice the bacon for you thick cut, thin, whatever you prefer! Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Praise the Lard!

In our travels I think the best part was driving in the car on our way back from Nueske’s.  The entire car smelled of rich delicious bacon.  I commented to Scott that if we somehow got in a terrible accident, and the car burst into flames, can you imagine how delicious that would smell!!?

You thought Disney World was the happiest place on earth?  Welcome instead to Zingerman’s the 2nd happiest place on earth.   It’s the Disney World of Meats, Bacon, and cheese.  Who’d knew that this unassuming quaint business, would have the most amazing products of hard to find gourmet fare, but that they also have the NICEST people behind the counter.

Inside Zingerman's Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

We were greeted by the people who work there. All of them, not just your typical deli workers.  A mix of sure, U of M Students but also others who work there both P/T and F/T.  But all of them are passionate about what they do.  And, it being good food, and the midwest, they are nice as can be.

Already they had some bacon cooked up for us.  Thanks to whomever runs their Twitter site.  We had a double smoked Hungarian Bacon that was to DIE for!!   The Edwards peppered bacon was also a pure delight!

We purchased 2 autographed books signed by the Bacon Man himself, Ari and bought a 3rd one just because it was available.   And some bacon to take home with us.  My favorite is the Back Bacon.

Guide to Better Bacon! SIgned by the Man himself Ari!! Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

We also received information on Bacon Camp, and if you weren’t aware: http://www.zingermanscampbacon.com/

If this doesn't make your mouth water,--nothing will!! Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

After we went to the Deli, we stopped on over to their coffee location, and the creamery next door.  There we were able to purchase some much sought after Benton’s bacon.

I can’t wait to go to Bacon Camp!   Much better than the Camp my parents sent me to when I was 8.

If you can’t physically head to Ann Arbor, be sure to check out their mail order.  I highly recommend the Bacon Club!  Bacon delivered straight to your doorstep!

http://www.zingermans.com/

Sixth Stop – The Comet Cafe – Milwaukee, WI

We had heard there was a place in Milwaukee, that let you add (for a small fee) bacon to anything on the menu.  Want bacon on apple pie?  Bacon on your burger? Bacon on your cake? Whatever you want,—they will do it.  We ended up doing a typical one, bacon on our burger and bacon in our Mac N’ Cheese.

 

It’s a cute cafe.  With some great beer selections.  The service wasn’t as good as we had experienced other places, and they didn’t really care at all about our Bacon Road Trip.  It put a little bit of a damper on our trip, but we didn’t let it get us down!

After Nueskes, anything is going to pale in comparison.

Tomorrow?  It’s our Seventh and final stop.  Zingerman’s.

Mac N' Cheese (w/ Bacon of course) and Bacon Burger. Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Fifth Stop: Nueskes – Wittenberg, WI

When you think bacon.  You think of many things.  But when you think of GOOD bacon.  You should think of Nueske’s.   Top chefs all over the country use Nueskes, and for good reason.   It’s some of the best bacon we have ever tasted.

Nueskes are known for the Applewood Smoked Bacon, but their peppered bacon is very good.  I really enjoyed the Wild Cherrywood smoked bacon if you’re like me and like your bacon with a hint of sweet flavour.

It was an extremely windy day when we traveled from Chicago, IL to Wittenberg, WI. Windy in Chicago? What a shock.    And you want to know what else is in Wittenberg, WI?   Not much.   But we drove. And drove. And drove.

And we made it!  And on twitter, we were lucky enough Nueskes’ contacted us through Twitter and they knew we were coming.   Why?  We wondered…we would soon find out!!!

Out of our entire trip, Nueskes was our favorite part!  We ended up buying over 25 lbs. of bacon.

Yes.  They do mail order!!  https://www.nueskes.com/

The best sign ever. Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

WE ARE HERE!!! (Finally.) Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Interior Nueskes. Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Interior of the store. Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Packaged meats. Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

A mysterious package for "BACON ROADTRIP" Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Inside...it's some of the best of Nueskes!! Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Behold. STACKS of BACON!!! Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Fourth Stop: More Cupcakes – Chicago, IL

We were well rested and excited for the drive to Nueske’s today.

We wanted to do something sweet, that had bacon, so we knew that being in Chicago, we had to check out a Cupcake company that did a very unique Bacon Cupcake.

Sure, there are a few places in Chicago who do bacon cupcakes.    But we were disappointed to see that they did NOT respond to emails or twitter contact.   Alright!   Your loss!

One of my favorite cupcake places has always, and will always continue to be MORE cupcakes.   Perfect timing as they just had launched the new addition of the “More-Mobile” a few days earlier.  So while the MORE mobile was out and about, we decided to hit up the store.   High quality ingredients and attention to detail, MORE CUPCAKES was the clear winner.

