One of the best things about taking a road trip is the opportunity to try the local eats of small towns along the way.  When driving to the desert cities – Desert Hot Springs, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, etc. I always make a stop at Patsy’s Country Kitchen, an unassuming little diner tucked away in a strip mall in Banning.  Be mindful of their hours – I believe they are open just for lunch and closed on Sundays, but I’d recommend checking to avoid disappointment.  With an efficient team of waitresses who start pouring the coffee before your ass lands in your seat, Patsy’s is best known for their hearty egg breakfasts.  But my favorites are the patty melt and the chicken fried steak.  The patty melt is a burger served between two crispy, buttery slices of rye bread and oozing with grilled onions and some kind of mystery, cheese product.  A meal that will surely bring out the Homer Simpson in you.  And, the chicken fried steak is neither chicken nor steak, but rather a pounded slice of beef coated with spiced, crunchy batter and doused in creamy, white gravy.  With the fluffy biscuits on the side, you forget about the rest of the trip and realize you’ve arrived at the real destination.