Road trips are all about the journey and the experiences along the way. But pit stops for gas and snacks often leave us craving something more than questionable convenience store fare.
As someone who frequently travels between Denmark and Italy, I've had my fair share of European gas station cuisine. We often end up with our own "roadside cheese tasting" for lack of better options. Denmark seems stuck in a loop of hot dogs and pre-packaged salads, while Germany offers a glimmer of hope with their simple wurst approach. But Italy, in my opinion, is closest to cracking the code.
Italian gas stations offer more variety, simple fresh local specialties, and barista-quality coffee! Many stations have shelves stocked with local wines, cheeses, and other regional specialties that tell a story about the land we're traveling through. Autogrill, a major player in Italian gas station food, has managed to create an experience at most of its locations that makes not just me, but many others choose to refuel and refuel their stomachs there. This is also described in a March article from FOOD & WINE titled "Why You Should Be Eating in Italian Gas Stations," where Laura Itzkowitz can't get enough of Autogrill's Sfogliatella or my own favorite, focaccia with mortadella, pistachio, and stracciatella. So simple, so good!
Most Danish gas stations have opted for a one-size-fits-all fast-food approach. Burgers and hot dogs for meat-eaters, and unnamed plant-based alternatives for the health-conscious – and yes, the coffee? When I recently stopped at a gas station in Denmark, I tried the "non-chicken" nuggets. With the name "nuggets" referring to a small jewel or piece of gold, my expectations were naturally sky-high. It must be something special. But some unknown crispy brown pieces in a small cardboard container didn't quite live up to the potential. They managed to be really crispy, but without a theme, and the only story they told was simply that they weren't made of meat.
What if there had been pickled red onions on top? A tartar sauce on the side? Or they had ventured to develop a potato nugget? It's not gourmet or complicated, but still familiar, commercial fast-food-related foods that send a bigger signal that a decision has been made. But couldn't they make it more regional? According to ChatGPT, some of the most common Danish ingredients are rye bread, herring, butter, cabbage, and pickled vegetables – okay, I can see that it might be a challenge for even the best developer, and probably not the most reliable source. But I would take up the gauntlet if that was the ambition!
Q8, for example, shows great promise and a willingness to change. But I think they can go further and create even better experiences. With a courage for change and focused concept development, a quality experience doesn't have to mean expensive, and fast food doesn't have to be brown and fried. Yes, travelers crave convenience, and we'll probably survive on cheese puffs and sausage mix for those few days. But it's an obvious opportunity to take advantage of gas stations' strategic location and create a better experience that could also tell a story about the country we're traveling in.
With the growing interest in Denmark as a tourist destination and the need for a sustainable approach, we could look beyond the brown, breaded, deep-fried food and challenge the idea that gas station food should only be practical and functional. Until then, I'll enjoy my roadside cheese tasting, homemade coffee, and stop for food when we hit Italy.
Travel information: By the Sct Bernard pass on the Switzerland side, you can find a 24/7 Raclette wending machine with fresh raclette cheese. It doesn't have to be that hard.