By Anabell Kissel
Before a road trip, I feel a sense of dread thinking about how much money I’ll spend on fast food and gas station chips. When I caught wind of a lunchbox trend combining fishing puns and meal prep, I had to give it a try. The Snackle Box repurposes a tackle box, substituting hooks and lures for cheese and crackers. This compartmentalized charcuterie carrier is perfect for road trips, which gave me an idea. Instead of making a Snackle Box to take on a road trip, I would take a road trip to make a Snackle Box, fishing for the best snacks from both my kitchen and local businesses.
The first destination: my pantry! I filled the middle row of my Snackle Box with nuts, pretzels, craisins and berries I already had at home. Then I set the GPS for my next stop, Nancy’s Candy & Spice in Downtown Lawrenceville. With their array of chocolate-covered confections, it was hard to choose, but I landed on the dried pineapple drizzled with homemade dark chocolate. I continued on foot to The Sweet Kernel Popcorn Shop across the street. This popular spot serves up popcorn of all flavors, from which I selected two of their most popular, Spicy Cheddar and Chicago Mix. With over half of my Snackle Box full, it was time to head into Loganville!
My next stop was Three Peas in a Pod, a fresh produce stand that’s open all week. I resisted the mouth-watering smell of boiled peanuts and surveyed the abundance of fruits and vegetables, one of which I couldn’t identify. The friendly cashier introduced me to cherry plums, and I added this juicy discovery to my Snackle Box. My final stop had me passing pigs, snorting friendly hellos, on the dirt road leading to Jensen’s Reserve. This high-quality butcher shop doesn’t just sell delicious pork, they supply a wide variety of meat cuts, cheese, produce and charcuterie! Here I found great conversation, Havarti cheese and their award-winning cured pork tenderloin, Little Lonzia (my favorite catch of the day).
With my Snackle Box complete, I returned home to enjoy it in my backyard. You could argue that making the Snackle Box on the road, then eating it at home, is counterintuitive. You’re probably right, but I had a day full of engaging conversations, discovering delicious snacks and cruising the backroads of Gwinnett. This time it really was about the journey, not the destination!