Inside More Cupcakes Photo:Scott Bebout Photography

We did the Bacon Bacon Bacon Cupcake.   And it didn’t disappoint.  The Bacon brittle on top of this pretty cupcake, was a fancy treat.  And yes, even the cupcake batter has bacon in it. Bacon Bacon Bacon cupcake Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

 

Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Third Stop: Chicago, IL – Baconfest Satellite dinner at “The Southern” with chefs Cary Taylor and Troy Graves:

October 26th, 2010- The main goal of our journey was not to simply eat tons of Bacon and make ourselves sick.  But was to eat high quality bacon, and go to different establishments that either do bacon very well, or do bacon in a unique way.  They think outside the box.

We were lucky enough to of found the antithisist of that being the Baconfest Chicago Satellite dinner at The Southern.

The Southern, is most famous for their fried chicken, but little known fact they have a Bacon manhattan that is extremely good as well.

The dinner was a huge success.

Our first dish, Oysters Rockefeller: Creamed Collard Greens, Housemade Tasso, Brioche

Second course:  Pork Belly w/blackened watermelon and infused bacon maple syrup:

Third Course: Bacon Fat Poached Shrimp: Southern’s Smoked Bacon Lardons, Aged Cheddar Grits, Pickled Cayenne

The Southern Fourth Course: Alabama Hog Pot
Shoulder, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Trotters, Cheeks, Cabbage, Whiskey Pickles

Southern Dessert: Pecan Pie: Whipped Cream, Candied Nueske’s Bacon

All photos: Scott Bebout Photography

To me, I hate food blogs that try to explain every detail about a dish, analyze it to death and take 1000 photos while others are simply trying to eat.  Put your darn phone away, and enjoy the company of the person / people you are with.

We got our ONE photo of each dish, and feel that the photos are enough to make you hungry. You get it.  It’s food.

Also. Our goal on this trip was to enjoy our food! So we did just that.

Again, thank you to Baconfest Chicago, Seth especially, and thanks to The Southern. A special thanks to Templeton Rye as well.

Second Stop: Chicago, IL – Vosges Chocolates

 

Inside Vosges 951 W. Armitage Chicago IL Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Inside Vosges Chicago Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Beer and Bacon chocolate pairings Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Caramel toffee bacon bar,  Mo’s Milk chocolate bacon bar, Mo’s Dark chocolate bacon bar Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

 

 

 

Front of Vosges Lincoln Park

Inside Vosges 951 W. Armitage Chicago IL

For those of you unfamilar with Vosges, I am very happy to introduce you to some of the finest chocolates.   The retail stores always have some of the nicest people working there as well.    They do online orders as well, but if you are able to go to any of their 6 Boutique locations, by all means do it.  It’s an experience.

This place is so gorgeous it makes you want to live here.  I’m not sure if the purple is on purpose, the way that Gene Wilder’s costuming in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) is,  but you definitely feel like you’ve won the golden ticket when you arrive at Vosges.

We were met with a smile from Raquel, the person I had spoke to on the phone.  We decided since this was Bacon Roadtrip, we had to do a tasting of all the Bacon chocolates that were available.   Which, if you weren’t aware, are incredibly good.

Inside Vosges 951 W. Armitage Chicago IL Photo: Scott Bebout Photography

Beer and Bacon chocolate pairings

Inside Vosges Chicago

L-R Bacon Caramel toffee, milk chocolate bacon bar, dark chocolate bacon bar

Caramel toffee bacon bar, Mo’s Milk chocolate bacon bar, Mo’s Dark chocolate bacon bar

Front of Vosges Lincoln Park

If you love the sweet and savory, then you will understand why bacon and chocolate pair so well together.    We decided to try all three of their Bacon bars:

The Mo’s milk chocolate bacon bar, the Mo’s dark chocolate bacon bar, and the Bacon Caramel toffee.

The milk chocolate bar is my all time favorite.   It’s a milk chocolate at a 41% cacao, with applewood smoked bacon, and Alder wood smoked salt.

Scott on the other hand is a huge fan of Dark chocolate and loves that one.   It’s with a 62% cacao and is rich and delicious.   If you have yet to try either bars I recommend the milk to start, then build your way up to the dark chocolate.    If you haven’t tried the Caramel toffee, it’s incredible!    What I loved most about it is the pure smokey taste that comes through.  It’s got that rich smoky taste that really, only Bacon can provide.

The beers we drank went well with all of the chocolates.  I had the Kwak Belgian, a pale ale, while Scott had the Caracole Saxo, a taste of orange, lemon, honey and wheat.

Definitely go to Vosges to get 2 fixes in one:  Chocolate fix, and Bacon fix.

All of their chocolate you won’t be disappointed.