Dispatch from Highway 127 – World’s Longest Yard Sale

Written by

Delilah Snell is a Master Preserver and the owner of The Road Less Traveled, an eco-store in Santa Ana.

Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie w/Bourbon Mister (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

I’m Delilah Snell, Evan’s canning buddy and this is my 2nd year doing the all-encompassing experience known also known as The World’s Largest Yard Sale. The “yard” sale follows Hwy 127 for 675 Miles from Hudson, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama.  We just do a small part of it.  Aside from the browsing and buying there are ample opportunities to experience the food culture of the different states and neighborhoods.  Eating and having a cold drink is a welcome antidote to the 100+ degree temperatures moistened with 80+% humidity.  Can you say human swamp?

We happened on an eccentric little place, Rick’s White Light Diner, in Frankfurt, KY.  The owner is plenty eccentric too. Our first stop on our first day started with a “Hillbilly Mimosa”, a Pale Ale with OJ.  Cold and refreshing.  We were planning to order the Crawfish Pie since we heard lots of talk about it last year, when we realized we were in the middle of Bourbon Country.  So how could I resist some Bourbon Pie too?

Rick of Rick's White Light Diner (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

I got a nice grin from Rick when I yelled over the diner’s counter to order up a slice. I was a little judgmental at first when a piece of what looked like pecan pie was set in front of me. I’m not the biggest fan, but heck, I’ve never been disappointed by Rick, whose business has tripled I’m sure since his stint on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
But when a spray mister of bourbon was placed next to the pie I was reassured of Rick’s culinary talents -now we are talking! I gently sprayed the top of the pie and whipped cream with Kentucky’s finest drink and dug in. Big chunks of chocolate exploded in your mouth mixed with crunchy pecans and buttery filling that also had a hint of bourbon. The whipped cream was a perfect touch as it cut some of the heavy sweetness of the pie. And the bourbon, yes the bourbon was the element that brought all of this together.  I found myself spraying the pie over and over to make sure that bourbon was in every bite.  Oh did I mention the Cajun omelette? That will have to be for another blog.

More to come on pies, ice cream and soda from Hwy 127!