Two for the Road: Our Love Affair with American Food (Hardcover)

by Jane Stern (Author), Michael Stern (Author) "Our first date was over a white clam pizza at Pepe's Pizzeria on Wooster Square in New Haven, Connecticut, and it was instantly apparent as..." (more)
Key Phrases: hoppel poppel, stuffed ham, chicken croquettes, New York, New England, Rhode Island (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The authors of Roadfood are crazy for American local food, that often informal, inexpensive cuisine that's not especially healthy but sure is tasty. The husband-and-wife team has traveled the country since the 1970s, seeking out the sort of food found in "unlikely restaurants in small towns and off two-lane highways," which, naturally, leads to all manner of fish-out-of-water scenarios, which they relate in this endearing chronicle. The Sterns' adventures are funny, if not quite perilous; the car breaks down in Enigma, Ga.; six jugs of iced tea bought at a South Carolina restaurant leak all over the car's floor, which the Sterns don't realize until days later, when they're nearing the Mojave Desert and could really use a refreshment. Their enthusiasm is inspiring; they regularly consume 100 meals in 10 days or less, but that only makes them more passionate for road food. Their descriptions of their grail are the book's highlights: baby back ribs at Carson's, in Skokie, Ill., for instance, are "sensuously sticky with a baked-on sauce that [is] striated red-gold as if it had been painted by an artist of the Hudson River School"; caramel rolls at North Dakota's Havana Cafe are "light and fluffy, swirled with veins of caramel frosting." (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

I love Jane and Michael Stern... they [deserve] a room of their own in the Smithsonian, next to Julia Child's The New York Times Book Review

An effervescent memoir that leaves you craving barbecue, Coca-cola and (maybe) chitlins.
Entertainment Weekly

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Product Details Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (May 4, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 0618329633 ISBN-13: 978-0618329632 Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #427,360 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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First Sentence:
Our first date was over a white clam pizza at Pepe's Pizzeria on Wooster Square in New Haven, Connecticut, and it was instantly apparent as we gazed into each other's eyes across the thin-crusted Neapolitan pie, speckled with tiny, tender clams and frosted with olive oil, that we shared a passion for garlic. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
hoppel poppel, stuffed ham, chicken croquettes, red beer, deviled crab, yeast rolls

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, New England, Rhode Island, New Mexico, New Haven, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pine Club, Santa Maria, North Dakota, Buck Room, Haven Brothers, Mary's County, Des Moines, West Virginia, Evelyn Birkby, Jessie Young, Kansas City, Miss Rhoda, Shady Glen, White Way, Blue Heaven, Chesapeake Bay, Ira Price, Mississippi River

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 2 books:

• DUNCAN HINES by Louis Hatchett on page 214
• Rhode Island by Richard Benjamin in Back Matter

 

1 book cites this book:

• Best Food Writing 2006 by Holly Hughes in Back Matter

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Matzoh Ball Gumbo by Marcie Cohen Ferris Discusses: chicken croquettes deviled crab yeast rolls The Joy of Cooking Comb-Bound Edition by Irma S. Rombauer Discusses: stuffed ham chicken croquettes deviled crab Loading...

