24-Hour Spots

By Warren Rojas

It’s inevitable: You are totally exhausted. Traffic is a nightmare. And then the hunger pangs hit. But rather than driving a mile out of your way to find a fee-free ATM or swiping the old credit card for an improvised meal that may ultimately be unworthy of a beastly monthly service charge, you decide to rely on the amalgam of crumpled bills and stray coinage scattered about the car.

We’ve been there. And here’s how we coped most recently:

Kitty: $10.29

Scenario1: Hearty
Swiss steak dinner ($8.79)	Colorado omelet platter ($9.79)	Texas double patty melt with hash browns “all the way” ($9)
Scenario2: Healthy
Boca burger with seasoned fries ($7.48)	Balsamic-glazed chicken dinner ($8.99)	Grilled chicken salad ($5.35) and unsweet tea ($1.50)
Scenario3: Sugar Rush
Slice of French silk pie ($2.99) and a strawberry-mango pucker ($2.39)	Nutella crepes ($6.59)	Buttermilk waffles smothered in pecans, chocolate chips and warm syrup ($4.99)

(September 2009)