Guy Fieri, restaurateur and Food Network chef-host, visits the country's best 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.' RANDALL BENTON/SACRAMENTO BEE
- RANDALL BENTON/SACRAMENTO BEE
TV show inspires new batch of road trips
Date published: 7/12/2008
BY KATHERINE SHAPLEIGH
My sister introduced me to Guy. He's not my type, with his spiky bleached hair and tattoos. But I quickly realized I'd follow him anywhere.
Guy Fieri is host of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Even if you haven't caught the show, you've probably seen him in the new commercials for T.G.I. Fridays restaurants.
He travels the country, featuring eateries with made-from-scratch food, colorful characters and unique style.
My sister and her husband got hooked, and now we're fans at my house, too.
Fieri has a big personality, and the combination travel show/cooking show/comedy revue is addictive.
It's fun to go along for tours of "Seaside Eats," "Off the Hook," "Route 66," "One of a Kind," "American Cookin'," "Retro" and many others.
HOP ON THE BUS
Our introduction to the show was the "Something Different" episode on Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, W.Va. It's housed--I am not making this up--in an old school bus.
I'd never, ever have the nerve to stop, much less eat, at a place like that on my own. It sounds like a great place to get food poisoning.
I have nothing against colorful regional restaurants--I love them. But when I'm traveling, I need some kind of confidence booster to convince me I'm not making a big mistake with my time, money and health.
With places like Psycho Suzie's Motor Lounge in Minneapolis, Minn.--a "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" "Viewer's Choice" feature--who wouldn't want a little reassurance?
Once Guy and his crew go into a place, meet the owners, film the kitchen operations and talk to satisfied regulars, a visit seems like a much safer proposition.
let the tour begin
It didn't take us long to decide we wanted to visit some of the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" restaurants.
We recorded the shows, then made note of restaurants within striking distance. We went to the show's Web site--foodnet work.com/food/show_ dv--for more research.
We're making a real effort to conserve gas this summer, so our "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" tour is off to a slow but delicious start. (We're also counting calories, so that's tempering our pace, too!)
