Eating Well on Route

Average vendor costs: $8–16 for a food item

The most common food item on RAGBRAI is probably pie of all different varieties. You’ll find vendors in churches or perhaps a town hall in many of the small towns that you pass through. If they’re sold out in one stop, don’t worry, you’ll certainly be able to find more further down the road. The pie stops really cater to the family-friendly element of RAGBRAI, as they’ll often be associated with charities and are patronized by people of all ages. Picky about filling? You’ll find the best selection early in the morning.

Speaking of mornings, you can almost bet that there will be a local fire department, rotary club or an equivalent group hosting a breakfast somewhere down the road. For those who like to get a ride in before eating, this is a popular way to eat breakfast. Signs will direct you toward your various meal options as well as smoothie and coffee vendors to keep you healthy and human.

Mr. Pork Chop is probably the most wellknown food vendor on RAGBRAI, setting up somewhere directly on the route in their pink pig bus. The founder passed away a couple of years ago, and I think everyone is hoping that they figure out how to get the pork chops as tender as they were when Mr. Pork Chop was still alive.

Woodfired pizza is very common, as are fried foods of every sort, and there is a good variety of eclectic and healthy choices as well. You’ll find Jamaican jerk, pasta, salads, BBQ, vegan vendors and others who cater to specific dietary needs. If you find a food vendor who you absolutely must try again and again, just ask them where they will be posting up the next day and they’ll let you know.

A favorite of riders with a sweet tooth is Beekman’s Homemade Ice Cream. They make their ice cream with a 100-year-old single-piston engine (hot tip: sit upwind of the engine because she burns the old stinky diesel).

If you’re paying attention, you might find something completely unexpected food-wise, like when a woman was rumored to be making handmade Filipino eggrolls twelve blocks into a residential neighborhood. The rumor was true and in this writer’s opinion, it was the best food stop on RAGBRAI.

As might be expected in Iowa, it’s common to find smaller towns giving corn on the cob (and drenching them with turkey basters full of butter).

Along the route, you’ll see signs for miles advertising the Iowa Craft Beer Tent who set up in two spots each day of the route and sell a range of Iowa-made beers.

Finally, no write up about RAGBRAI food would be complete without a nod to Casey’s Every Casey’s on route gets absolutely swarmed with bikes, and somehow they don’t run out of pizza or beer. The tardy rider who misses the vendors will appreciate this essential all the more. —Maxwell

Ostby

Prairie Pop