Jane and Michael Stern extoll the virtues of fiery chicken at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack of Nashville, TN during this weekend's appearance on Lynne Rossetto Kasper's The Splendid Table.  If you can't catch the show on radio, listen to it online.

Many people associate KC with great BBQ and fried chicken, but an intrepid reporter from the Kansas City Star was tasked to find the cities best hamburger.  Readers can read about the findings on there web site and choose to vote for their favorite using the online poll.  So far, the Wesport Flea Market appears to be a favorite with the readers.

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/columnists/lauren_chapin/story/609532.html

Many restaurants claim to have the best cheesteak, and a few intrepid restaurant critics have attempted to find the best, but none have been as comprehensive as local sports talker Glen Macnow.  Glen sampled over 45 of the region's best provolone cheesesteaks with onions, and placed world famous Pat's and Geno's at the bottom of the list while giving John's Roast Pork top honors.  You can read about his experience at the Philadelphia Enquirer, or visit his web site for the complete list and reviews - http://www.610wip.com/pages/351421.php.

Cheesesteaks could be a fun event for a future Roadfood Eating Tour!

While about 60 of us are still recovering from the Austin Roadfood Eating Tour, it is not too early to think about our next gathering.  Nancy Leson of the Seattle Times has raised my eyebrow with a great idea - she visited about 1/2 dozen oyster bars throughout the Seattle area in search for "heaven on a half-shell."

You can read more about here findings here:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/restaurants/2004340282_leson110.html

De Lorenzo Tomato Pies, the legendary 60-year-old Trenton restaurant, recently opened their first branch.  It's located in Robbinsville, NJ, a suburb of Trenton.  The original Hudson Street De Lorenzo's was started by the late Chick De Lorenzo.  Sam Amico (pictured above), Chick's grandson, is running the new Robbinsville location, while his parents remain at the Trenton store.  We put De Lorenzo's on the short list of greatest US pizzerias, but we've yet to try the new place.  Word has been that the crowds have been incredible.

ken8038 recently detailed a less-than-pleasant experience at the new store in the Roadfood Forums, but he also pointed out this rave review in The Newark Star-Ledger.  Biggest piece of news for old-timers: the new store has a bathroom!

This news is old but we just found out about it today: the North End Diner in Johnston, IA closed after business on Sunday, 1/20/08.  It was located in a Best Western, and when the hotel closed last fall, the North End hung on for a few more months before closing.  Here's an excerpt from Michael Stern's Roadfood.com review:

"One of the best things about this place is its soda fountain, where milk shakes and malts are made from scratch in flavors that include chocolate, cherry, Green River, espresso, root beer, hazelnut, and cinnamon. There is a monumental banana split, a “devil’s sundae” of chocolate-topped ice cream heaped on a slice of devil’s food cake, and for those who have already packed in a mighty meal, the right-sized “World’s Smallest Sundae,” available with caramel, hot fudge, strawberry, or chocolate topping." More...

Longtime Roadfood.com contributor wanderingjew recently undertook a cheesesteak tour of Philadelphia.  Be sure to check out his amazing photo-documentary in the Forums.  That's his photo of a Lorenzo's Pizza cheesesteak at the top of this posting.  There are many more photos, along with astute commentary, and his cheesesteak ranking at the end of the article.  We personally feel he was too dismissive of the famous cheesesteak trio of Pat's, Geno's, and Jim's; we think all three are worth visiting.  But that's no matter; the places he did visit are equally worthy and don't get the attention they deserve.

The summer hot dog season is approaching and the Wall Street Journal features an article about the search for the perfect dog in Boston, NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles.  While he didn't have the most comprehensive search, you may be surprised by his favorite wiener choice.

[Read more at the Wall Street Journal]

In order to avoid lines, Billyboy on the Roadfood.com Forums braved the cold weather and then posted an excellent review of his Shake Shake visit in NYC.

[Read More on the Roadfood.com Forums]

Several years ago comedian Bill Kirchenbauer put together a pilot for a "Road Food" television program.  None of the networks picked up on the idea from what I can only assume that he was ahead of his time.  Today you will find several shows on the Travel Channel and Food Network covering the same material.

Bill will be joining us at Threadgill's on Friday night of the Roadfood eating tour.  Registered users of Roadfood.com can still pickup tickets.