Jane and Michael Stern: In Fort Worth, the Paris Coffee Shop (named not for the city in France, but for the family who started it) is a modest place that has become a landmark for its excellent pies as well as good chicken-fried steak. In Oklahoma City, we are particularly fond of the Classen Grill, especially for its breakfast migas (a sort of tortilla omelet). Between the two cities, it's a short trip off I-35 into Tioga, Texas (birthplace of singing cowboy Gene Autry), for a visit to Clark's Barbecue, one of the Lone Star State's best.

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Trenton, N.J.: One Roadfood chicken meal: deep-fried, pan-fried, Broasted, or Cornell?

Jane and Michael Stern: That's like asking Hugh Hefner if he prefers blondes, redheads, or brunettes. But if you held a gun to my head and forced me to choose (oh, what a great dilemma!), I would go for the pan-fried, especially if it was the pan-fried chicken served at Stroud's in Kansas City, where it is presented with crusty skin inbued with the flavor of chicken fat and as rich and savory as bacon. It comes with real, rugged pan-drippin' gravy, fluffy mashed potatoes, buttery-sweet cinnamon rolls and even superb chicken soup with homemade noodles and juicy shreds of thigh meat. Everything comes in big bowls meant for passing among friends and family.

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San Diego, Calif.: My wife and I are going on a retirement road trip from San Diego to New Jersey taking a Northern route there and a Southern route home. We are going through Utah (Zion NP), South Dakota (Deadwood), Iowa (Amana Colonies), Illinois, Michigan (Holland, Detroit), Ohio (Canton), Penn. (Hershey), New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee (Memphis), Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and home. Can you recommend some not to miss, non chain places to experiences local foods? Thanks in advance.

Jane and Michael Stern: Oh, my gosh. You could take 5 years to make that trip and not hit half the great eateries along the way. A small handful of must-not-miss opportunities that come immediately to mind are barbecue in Memphis (at Interstate, A&R, or Cozy Corner), a green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico (at the Owl Bar in San Antonio) or a full-bore New-Mex meal at the beautiful and romantic Rancho de Chimayo north of Santa Fe. If you go through Tucson, great Sonoran-Mexican food in such gems as Pico de Gallo, El Charro, and the upscale Poca Cosa. It wouldn't hurt to take a copy of our book Roadfood with you; that's what it's for! ;-)

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Jane and Michael Stern: Thanks for chatting, everyone. And here's hoping we run into one another somewhere at the counter of an excellent diner down the road. Adios.