Guy Fieri, restaurateur and Food Network chef-host, visits the country's best 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.' RANDALL BENTON/SACRAMENTO BEE View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

We're following Guy to some 'good eats'

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!)

FIRST STOP, RICHMOND

WANT TO WATCH? WHAT: "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" WHERE: Food Network WHEN: Check listings, but you can catch the following episodes this weekend: "All Kinds of BBQ": Tomorrow at 2:30 a.m. and 4 and 11:30 p.m. "Real Deal Fast Food": tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. "The Memphis BBQ Tour": Monday at 1:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. MORE: On the Web: foodnetwork.com/food/show_dv IF YOU GO Here are the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" restaurants mentioned in the article: VIRGINIA Dott's Back Inn 4030 Macarthur Ave., Richmond 804/266-3167 The Village Cafe 1001 W Grace St., Richmond 804/353-8204 villagecafeonline.com Virginia Diner U.S. 460 Wakefield 757/899-3106 vadiner.com WEST VIRGINIA Hillbilly Hot Dogs 6591 Ohio River Road, Lesage 304/762-2458 hillbillyhotdogs.com MARYLAND Blue Moon Cafe 1621 Aliceanna St, Baltimore KENTUCKY Smokey Valley Truck Stop 40 Bond Court, Olive Hill 606/286-5001

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Date published: 7/12/2008