Photo Gallery: Get Your 'Best of the Road' Sampler Plates Today

Bring your game faces – or should I say taste buds – to Gulfport, road rally team! The 2011 Rand McNally USA Today "Best of the Road" competition kicks off today in New York.

You voted, and now it's up to the road rally team.

Here's how it works. A two-person team will leave from New York and travel across the country judging the top six online voter picks for Best for Food. Gulfport was named one of the finalists. But, since it's a road trip, we don't know when the team will get here.

Local restaurants are gearing up for their arrival and giving all of us a taste of their signature dishes by creating sampler plates. Fifteen restaurants have crafted taste-sized platters ranging from $10 to $15. The new menu items begin today and will run until July 23.

As soon as officials are given an arrival date, we'll post it on Gulfport Patch. Organizers for Gulfport's Best for Food host committee are planning a public event to welcome the rally team in downtown Gulfport. They've created a Facebook Event Page with information.

To follow along with the rally, check out the "Best of the Road" Facebook Page and follow the teams on Twitter.

Restaurants Offering Sampler Plates:

, $15

• Crab Cake, crab imperial: backed on portabella mushroom with fire roasted red pepper cream sauce, small bowl of corn crab chowder

, $14.95

• Lechon Asado (Roast Pork), Shrimp Picatta, Summer Dill Chicken served with Small Spanish Salad, Black Beans with chopped Spanish onions, white rice, Sweet Plantains and Cream Cheese Flan

Isabelle’s at Peninsula Inn & Spa, $10

• Two Crab Cakes, Two Fritters, Two Fried Green Tomatoes and Cheddar Cornbread

Island Flavors and ‘Tings, $15

• Jamaican Cocktail Beef Patty, Jerk Shrimp Cocktail, skewered on sugar cane then marinated in Appleton Rum and Jamaican Jerk Rub. Presented in a coconut, drizzled with a mango sauce. Jerk Chicken, marinated in red stripe and served with rice and peas. Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi-Mahi, rolled in a Carpaccio of Pineapple, topped with Tropical Fruit Salsa
• Helena's Mango Bread

, $13.95

• Veal Picada with White Garlic, Cherry and Capers Sauce, Costa Brava Shrimp with White Wine, Peppers, Mushrooms, Tomatoes
• Rack of Lamb with Mint Demi-glaze
• Filet Mignon with a Marsala Sauce
• Assorted Fresh Cooked Vegetables, Pasta and Dinner Salad
• Vanilla Peach Aspertise and Crem Brule

,  $12.95

• Lobster Mac and Cheese
• Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Hollandaise

, $15

• Mini Shrimp Burrito
• Mahi Fish Taco and an Azteca Salad

Neptune Grill,  $13.99

• Oyster Rockefeller, Crab stuffed mushroom, Crab cake, Spinach Pie, Dolmades, Marinated Octopus

, (Update) $10 and $15

• Antipasto Misto Platter with Proscuitto di Parma, Sopressata Salami, Mozzarella, Basil and Tomato, grilled and marinated Vegetables, Olives, Bruschetta $15  
• Rack of Lamb, Zucchini Fritter and Red Onion Marmalade $10
• Seafood Pizette Sampler: 2 Smoked Salmon, 2 Shrimp, 2 Blue Crab, $10

, $13.00

• Sliced Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork and Baby Back Ribs
• Four Sides of your Choice

Stella’s Deli and Gelato, $10.95

• Fried Green Tomato's served with house made Chipolte Aioli Dipping Sauce, Hand Chopped Corned Beef Hash with 1 egg 
• Southern Style Mini Biscuit & Gravy 
• Mini Lox Sampler

T & Me Tea Co.,  $8.25

• Moroccan Espresso Shot with a Lemon Twist, Espresso Brownie, Micro Spring Roll with Hoi Sin Sauce, Savory Tiffany Tart Tomato-Artichoke-Goat Cheese, Avocado Rice Bowl, Local Honey and Toasted Coconut Spiced Chai Drizzle.

Tangelo’s Grille, $11

• One conch fritter, one pumpkin coconut fritter and a veggie fritter.
• Roast pork, chicken mojo sandwich, chips, salsa, salad with tropical vinaigrette dressing, sweet potato fries, black beans and rice and plantain.

, $13.95

• Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Chicken Curry and Cole Slaw

Yummy’s Casual Café,  $12.95

• 1/2 Italian Beef Sandwich with a side of natural gravy, Perfectly Prepared Chicago Dog, Yummy Veggie Wrap

The road rally continues across the country as teams visit their assigned small towns and observe and judge each. Teams are asked to blog, tweet and otherwise document their experiences as they travel. A final ceremony in Los Angeles will welcome teams July 15, at which time they will announce their choices for best small towns in each category.