Great American
Road Trip
Dinner Club

A Culinary Journey Across
America—One Stop at a Time

❦

“We planned a backyard road trip across America… and then the rain showed up.”

What started as a sunny backyard dinner party quickly turned into an evening of tents, rearranged tables, and embracing whatever the Pacific Northwest weather had planned for us.

We had prayed for sunshine, but we also knew we needed a backup plan. Instead of canceling, we leaned into it, and honestly, it made the evening even more memorable.

This month’s Dinner Club became a culinary road trip across America, one stop at a time.

Our Great American Road Trip Dinner Club was a cozy, rain-soaked evening built around food, friendship, and a little creative travel from our own backyard. Each “stop” on the menu was inspired by a different region of the United States, from Pacific Northwest smoked salmon crostini to Louisiana shrimp étouffée, Texas smoked brisket, and Kentucky bourbon pie.

The best part of a themed dinner club is that it doesn’t have to be perfect or overly complicated. Use your favorite recipes, swap dishes to fit your guests, and change the stops to suit your own style. You can build the menu around places you love, foods you want to try, or regions that feel fun for your group. Once you choose your dishes, take a little time to research drink pairings, sides, and flavor matches for each recipe so the whole menu feels intentional.

This dinner reminded us that sometimes the best gatherings are the ones that don’t go exactly as planned. The rain showed up, the tents went up, and somehow it made the night even more memorable. Good food, good friends, and a table full of laughter were more than enough.

STOP #1

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Smoked Salmon Crostini

Blackberry Gin Fiz

STOP #2

New england

Clam Chowder

Unoaked Chardonnay & Haze IPA

STOP #3

LOUISIANA

Shrimp Étouffée

Hurricane Cocktail & Chenin Blanc

STOP #4

Colorado

Colorado Wedge Salad

Pilsner & Sauvignon Blanc

STOP #5

Texas

Texas Brisket

Tempranillo & Amber Ale

STOP #6

Kentucky

Kentucky Bourbon Pie

Mini Old Fashioned, Milk Stout, & Tawny Port

STOP #1: Pacific Northwest

We started close to home with fresh, clean flavors from the Northwest. The smoked salmon crostini were light and delicious, and the blackberry gin fizz was the perfect refreshing sip to kick off the evening.

STOP #3: Lousiana

The shrimp étouffée ended up being the show stopper of the night. Rich, cozy, and full of that Louisiana flavor, it brought a little Southern warmth to the table and had everyone going back for more. The sauce was hearty without being too heavy, the shrimp were tender, and the whole dish felt like comfort food with a little bit of celebration mixed in.

STOP #5: Texas

The start of the evening, slow – smoked brisket. Paired with a bold Tempranillo, it was a true Texas moment around the table.

Behind the Scenes

Protection from the rain

Friends gathered inside during dinner party

Rules of Engagement

Firelight, table settings, and a little PNW magic.

My Favorite Moments

One of my favorite moments of the night was simply seeing everything come together. After all the planning, the menu, the setup, and the last-minute adjustments for rain, it meant so much to look around and see our friends gathered together anyway — willing to sit outside under the tent, laugh, eat, and enjoy the evening with us. The rain may not have been part of the original plan, but it somehow made the night feel even cozier. The shrimp étouffée was definitely the show stopper, rich and comforting with so much Louisiana flavor, and the Kentucky bourbon pie was the perfect sweet ending. It was one of those nights where the food was good, but the people around the table made it even better.

Final Thoughts

Dinner club isn’t really about the food. It’s about slowing down long enough to gather around a table with people you love. The rain reminded us that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. Sometimes all you need is good friends, good food, and a tent.

♡

Have you ever hosted
a themed dinner party?

I’d love to hear your favorite theme in the comments — or let me know where you think our Dinner Club should travel next!

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