Student cooking? Let's see...microwave, wok, saucepan, chef's knife, coffee grinder, mellita 1 cup coffee filter thingie, plate, bowl, spoon. Oh, I have one left...cutting board, then.

This is my daughter we're talking about. She doesn't know what a saucepan is. EL

Hey, look on the bright side - you got to spend a lot of quality time with your grown (!) child. Many parents don't have that opportunity.

So you are really asking for a list of four things, to go with the six that you have stipulated must be included?

And since I believe I read somewhere that Gailor doesn't bother to hook up the range or plug in the refrigerator, one of those four would have to be a hotplate for your teapot? So we're down to three things?

Microwave, Bucky. EL

Stop in at Tony Packos when you pass through Toledo. Their Hungarian hot dogs were good enough for Klinger. If you go, be sure to eat at the location on Front Street ... that's the original. I haven't actually been to any of the others.

I see your trip takes you through Cleveland. A few recommendations for you.

Want to feel sick? Go eat at Skyline Chili. They will give you spaghetti with chili and cheese on top. NASTY.

Cleveland has a tiny culinary district called the "warehouse district". They have a great restaurant i went to called Metropolitan.

Lastly, about an hour south of Cleveland, if you are going that way, is a town called Ashland. Within this town lies the most magical place ever: Grandpa's Cheese Barn. Here you can enjoy a smorgasboard of cheeses and smoked meats. They also have fun novelty shirts; I got my husband one that says "Grandpa's cheesebarn: udderly delicious".

Stop at Perkins diners throughout OH and PA, and Rutters and Sheetz usually have the best bathrooms.

Godspeed!

It better not take us through Cleveland. I think that's just the map's too small. :-) EL

Wow! EL - you and I are kindred spirits about winter! I wasn't reading the blog yet when you posted and I'm shocked that someone could hate winter as much as I do. Every year I begin the winter by announcing that "this is the winter of my discontent".
Take heart in the latest research, Elizabeth, which states that our weather will soon be like South Carolina's... aah if only!

Ok, let's replace the saucepan with a mug, then.

How on earth does Gailor fix ramen?

If you are taking the Ohio Turnpike, Tony Packo's is about a 20 min. detour each way. However, that detour also takes you off the 280 exit, which has the cheapest gas until Indiana.

Tony Packo's is interesting, once, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way for it.

I've done this drive many times. The only words of wisdom that I have are, "Pack the cooler!"

Since you'll be near Chicago, go over to Navy Pier and ride the ferris wheel. I am forever bonded to the women with whom I rode it.

Cleveland? In the county South-West-ish of Cleveland is a town called Richfield, home of a restaurant with an Iguana or some other reptile in its name. The ribs there were very good.

Thank you Ms Eve for those Mapquest like directions. Rib place, east of the Mississippi, got it.

Cleveland is actually a bit north of their route. Hard to tell by that map, but it is a good half hour or more north of the Turnpike.

I really, really hate the Ohio Turnpike rest stops. They took out the old diner type restaurants and built round, loud plazas with pedestrian killing parking lots and chains that close in the middle of the night (my preferred time for long distance driving).