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews 5 star:  (11) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Road Hogs, June 23, 2006 By  takingadayoff "takingadayoff" (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    Jane and Michael Stern love those little hole-in-the-wall diners that always seem to have either the best food you've had in ages, or the worst. They have asbestos-lined stomachs and aren't easily scared. These traits serve them well in their chosen career as low-end restaurant reviewers and kitsch collectors. Two for the Road is their story, or at least an entertaining collection of stories from their thirty-some years on the road together. For a book that's about finding great food, there are an awful lot of gross-out episodes here. But that's only to be expected from people who eat twelve meals a day when on the road, and whose criteria for which eateries to try include whether there is a smiling cow or pig statue on the roof. And let's face it, who doesn't love a good gross-out story? In addition to stories about great diners and really awful ones, there's the occasional detour to pursue their interest in kitschy pop culture. It seems they love to visit prison gift shops. (How did they discover that prisons even have gift shops?) Jane and Michael tell how they stumbled into the inmate-filled exercise yard of Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary while searching for the gift shop. As the inmates ponder this unexpected development, Jane asks a group of prisoners where the gift shop is. Quickly determining that there is no gift shop (or guards), they scoot out through the unlocked doors and resume their journey. Unbelievable? Sure, but they've got a million of 'em, and whether you envy their career or find it as appealing as being force-fed lard through a tube, you can't help but enjoy their enthusiasm and humor. 13 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars On the Road and On the Money, June 11, 2006 By  Peter Brown (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    We've used Roadfood, Roadfood Goodfood and all other Jane and Michael Stern books for years. Two for the Road is the behind the scenes of all the wonderful reviews and all the terrific places that the Sterns have traveled to and eaten at for the past three decades. And the story behind the great food is as good as the food itself: it's all sumptuous, homey, loving, funny, feisty, unpretentious - a look at America that is open and gracious and filled with appetite and wit. I love this book and after reading it over the weekend with family in Kennedale, we drove back to Houston and stopped for lunch in the small town of Calvert, Texas - and all that I had read and fantasized about popped into a very happy reality at The Otherplace Cafe where the lunch consisted of the best chicken fried steak I've ever had, a salad with home grown tomatoes; fried corn, sweet potatoes, a "thirteen vegetable stir fry", Mexican green beans, home baked rolls (the kind that break into thirds) and chocolate cake with nuts - plus iced tea. All for eight bucks. The only choice on the menu apart from the meat, was the kind of potato to get and I'm not touting the place which was certainly very good, I'm touting the book and the Sterns, who have helped all of us stop and try new things and new places, meet new people (the cook worked in the Navy for eight years teaching high pressure welding) - and to experience and explore America in all of its beauty, strangeness, friendliness, hopefulness and culinary genius. 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, June 1, 2006 By  Margaret (Pearland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)       This book is a delightful narrative of the adventures of Jane and Michael Stern as they travel the USA in search of interesting roadside food. Starting in the early 1970s, with an original goal of eating and reviewing every restaurant in America, they quickly realize that they need to narrow their focus. Henceforth, they travel the byways, staying at mom and pop motels (some downright scary - but mostly just good fun), and eating at the kind of cafe that the locals enjoy. In a sense, this book isn't just about food, but also about the kind of smalltown goodness (with a bit of eccentricity thrown in) that one often finds in the USA. The descriptions of the food are sheer poetry of yumminess. I wouldn't think that something like "stuffed ham" (boiled ham with greens and spices stuffing it, that is then "shocked" cold and served) would sound aluring, yet they manage to make it sound like the food of the Gods. I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys food books, travel books, or welldone memoirs.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars I Promise If You Are Not Hungry, You Will Be :) I had read and heard exerpts from this book in different media, and was happy to finally find it. The Sterns travel the country and find the most wonderful food at little out of... Read more Published 13 months ago by Christina 5.0 out of 5 stars great writing This book was great. Whether you are a foodie or not, the Stern's keep you amused throughout the entire book! Published 22 months ago by Marlene Lenz 5.0 out of 5 stars The funniest and most charming book on food I've read in a long time I have read a lot of books on food, cooking, and being a professional chef, and this one is by far my favorite. Read more Published 23 months ago by Gen of www.LibraryOfEden.com 4.0 out of 5 stars America on 12 meals a day I started reading this book and told myself I'd stop when it got too cookbookery. Surprisingly, it never does. Read more Published 24 months ago by CGScammell 4.0 out of 5 stars Finding serious comfort food Jane and Michael Stern are a married couple renowned for their love of what they call "roadfood." In other words, the kind of uniquely American food you find in small cafes off a... Read more Published on June 8, 2007 by Westley 5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy to Read. I loved this book. If there was ever a comfort book to complement comfort food, this book is it. The Stern's are a charming pair with wonderful senses of humor and great... Read more Published on February 8, 2007 by A. Jones 4.0 out of 5 stars food for all that eat This book describes a couple who are in love with travel and food. For the person who travels via the auto, it is a delight. Read more Published on November 3, 2006 by Bernice Friedman 5.0 out of 5 stars A Fitting Salute to American Roadside Dining This is my first "taste" of one of the Stern's books, and the read was a fast, wry, humorous journey into the back roads of America and its roadside eateries. Read more Published on September 3, 2006 by Patricia Caiozzo 4.0 out of 5 stars Roadside Dining as an Epicurean Delight Thanks to the Tenacious and Mobile Sterns It would seem impossible for one long-married couple, no matter how satiated their palettes may be, to cover the vast highways and byways of this country to serve up a fair... Read more Published on July 1, 2006 by Ed Uyeshima 5.0 out of 5 stars I am never disappointed .... with any of the Sterns books. Look forward to all the new one they might have, and have collected all the ones previously published. Read more Published on June 26, 2006 by Betty Parr Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (May 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618329633
• ISBN-13: 978-0618329632
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #427,360 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Road Hogs, June 23, 2006

