This week, in preparation for my Angelo’s Restaurant post to come Monday, I spoke to Michael Stern — a personal hero, co-webmaster of "Roadfood.com" and author of numerous good-eats guides and cookbooks — about the history, the mysticism and the ambiguous definition of the American diner.

“To a lot of people, a diner is more about architecture and décor than it is anything else. To me — while I love the look of a classic diner — what’s more important is the food that’s served, the attitude with which it’s served and the attitude that people have when they come to it,” he said. “The casualness, the relative inexpensiveness, the unpretentiousness of the food — those to me are the qualities that define a diner.”

In the spirit of Angelo’s and to celebrate everything tasty and sweet that is diner, check out these links to two of Stern’s most recent "Roadfood.com" posts.

Lindstrom Bakery’s Scandinavian donuts — true diner delights, according to “Roadfood.com.”

Photo courtesy of "Roadfood.com."

Roadfood of the Day: Lindstrom Bakery—Lindstrom, Minn.
Lindstrom Bakery, writes Stern, offers Scandinavian donuts in four different varieties.

Roadfood Recipe: Peanut Butter and Bacon Sandwich
Stern discovered this protein-packed breakfast at Becky’s Diner in Portland, Maine. Load on the bananas, he reports, and you’ve got Becky’s Elvis Special.

Hunka, hunka.

Jessica Levine profiles the culture and history of Washtenaw County restaurants for AnnArbor.com. Contact her at levineeats@gmail.com.