If you're itching to get out of town, Jane and Michael Stern's new book, 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late, will give you the perfect excuse. It's chock-full of delicious-sounding and mouthwatering-looking eats from all across the country, many of them regional specialities: Head to Oklahoma for a perfect "pig sandwich," hunt down lobster rolls in Maine, indulge in cheese crisps in Arizona, or dig into world-class barbecue ribs in Tennessee, Alabama or Texas. You'll learn about foods you've never heard of before (Dutch lettuce salad in central Iowa or Cornell chicken in New York?) and read about must-visit cafes, diners and shacks.

The book is organized by region, so just close your eyes, pick a page at random, and hop into your car...anybody want to meet me at the Maine Diner in Wells for some lobster pie this weekend?

--Maggie

photo: bn.com