By	takingadayoff "takingadayoff" (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Jane and Michael Stern love those little hole-in-the-wall diners that always seem to have either the best food you've had in ages, or the worst. They have asbestos-lined stomachs and aren't easily scared. These traits serve them well in their chosen career as low-end restaurant reviewers and kitsch collectors. Two for the Road is their story, or at least an entertaining collection of stories from their thirty-some years on the road together.

For a book that's about finding great food, there are an awful lot of gross-out episodes here. But that's only to be expected from people who eat twelve meals a day when on the road, and whose criteria for which eateries to try include whether there is a smiling cow or pig statue on the roof. And let's face it, who doesn't love a good gross-out story?

In addition to stories about great diners and really awful ones, there's the occasional detour to pursue their interest in kitschy pop culture. It seems they love to visit prison gift shops. (How did they discover that prisons even have gift shops?) Jane and Michael tell how they stumbled into the inmate-filled exercise yard of Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary while searching for the gift shop. As the inmates ponder this unexpected development, Jane asks a group of prisoners where the gift shop is. Quickly determining that there is no gift shop (or guards), they scoot out through the unlocked doors and resume their journey.

Unbelievable? Sure, but they've got a million of 'em, and whether you envy their career or find it as appealing as being force-fed lard through a tube, you can't help but enjoy their enthusiasm and humor.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the Road and On the Money, June 11, 2006

By	Peter Brown (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We've used Roadfood, Roadfood Goodfood and all other Jane and Michael Stern books for years. Two for the Road is the behind the scenes of all the wonderful reviews and all the terrific places that the Sterns have traveled to and eaten at for the past three decades. And the story behind the great food is as good as the food itself: it's all sumptuous, homey, loving, funny, feisty, unpretentious - a look at America that is open and gracious and filled with appetite and wit. I love this book and after reading it over the weekend with family in Kennedale, we drove back to Houston and stopped for lunch in the small town of Calvert, Texas - and all that I had read and fantasized about popped into a very happy reality at The Otherplace Cafe where the lunch consisted of the best chicken fried steak I've ever had, a salad with home grown tomatoes; fried corn, sweet potatoes, a "thirteen vegetable stir fry", Mexican green beans, home baked rolls (the kind that break into thirds) and chocolate cake with nuts - plus iced tea. All for eight bucks. The only choice on the menu apart from the meat, was the kind of potato to get and I'm not touting the place which was certainly very good, I'm touting the book and the Sterns, who have helped all of us stop and try new things and new places, meet new people (the cook worked in the Navy for eight years teaching high pressure welding) - and to experience and explore America in all of its beauty, strangeness, friendliness, hopefulness and culinary genius.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, June 1, 2006

By	Margaret (Pearland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book is a delightful narrative of the adventures of Jane and Michael Stern as they travel the USA in search of interesting roadside food. Starting in the early 1970s, with an original goal of eating and reviewing every restaurant in America, they quickly realize that they need to narrow their focus. Henceforth, they travel the byways, staying at mom and pop motels (some downright scary - but mostly just good fun), and eating at the kind of cafe that the locals enjoy. In a sense, this book isn't just about food, but also about the kind of smalltown goodness (with a bit of eccentricity thrown in) that one often finds in the USA. The descriptions of the food are sheer poetry of yumminess. I wouldn't think that something like "stuffed ham" (boiled ham with greens and spices stuffing it, that is then "shocked" cold and served) would sound aluring, yet they manage to make it sound like the food of the Gods. I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys food books, travel books, or welldone memoirs.