One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Interview: Michael Stern of Roadfood
Jane and Michael Stern coined the phrase "Roadfood" over 30 years ago to describe ”...great regional meals along highways, in small towns, and in city neighborhoods. It is non-franchised, sleeves-up food...", or as they put it so succinctly at a recent roundtable, Roadfood is food “that is true to itself and true to its location.” With three James Beard journalism awards for their monthly Gourmet magazine atricles, a series of successful books under their belts and an almost cult-like following on the web, the Sterns have also become regulars on "The Splendid Table" on NPR.
Michael Stern took some time out last weekend from the New Orleans Roadfood Festival to talk to LAist about Los Angeles Roadfood, greasy eats, and one of his favorite guilty pleasures. The Stern’s next book is titled500 Things to Eat Before it’s Too Late: And the Very Best Places to Eat Them. We’ll all have to wait to find out which Los Angeles taquerias made the cut.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
