The James Beard Foundation has announced this year's America's Classics winners, and among the five recipients is Prince's Hot Chicken Shack of Nashville, TN (see the Roadfood.com review). About Prince's, the Foundation commented, "A visit to town doesn't count unless you make the pilgrimage to this joint, set in an abbreviated strip mall alongside a nail salon, for crispy yardbird with a cayenne-soaked coat of armor." The four other winners:

Frank Fat's, Sacramento, CA: "The restaurant serves Chinese American food and is known for honey-walnut prawns; Frank's-style New York steak (grilled, sliced, and smothered in sautéed onions and oyster sauce); Fat's brandy fried chicken; and banana cream pie."

C.F. Folks, Washington, D.C.: A "600-square-foot temple of honest cooking and good will."

Kramarczuk's, Minneapolis, MN: "There's an ever-changing selection of the house specialty, the butcher shop's expertly made sausages, bratwurst, kielbasa, and wieners, swiped with some of the kitchen's zesty mustard and stuffed into sturdy, house-made golden buns."

Keens Steakhouse, New York, NY: "What Keens has always done well is to age and grill meat."

Dozens of Roadfood-reviewed restaurants have won previous America's Classics awards, which are "given to restaurants that have timeless appeal and are beloved for quality food that reflects the character of their community." That's as good a definition of Roadfood as any.