Chowish places within 2 miles of I5......

[bennyboy1]

Border to border.....

[toodie jane]

that's a tall order....need it be a hard and fast 2 miles? how about 10 minutes.....1-5 bypasses many little valley towns by about that much...perhaps 2 minutes would be do-able in southern Calif, but not much out there north of Tejon Pass.

Someone did a post about the 'middle kingdom' between B'field and Tracy about 6-8 months ago. The area from Redding north has been covered, again just recently.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/382169

This is an area that bears repeated research as new businesses spring up all the time.
I hope new replies will illuminate some gems for weary travleing hounds.

[bennyboy1]

I guess i should ahve said close to I5.

I will start with Harris Ranch. For steaks and beef this is the place. the tenderest steak I have ever aeaten was at this restaurant. In the coffeee shop not the uptown dining room. I make this a stop any thime I pass by...

[toodie jane]

and I will reinterate my rec for Wolfsen's Meat Locker in Downtown Gustine, just 10 min. north of the 33/5 interchange (Santa Nella). Travel east at 5's exit to Gustine, and Wolfsen's is on the east edge of "downtown" just past the elementary school.

Great deli sandwiches, Portuguese style; 70 varieities of handmade sausage; cooked tri tip and chicken on the weekends. Some sausage frozen for transport. Ice available for traveling with fresh sausage. Worth the slight detour. Nice little town; hot in the summer.