Michael Stern

Key West likes to call itself The Conch Republic, meaning its culture is unique, like a nation unto itself. Foodwise, that means a wonderful, crazy mix of restaurants that reflect the Caribbean and the Deep South with flavors that range from traditional to off-the-map creative. Here are a dozen Roadfood favorites that offer a memorable … Continue reading Hidden Gems: Key West

Lake Erie Coastal Drive Along this drive, you will cover 119 miles in a little under two and a half hours of drive time. Driving from Toledo to Cleveland, we have picked out four favorite local restaurants to eat at along the way. Toledo and Sandusky Started in 1932, Tony Packo’s has become a well-known … Continue reading America’s Byways: Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway This five hour trip will take drivers along the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina to wonderful regional food served in restaurants that sing of local color. Virginia Any piece of chicken is a good piece of chicken at Wayside Takeout & Catering. Our favorites were the thighs and drumsticks, … Continue reading America’s Byways: Blue Ridge Parkway

Big Bend Coastal Trail Florida’s Big Bend Coastal trail is a “rich heritage [of] barrier islands, sand dunes, beaches, bays, coastal marshes, and springs,” as described by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. For seekers of Roadfood — seafood in particular — it is one of the most rewarding byways in the nation. Apalachicola Apalachicola Seafood … Continue reading America’s Byways: Florida’s Big Bend Coastal Trail

The color of New England’s autumn foliage attracts seasonal visitors to the southern foothills of the Berkshires, but year around, it is an excruciatingly beautiful land: rolling hills, stone walls, covered bridges, field, forest, and stream. The food is an outstanding mix of culinary sophistication and rural charm. Start the day with root vegetable hash … Continue reading A Day in the Southern Berkshires

Roadfood knows Cincinnati best for its unique five-way chili, which is nowhere better than at Camp Washington Chili Parlor, open round the clock. In this city that has earned the nickname Porkopolis, we like to start the day at Tucker’s, a vintage neighborhood diner where hearty, from-scratch breakfast features crisp-fried slabs of the luxurious pork-and-pin-oat … Continue reading Essential Cincinnati in a Day

After many happy weeks eating our way around Nashville. we’ve created a one-day eating plan that presents you with the best of the best: five fantastic meals in memorable eateries that will be the highlight of any visit. Don’t be discouraged by the line of customers waiting to get in the Pancake Pantry. It moves … Continue reading Eat Nashville in a Day

What a yummy trip it is to eat one’s way from Chicago to L.A. along old Route 66! This tour of 21 excellent stops along the way includes some that are directly on the old road as well as a few that are worthy short detours. None require a reservation, all are easy on the … Continue reading Route 66 Classics: 21 Affordable Eateries from Chicago to Los Angeles

The drive along old Route 66 from the Texas Panhandle to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico is a pageant of natural splendor and unabashed roadside kitsch: garish trading posts juxtaposed with stunning rock mesas, come-hither billboards rising up in turquoise skies, long-abandoned house trailers scattered in measureless fields, and … Continue reading Route 66: Texas and New Mexico Edition

Is there another dish as malleable as pizza? It can be an utterly simple tomato pie – nothing but sauce on crust – or it can be a multi-meat bomb, a veggie special, an Hawaiian pie topped with pineapple and Spam, deep dish or thin crust, skimpy or swanky. Traveling around the USA, a devoted … Continue reading Pizza Nation

Dayboat fish, pink shrimp, stone crab claws, and conch are just the nautical highlights of a Key West eating expedition. With Cuba 90 miles away, strong coffee and plancha-pressed sandwiches are as good as they get, as are such Havana street food favorites as fritas burgers, empanadas, and sweet plantains. Of course, there is great … Continue reading Roadfood’s Key West

A favorite vacation destination for southerners eager to escape summer heat and enjoy the cooler climate of the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, the area around Landrum, South Carolina, and Tryon, North Carolina, is a treasury of good eats. Memorable meals in this pretty part of the world include traditional comfort food at Caro-Mi (since 1945), … Continue reading Eating Around the Carolina Foothills

For adventurous seekers of Roadfood, a brief visit to Savannah can be frustrating. There are too many good eateries to savor them all. Of course, one wants great seafood, of which there is plenty at Pearl’s Saltwater Grill and Driftaway Cafe. For soul food, consider BBQ ribs at Randy’s and breakfast at Narobia’s Grits & … Continue reading Taste of Savannah

Whatever you like to eat, Chicago has it – humble and swanky, familiar and exotic, healthful and decadent, from anywhere on earth and in every imaginable setting. But what are the tastes, dishes, and eating experiences that are Chicago’s alone? That’s always the goal of Roadfood: to find a meal that you won’t find anywhere … Continue reading Uniquely Chicago

Aside from a couple of irresistible bakeries that make beautiful buttermilk biscuits – plain as well as dressed to a fare-thee-well – Richmond’s Roadfood treasures include stylish modern restaurants that reconfigure classics from Southern shrimp & grits to Jewish bagels & lox. Good eating around the capital city also includes superior hot dogs, artisan ice … Continue reading Roadfood’s Richmond Favorites

Branson, a city of countless entertainment theaters, not to mention zip lines, wax museums, and mini-golf courses, is a tourist Mecca. But that doesn’t mean it lacks good places to eat. In fact, some restaurants that cater to tourists do a fine job serving honest Ozark vittles, like the pork tenderloin at the always-crowded downtown … Continue reading The Best of Branson, Missouri

When writing our Roadfood guide book, which divides the nation into regions, Nebraska is a problem. Is it the Midwest or the West? Culinarily, it’s some of each, but Omaha, its biggest city, goes way beyond such labels. Yes you can find a big, expensive hunk of aged beef (at Johnny’s Cafe, the cattlemen’s choice … Continue reading Roadfood Eats Omaha

The restaurants of Asheville, North Carolina, reflect both new-age nostrums and traditional Blue Ridge Mountain cookery. Vegetarians and vegans, gluten-frees and keto devotees all will find happiness, but so will hungry carnivores and lovers of downhome Dixie dining. On recent visits, we’ve been most impressed by the city’s bakeries, where old-world technique and modern culinary … Continue reading Roadfood Eats Asheville, North Carolina