The silver Airstreams and neon signs of the classic American diner brighten New Jersey's highways and Main Streets. But the intrinsic role they have played in the state's culture and industry for more than one hundred years is much more than eggs-over-easy and coffee. Diners are the state's ultimate gathering places--at any moment, high school students, CEOs, construction workers and tourists might be found at a counter chatting with the waitresses and line cooks. Jerseyans yearn for lost favorites like the Excellent Diner and Prout's Diner and still gather at beloved haunts like the Bendix and Tick Tock Diners. Although the industry is all but gone today, New Jersey was once the hub of diner manufacturing, making mobile eateries that fed hungry Americans as far away as the West Coast. Author Michael C. Gabriele offers this delicious history--collected from interviews with owners, patrons and experts--and indulges in many fond memories of New Jersey diners.

Featuring nearly three hundred color and black-and-white illustrations, a humorous, revealing look at New Jersey's diners explores their origins, their peculiarities, and their popularity in a state that boasts more diners than any other. Reprint.

The rise of the American diner is the most savory of phenomenons, where classic architecture, a friendly face behind the counter, and some mean pie all combined to make these little roadside stops a treasured part of history. From the early days when Walter Scott brought his horse-drawn lunch wagons through the streets to the heyday of mass-produced chrome and neon diners in the 1950s, The American Diner offers a full blue-plate special of nostalgia for all those who loved the counter culture of these great eateries. More than 250 historical and bright colorful photographs help remind us of life before fast food, and generous helpings of classic advertisements, cool collectibles, and architectural highlights also highlight the era. Diners from coast to coast are featured, giving readers a trip to some of the best stainless-steel and neon diners that still dot the American roadways.

Revised and updated edition of the best-selling first edition (978-0-8117-2878-2).

From the author of The History of Diners in New Jersey comes a collection of true stories that capture the spirit of the Garden State. Diners are where communities across New Jersey go to celebrate milestones, form lifetime bonds and take comfort in food. Daily life at the counter or in the booth inspires sentimental recollections that reflect the state’s spirit and history. In Stories from New Jersey Diners, local historian Michael C. Gabriele documents colorful stories from the Diner Capital of the World. Late-night eats fueled Wildwood’s wild rock-and-roll days. An entrepreneur from India traveled eight thousand miles to open a diner in Shamong. From an impromptu midnight wedding in an Elizabeth lunch wagon to a Vietnam veteran sustained by a heartfelt note from a beloved Mount Holly waitress, these are true tales from the “Diner Capital of the World.”

A fun look at unexplained phenomena in New Jersey, featuring information on ghost tours in the state.

Celebrity Chefs of New Jersey profiles Craig Shelton, the chef who crystallized New Jersey's place in culinary history with his legendary Ryland Inn, along with other chefs who tell their personal histories of creativity and survival. Their stories are arranged into three categories: legends, stars, and chefs to watch, and then topped off with a sweet surprise finish. The book includes photographs, cooking secrets, and some of the chefs' sought-after signature recipes that are sophisticated but manageable for the skilled home chef.