Jane and Michael Stern: Portland has all kinds of good places to eat. We like Becky's Diner on the Wharf for breakfast. Also Marcy's Diner has superb fried potatoes. I mentioned Fore Street in a previous question: top-notch, high end food. And do treat yourself to stopping at Colucci's -- a corner grocery store that makes great Italians, a unique Portland twist on the all-American hero roll.

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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

Virginia: Michael, "i95" here from your wonderful www.roadfood.com site. For all travelers motoring though the Nutmeg State, is there any update on the future fate of Middletown, Connecticut's famed O'Rourke's Diner following its fire last week?

Jane and Michael Stern: For now, O'Rourke's is in flux. But it seems to have enough support, and Brian O'Rourke has the drive, that I am sure it will be reborn in one form or another. Of course, we shall try to stay abreast of events as best we can. I suspect it will be a while before we have anything like the smooth-functioning place that Brian O'Rourke nurtured for all those years. Those interested can keep up to date at http://www.orourkesdiner.com/

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Seattle, WA: Re: An eating tour in Eastern Tennessee. How do you plan where -- and what -- to eat? Do you pick an area, based on tips from your readers and listeners? And, any tips on how to find great roadfood and what to look for when traveling?

Jane and Michael Stern: When heading out to explore a region (as opposed to one or two or three specific places), we ask everyone we know and we usually post a mention that we are heading somewhere in the Roadfood.com newsletter. We almost always get far too many tips to check out in a single trip. The best way to find roadfood when traveling is (a) have a sense of what to look for, i.e. know that spiedies are big around Binghamton, New York, pasties are something to look for on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Minnesotan's love hot beef and sour cream raisin pie. (B) cruise through a strange town early in the morning. Find where the pickups are parked. Even if that restaurant doesn't have great food, chances are that its patrons will be able to recommend their favorites. (C) Get a haircut. We have found some of the best Roadfood places by striking up a conversation with the barber and other patrons.

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Washington, D.C.: Have you ever eaten at Chubby's Southern Barbeque, in Emmitsburg Maryland? I've heard its the best BBQ in the US.

Jack

Jane and Michael Stern: Yes, Chubby's is fantastic, for its four-star ribs as well as for pulled pork that is soft and smoky, and baked beans are liberally laced with shreds of meat.

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Silver Spring, MD: What are your favorite barbecue places in North Carolina? We have an opportunity to drive to Asheville in the spring and would like some scenic - and tasty - locales. We love the Outer Banks, and it's possible that we might make a brief (2- to 3-day)detour coming back. Accordingly, we'd be interested in barbecue places in North Carolina, and possibly eastern Virginia.

Linda

Jane and Michael Stern: North Carolina is a big state, and the BBQ from east to west is very different, the westernmost Q generally being pretty saucy, as at Bridge's BBQ Lodge in Shelby or the spicy BBQ chicken at Keaton's in Statesville (not really BBQ, but a destination eatery if ever there was one). In the east, you don't get the thick red sauce. Instead, it's a peppery vinegar emulsion, all the better to highlight the fine smoked flavor of the pork. A couple of eastern places worth finding are Bunn's in Windsor (an ex-gas station) and the Skylight Inn in Ayden. Many connoisseurs consider Lexington Barbecue #1, in Lexington, to be the best of the best.

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Allentown PA: Has having a Roadfood website made it easier to find new food experiences?

Jane and Michael Stern: Oh, yes, for sure! When I think back on what it was like before we got together with Stephen Rushmore (the genius who created the website), it's like the dark ages. Now we are connected to a large community of people who all share a passion for finding authentic regional food in one-of-a-kind places. I think that the existence of Roadfood.com and the people who use it has genuinely helped these kinds of eateries stay strong and viable.

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Phoenixville, PA: Aren't you the same people who wrote Dog Eat Dog? My two favorite things are Travel and Bullmastiffs. Imagine my surprise to see an author of one of my Bullmastiff books mentioned in my favorite travel magazine!

Jane and Michael Stern: Yes, we wrote Dog Eat Dog, and in fact the daughter of the bullmastiff on the cover is still is a member of our household. Clementine is 12 years old (ancient for a bullmastiff) and blind, but happy as can be.

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Long Beach CA: We are going to Jackson TN from Sept. 20-24th. Is there a good place to eat around that city?

Jane and Michael Stern: Not sure if it's still in Jackson, but The Old Country Store used to serve pretty good fried chicken. That was a while ago. If you find anything good to eat around there, please let us know!

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Jane and Michael Stern: Well, everyone, I think I hear the theme music signaling our time is up. Thanks for all the questions. It has been a pleasure to talk Roadfood with all of you. -- MS