Kreskin J. Torres didn’t wish to be one more particular person making excuses about not having the ability to fulfill his desires.
So, 4 years in the past the Baltimore County native set off in his automotive with a aim and a plan to attain it: journey to all 50 states whereas working as an Uber driver to fund the journey.
“I wanted to see what it was like outside of Baltimore and experience different places around the country,” he stated “I wanted to experience the real America myself.”
As of February 2022, Torres has visited 49 states. He plans to cross off the final one, Hawaii, in October.
When Torres, who’s from Woodlawn, began his journey, he was largely targeted on making an attempt completely different cuisines from true Southern cooking to a supper membership in Wisconsin, together with assembly new individuals. He wished to speak with native residents, public officers and law enforcement officials to listen to their tales about their life and what points they face.
The 33-year-old by no means deliberate on changing into a social media influencer. But alongside the manner, these he met wished to maintain up along with his newest travels. In 2019, Torres began @theridesharefoodie on Instagram, ultimately amassing greater than 19,000 followers.
“Food is our common ground,” stated Torres, who now lives in Texas. “My main goal is to experience people and have conversations and food is a way to connect with different people.”
Growing up, Torres stated he didn’t journey outdoors the Baltimore area a lot. It wasn’t till he immersed himself in the tradition of London in 2017 that he had the thought to traverse the U.S. He spent the subsequent 12 months planning and saving earlier than hitting the street.
Throughout the first two years of his journey, Torres, an Army veteran, stated he would spend a couple of month in every state and journey for a couple of 12 months straight. He normally spent per week in a serious metropolis after which traveled to smaller cities and cities throughout the state whereas working as a rideshare driver.
Wherever he goes, Torres stated, he at all times tracks down the native delicacy and goes from there. In Wisconsin, he tried cheese curds and in Nebraska he had chili and cinnamon rolls — one thing that is still one of his favorites.
“It’s like taking a field trip of America,” Torres stated. “There are so many regional things you’d never learn about unless you were there.”
Some of his favourite locations have been in Anchorage, Alaska, as a result of he “never thought he’d ever be there;” Jackson, Mississippi the place he obtained to expertise true Southern hospitality for the first time; and New Mexico the place he fell in love with the Tex-Mex meals in addition to the slower-paced Southwestern type of life.
Torres typically scoured native Facebook teams for meals suggestions. It’s how he met Deona Madrigal in Wichita, Kansas.
Madrigal’s husband is a chef and advised Torres that he needed to attempt his meals. The three first met at an area bar, bonding about their love of meals. The couple ended up inviting Torres over for Thanksgiving dinner the place they served up deep fried turkey, inexperienced bean casserole and brisket.
“When you meet Kreskin, it’s just like you have known each other forever,” stated Madrigal, 42. “It’s really inspiring what he’s doing and food just unites people.”
Since assembly in the fall of 2020, the trio have stored in contact. Madrigal stated they often textual content and he or she enjoys following his Instagram. The subsequent time Torres is on the town, Madrigal’s husband plans to take him out to purchase cowboy boots collectively.
“Kreskin is virtually a stranger when he visits these places and he becomes friends with everyone,” she stated. “Everybody has to eat and so when you’re willing to try different foods of all types you’ll meet anybody and everybody.”
Alonzo and Amanda McNeese additionally linked with Torres via an area Facebook group about three years in the past. The couple was so struck by his kindness, they invited him out for Amanda’s birthday dinner.
And once they hit it off at dinner, the McNeeses invited Torres over for Christmas.
“He’s chasing his dream versus talking about it,” Alonzo McNeese stated. “I love seeing people not making excuses and doing what they want to do.”
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Torres stated he slowed his travels and as a substitute of being out on the street for nearly a 12 months straight, he opted for a couple of weeks at a time.
The downtime allowed him to begin working on growing an app he plans to launch subsequent month. It will enable him to share the native suggestions he’s tried throughout the nation with individuals and let others recommend spots as well as.
Eventually, Torres stated he hopes to collect meals vans from round the nation for a tour to provide individuals “a taste of America.” One day, he desires of proudly owning a restaurant that includes specialties from every state.
But till then, Torres is counting down the days till he can examine quantity 50 off his record.
“I just want to keep connecting with people and get to know as many as I can and build relationships,” he stated. “I just want to know what’s going on in my country.”