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'Roadfood' Warriors  

Spirits were high as they drove south toward Kentucky. "That's exactly the kind of place we look for," said Jane Stern, a plus-size woman who favors mandarin jackets and velvet opera slippers. "There were old coots in overalls smoking at a communal table," she added, as if this were a good thing. . . .

The Sterns, who are married and both 59 years old, talk like this while they drive, and much of what they say ends up in their writing. They've published 40 books on various subjects. Their memoir, "Two for the Road" (Houghton Mifflin), comes out this month. But their magnum opus is "Roadfood," an oft-updated book, Web site and Gourmet magazine column devoted to down-home eateries, diners, fish camps, barbecue pits, hot-dog stands and the like. Since their first book in 1976, they've spent some 200 days a year on the road, and they claim to average 12 meals a day. and velvet opera slippers. "There were old coots in overalls smoking at a communal table," she added, as if this were a good thing. . . .

Although they poke gentle fun at the places they write about, there's nothing phony about their admiration for "sleeves-up" culture. They shun cities, preferring to live in a pet-filled home in rural Connecticut, where Michael smokes cigars on horseback

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