The Travel & Adventure Show + Pulled Pork
A visit to a travel convention and slow cooked pork sandwiches for a rainy day.
Well, we went out and did something weird even by our standards. Right before the rains came to wash away Los Angeles, Jason and I went to the Travel & Adventure Show. It’s a travel expo that’s touring across the country–from New York to DC to Atlanta–with exhibitors representing different countries and travel companies. I was served an ad on Instagram (I’m developing patterns, I realize) that promoted speakers like Rick Steves and Phil Rosenthal, and baby, I was sold. I was especially sold when I found a promo code for free tickets.
Rick Steves is such a legend. I love watching him journey through Europe, bike alone in the Alps, and be casually judgmental about cruises. A friend ran into him during a trip in Europe and said a.) he was fantastic, and b.) he stunk, a detail that I love, because he’s always a little high and mighty about carrying a tiny carry-on through those cobblestone streets, but you know rewearing the same pants is gonna’ give you the FUNK. And Phil Rosenthal, come on. First, he co-created Everybody Loves Raymond. Then, he just gets his own TV show to travel amazing places and eat great food? This man is living the most perfect life. We started watching his show early-pandemic when we were stuck in our apartment and dreaming of getting on a plane. Now, 90% of what we watch has become some kind of travel something.
Before general meetings, I have to scribble down names of actual television shows with real writing, because when an executive asks me, “So what are you watching right now,” the real answer is, “A sixty minute video of a British man who reviews business class seats on planes and trains but not his actual destinations.” These are my comfort watches. The YouTuber who hates every trip he’s ever taken. The YouTube couple who spent 2020 restoring a campervan and now drive it in small stretches before it breaks down. The YouTube couple who go on luxury vacations no real person could afford, but you’re still kinda happy for them?
So on Saturday, we went to a whole convention for that shit! I don’t go to many conventions, but I kind of love them? It’s a lotta people. A lotta brochures. If you’re lucky, free samples. But of course we walked into the LA Convention Center and were immediately overstimulated and overwhelmed. Jason reached for a free sample of sake in the Japan booth, was handed a clipboard to collect his contact info, and instantly got freaked out and walked away.
We giggled at ourselves, looking hard for the booths that weren’t packed with people and found ourselves right in front of a Spin the Wheel game at Wyndham Vacation Clubs. What were we gonna do? We HAD TO spin the wheel. Suddenly, we were on the receiving end of a compliment/sales tactic that became the refrain of every single person trying to sell us something that day. “You two look so young. Are you sure you’re over 21?” Sir. Ma’am. I know how old I look. I have never looked under 21, not even when I was under 21. At 15, I was a grocery store check-out girl with the shape, attitude, and hairstyle of a 50-year-old woman.
Our wheel spin won the “grand prize”: a 7 day vacation to god knows where. I don’t know where, because to get the vacation, we would’ve had to sit through a timeshare presentation in Anaheim. And to make sure that we attended the timeshare presentation, they wanted a $40 deposit. One thing I’m definitely too old for (whether or not I look it) is timeshare presentations. It wasn’t always that way. One time, Jason and I happily gave up four hours to reject a hard sale of a Colonial Williamsburg timeshare in exchange for fifty bucks, a restaurant voucher, and two free tickets to Jamestown Settlement. These are things that are worth it when you’re 24. (Not the tickets to Jamestown. Jamestown should be free.)
We anxiously shuffled away from this booth, then flitted from exhibit to exhibit, trying to steal tote bags without engaging anyone in conversation. We spun another wheel and won free gummy bears and chapstick. Entered (and lost) a contest for a Viking cruise. Posed for pictures with mascots.
Finally, we found the reason we came. Phil Rosenthal was giving a Q&A and signing copies of his new book. I haven’t purchased a book with such speed, confidence, and no consideration of the price since early aughts Harry Potter releases.
I’m happy to report that he was lovely. We briefly chatted about TV writing and sandwiches, and what more could you want? The new season of Somebody Feed Phil premieres next month, and you can be sure I’ll be watching that and pretending I saw True Detective.
We practically ran out of the convention center after this. You know how sometimes you have an experience, and it so clearly feels like the peak, and if you wait around any longer, it’ll be diminished? That’s the reason we decided to save meeting Rick Steves for another time. Hopefully, we’ll run into him on the Alps one day and I’ll be able to smell him for myself.
And… a recipe. After the convention, we hit up the grocery store to buy storm provisions. I roasted a pork shoulder, which is the easiest thing you could possibly do, but it seems impressive, as all roasting does.
Pulled Pork
Ingredients
1 bone-in pork shoulder (Boston Butt is the best)
A rub of your choosing. I used plenty of salt, pepper, a bit of paprika, sugar, and garlic powder.
Directions
Pat the pork shoulder dry and place in a roasting pan, skin side up.
Season liberally on all sides with your rub.
Roast in the oven at 250, uncovered, low and slow, until the pork reaches 206 degrees. I put the it in the oven before bed, smelled pork all night long in my dreams, and then after 12 hours, it was fall-off-the-bone tender.
Remove the fatty skin-up top, then pull the shoulder apart using 2 forks.
Serve the pulled pork with your favorite sauce on potato buns with or without slaw.
Extra credit: Bake the pork skin at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes or so, until you have crispy chicharrones. Eat two pieces and throw the rest away, because it’s way too rich, especially after you’ve eaten a pulled pork sandwich.