Trip Coach: September 5, 2006

Knoxville Tennessee: Jane and Michael:

We all know that you travel extensively and how you endure so manymeals a day truly amazes me. I have often wondered why you have never concentrated on East Tennessee quisine. It is more than soul food as the folks of east Tennessee in times past existed solely on home grown food. Country ham, free range chicken, eggs picked out of who knows where, veggies, desserts sugared with mollasses and veggies, everything canned and sugar cured ham. Do you ever plan on doing a segment entirely on East Tennessee food?

Roadfood experts Jane and Michael Stern (Todd France) [enlarge photo] BOOK EXCERPT • Two for the Road: Our Love Affair with American Food • Southern Café Stewed Apples • New Haven White Clam Pizza TRENDSPOTTING • Haute Diners SEPTEMBER 2006 ISSUE • Table of Contents: September 2006 • Australia: The Great Ocean Walk • Germany Castles • Road Trip: Lake Champlain • Trip Coach: Jamaica • 40 Best Vacations

Paul E. Smith
Moderator
Roadfood.com
Knoxville, TN

Jane and Michael Stern: We've had nothing but good luck hunting food in Eastern Tennessee, including the Ridgewood Barbecue in Bluff City and Litton's in Knoxville. But you're right: we are overdue for a serious eating tour there.

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Marriottsville, MD: How do you feel when a wonderful "one of a kind" Roadfood place closes it's doors forever? And what are some of your nicest memories of places that have gone out of business?

Jane and Michael Stern: Alas, it happens all the time (although I have to say that there are plenty of great new Roadfoodly places opening, too). Only recently, we've seen the loss of Stone's in Marshalltown, Iowa (home of mile-high lemon chiffon pie) and the big-feed, family-friendly Branch Ranch of Plant City, Florida, not to mention a bunch of New Orleans places not likely to rise again. More than the places, we miss the people who ran them and worked in them: Mrs. Bonner of Mrs. Bonner's Cafe, who used to tell customers what they would have for lunch, the Dipsy-Doodle soda maker at Zaharako's in Columbus, Indiana, the motherly waitstaff at the old Four Way Grill in Memphis.

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Roselle, IL: We will be traveling along Route 66 all the way to California in November. Is there any place to dine that we should not miss?

Jane and Michael Stern: Route 66 is a bonanza! Just a few recommendations: Cozy Dog in Springfield, Illinois, Ted Drewes Custard in St. Louis, the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, Johnnie's Grill (for onion-fried burgers) in El Reno, Oklahoma, Beans N Things in Amarillo, The Frontier (always open) in Albuquerque, and Old Smoky's in Williams, Arizona.

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Stanhope NJ: I'll be in Portland, ME the last week of September. Any must eats?