Guy Fieri - More diners, drive-ins and dives: a drop-top culinary cruise through Americas finest and funkiest joints

A Drop-Top Culinary Cruise Through Americas Finest and Funkiest Joints

Food Network
Guy Fieri
with Ann Volkwein

To all the road-trippin, off-da-hook eatin
fans of Triple Dthats money!

How fascinating are American diners, drive-ins, and dives? I remember eating some of my first family meals with my parents at Al Macs Diner in my hometown of Fall River, Massachussetts. It was a proud moment for them, and its a special food memory for me. Then I realized that my hometown had lots of great diners and drive-ins, especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I cherish the memories of clam rolls and buckets of fried clams, hot dogs from Nicks, cheeseburgers from King Phillip, chow mein sandwiches from MeeSums. Wowwhat memories! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Its so refreshing to know that America has so many of these special places from pizza to cheese steaks and po-boys to pulled pork sandwiches. From the East to the West, from the Midwest to the South, we are so blessed with these American treasures each serving their own food of love. And that, my friends, is what Guy Fieri brings to you in this book: an American journey of very special food, people, and places that he and his amazing team discover and share with you. Its a journey of some of Americas finest people, places, and storiesand great food.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that the book has great recipes? So take an adventure with Guy across America with a true gem of a book. Hold on tight as Guy puts you in the zone. The American food zone!

BAM!

IM CONCENTRATING REALLY HARDTRYING TO RETRIEVE MY BLING!

Yes, this is a real tattoo of me on a real personI think Ill let the owner of the ink (Burgermeister Mike Hardin of Hodads, San Diego) tell the story:

Im covered with tattoos. When I met Guy we hit it off right off the bathes down-to-earth, kinda crazy, and hes turned out to be a good friend. So my son and I went camping with him and his family, and sitting around the campfire at some point that evening the Guy bobblehead plan was put in motion (and I dont even drink). And here we are. It turned out very, very well. Credit goes to the artist, Brendon Embrey, at Seths Chop Shop, San Diego.

Mike

Im a Letterman fan, so in honor of Dave and the Top 10

TOP TEN QUESTIONS IM ASKED ABOUT TRIPLE D

10) Do you like everything? Uh, nodo you? If I dont like it, I wont lie and tell you I do.

9) Funkiest thing youve eaten? See What Funkier Foods Have You Found?, below.

8) Is the car yours? No. Thank goodness its a Chevy, but no.

7) Do you drive the car everywhere? Weve gone over 150,000 miles the last three seasons. I would be dead and the car would be, too.

6) Youre not as fat in real life as you are on TVwhy? Because the camera adds five pounds. (Now dont say, What, so you have five cameras then?)

5) Have you ever been to this place, its this small place over by this one town by a bridge? My aunts friends sisters used to have a place Okay, lets take a moment, folks. Weve done 250-plus shows. Do you really think Ive been everywhere? Ha ha.

4) What was the place where the guy had on the T-shirt that says I love ribs? No idea.

3) Do you really not like eggs? No, I dont like them just as eggs, but Im cool with them in dishes.

2) Do you eat it all? No, but sometimes they have to pry it out of my hands because its so good. Otherwise Ill eat so much Ill go into a food coma.

1) Heres the number one question everyone asks medrumroll, please: Whats your favorite diner, drive-in, or dive? IMPOSSIBLE. Thats like asking what was your favorite day of your life! Theres not just a dish, location, or person. Im happy Im not able to define one of them as my favorite; that would make it hard to continue on with the show. Instead, I have a ton that go into my top 100 places.

DO YOU EVER BURN YOUR MOUTH SO BADLY YOU CANT TASTE ANYTHING? I havent burned it that bad, but Ive burned the top and bottom back of my throat and the side of my mouth, and I had hot cheese smeared under my goatee and burned my chin. Hot grease from a Philly cheesesteak ran down my arm and burned my armpit. Ive burned my feet because I wear flip-flops like a genius in the kitchen. You see, when I prepare for a show I dont eat before filming because I want my palate to be fresh. Maybe Ill have a cup of coffee and a banana. But if Ive sat back and watched this guy make a chili cheesesteak, by the time hes done I want to eat itand its the hot center that nails me.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TYPES OF RESTAURANTS TO SHOOT? The funky, more dive-style kind of place is my favorite, not because they dont all have great merit but because theyre probably the most surprising. You walk in and theyre completely jacked upand they end up nailing you with some crazy-good food. There might be no sign out front, or its in an industrial area of town, or it may look like a drive-up Fotomat, as Paradise Pup does. Picturesque places you just expect will be good, but expect the unexpected and you set yourself up to have your mind blown. Walk into Hob Nob Hill, an old-school San Diego restaurant, and you feel like youre going to be eating country club food. Its comfort food, but legit comfort food. I mean, these people are making their own corned beef. Dont judge a book by its cover. Slow down; you just have to look around.