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Ideas for BEST Rest Stop Food Ever

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Ideas for BEST Rest Stop Food Ever

Old 11-17-21, 06:12 PM
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rdy4trvl
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Ideas for BEST Rest Stop Food Ever

I've either hosted or volunteered in many large (2-3k rider) cycling events. This year I'd like to elevate the food at least one rest stop above and beyond the standard chips, cookies, bars, fruit, etc. I would expect this to require some pre-event preparation and wouldn't rule out on-site appliances (generator required) or grill, etc as long as the result impresses the cyclists. If we produce anything, we would need 300-1000 depending on the type of item.


Open to all creative ideas!!
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Old 11-17-21, 06:21 PM
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Espresso shots. Pigs in blankets (mini)
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Old 11-17-21, 06:27 PM
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Pancakes or waffles.
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Old 11-17-21, 06:32 PM
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My fave is tomato pie (pizza with no cheese). But no way you will find consensus on which is the best choice. There are way too many options.
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Old 11-17-21, 06:39 PM
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Paneer tika masala!
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Old 11-17-21, 06:45 PM
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Tacos!
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Old 11-17-21, 06:45 PM
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BBQ Pork Sliders, Mac & Cheese, and Cole Slaw. All easy to make ahead of time, keep in trays and serve up to the riders as they pass through.
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Old 11-17-21, 07:36 PM
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Rice cakes with protein of sort in them like the pros use.
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Old 11-17-21, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by kingston
BBQ Pork Sliders, Mac & Cheese, and Cole Slaw. All easy to make ahead of time, keep in trays and serve up to the riders as they pass through.
I might eat this at the end of a long ride. Rest stop, though? Good god, no.
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Old 11-17-21, 07:55 PM
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If it’s a hot day, best rest stop treat I’ve had was cold watermelon
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Old 11-17-21, 07:56 PM
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Popsicles. One ride I did had a chocolate fondue.

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Old 11-17-21, 08:00 PM
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I was at a SAG stop during the second day of a two day right. I was hungry and tired... and then this happened.

They were making home made PB&J sandwiches and they also had oatmeal raisin cookies. But they had the peanut butter out with a knife, strawberry preserves with a knife and a pile of those oatmeal cookies. I had an epiphany and made a PB & Preserves sandwich with the oatmeal cookies. It was the best thing I've ever eaten at an organized event. Some 16 year-old kid saw me do that and he copied. He had a big happy grin on his face when he ate it. We both laughed without saying anything to each other.
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Old 11-17-21, 11:24 PM
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Boiled new potatoes, tossed with olive oil and salt, served room temp. Simple, tasty, easily digested.
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Old 11-18-21, 12:49 AM
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If the weather is a bit on the cooler side a good thick hot soup is very nice.
Obviously not for those that are in a hurry.
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Old 11-18-21, 02:02 AM
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Banana and Nutella sandwiches.
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Old 11-18-21, 07:48 AM
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Originally Posted by genejockey
Boiled new potatoes, tossed with olive oil and salt, served room temp. Simple, tasty, easily digested.
Beat me to it. There is a big ride around my way that serves them plain with bottled Italian dressing on the side for dipping. Also salt shakers. I also saw olive oil on the side at another ride.

IIRC, potatoes have a high glycemic index, so they are a good pick me up. And they are so tasty served as mentioned.
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Old 11-18-21, 08:06 AM
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I'd forgotten potatoes. Had them on a ride once and they really hit the spot. Probably could serve them cold for a summer ride.
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Old 11-18-21, 08:55 AM
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Nutella calzones.. Can make and bake in advance -- you'll just need to keep warm
eg. one random recipe
https://www.tastemade.com/videos/str...ella-calzones/
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Old 11-18-21, 12:18 PM
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Is the ride going through or near any communities that specialize in some particular agricultural food product? Maybe try and showcase those in some sort of quick treat that's high in carbs, low in fat.

At least for me, fats seem to kill my ability to ride hard for about 45 minutes to an hour after I've eaten any fatty food. Greasy fried chicken being one of the worst for robbing my will to push hard.
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Old 11-18-21, 01:12 PM
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small 1/2 subs or smaller?
- turkey lettuce tomato mayonnaise
- peanut butter & apple

skip the chili & beer ;-)

oh wait I just re-read the post, 300-1,000? yikes, I got nuthin, sorry, my bad
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Old 11-18-21, 01:28 PM
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We served pie- large pans cut into small squares served on paper muffin liners.
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Old 11-18-21, 04:39 PM
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At the Tulsa Tough ride this past summer they enlisted some local food trucks and restaurants. A German restaurant had brats and beer. A Mexican restaurant brought tamales. Neither one sounded good to me on a very hot day, but my brother-in-law had both. I ran out of steam, but he didn't. Next year I'll take what's on offer.
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Old 11-18-21, 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Oldguyonoldbike
At the Tulsa Tough ride this past summer they enlisted some local food trucks and restaurants. A German restaurant had brats and beer. A Mexican restaurant brought tamales. Neither one sounded good to me on a very hot day, but my brother-in-law had both. I ran out of steam, but he didn't. Next year I'll take what's on offer.
Let me know. 10 miles down the road I'll set up a Pay Toilet. I'll make a fortune!
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Old 11-18-21, 06:11 PM
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You need to think catering, buffet... or something packaged but still kind of premium. I absolutely think espresso would be nice, but think about how long it would take to pull that many shots, and people will be arriving in packs.

My proposal is a cooler full of It's-It sandwiches... which might be regional, not sure, I never saw them until moving to Sacramento
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Old 11-18-21, 09:27 PM
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Espresso shots would be appreciated as well as iced coffee. Nothing greasy like BBQ, sliders or cooked meat products. I always appreciate PB&Js, a little pickle juice, fruits, fig bars and cold water. Alot of rides have energy bars but they are mostly just processed trash... In short a little caffeine a small snack and honest food.

Last edited by N2deep; 11-18-21 at 09:45 PM.
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