GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Kreskin Torres, a U.S. Army veteran now turned traveling food blogger from Baltimore, has been driving his way through the country since 2018, coming to West Michigan this past week.
"I left on Super Bowl Sunday, and I had this idea to travel the country and wanted to see the United States," said Torres.
He has now been to every state, eating all each city has to offer.
A car is his main method of transport, he's in the driver's seat helping others get to where they need to go, driving for rideshare apps to finance his trips, hence his name as the Rideshare Foodie.
The destinations of his customers ended up becoming his destinations as well.
"The longest trip I've ever had from Wichita, Kansas, all the way to Kenneth, Missouri," said Torres.
He said the eight-hour trip was plenty of time to learn about the best places to visit, and of course, eat.
"It was a truck driver and his wife got into an accident the night before, and originally was supposed to be going to a hotel, and before the guy gets in, he asked me, ‘hey buddy, let me ask you a question. How much would you charge us to take us all the way, you know, take us to Missouri?’ I was like, 'well, well, this is your lucky day,' because those were the kind of trips I'm looking for," recalled Torres.
First getting into Detroit, he began visiting local places given to him by his followers on social media and from those he has driven on his trips, stopping at Green Lantern for pizza, Moms Spaghetti and of course Coney Dogs.
His first stop in the Grand Rapids area was Robinette's for cider and donuts, and by the end of his trip, said his favorite treat was Mackinac Island Fudge.
At the end of the day, Torres says its hunger to learn all he can from those he meets that drives him every day.
"I've been to 23 different Native American reservations. I've actually got invited to live in with an Amish family in Ohio," said Torres. "It's open up opportunity, doors and opportunities from actually experiencing culture, simply because I'm taking an interest in people."