By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jun 02, 2014 at 10:10 AM

Take a nostalgic -- and delicious -- journey through the highways and byways of bygone American culture through The American Road Sampler Series presented by the Harley-Davidson Museum.

From the history of the classic American diner, to a discussion of American roadside attractions and landmarks, to a guided tour through the imagery of Route 66, the series aims to inspire visitors by offering up a memorable evening rediscovering the mystique of the road trip.

Each event includes a featured speaker, an after-hours tour of the Museum’s "The American Road" exhibit, and complimentary tastes from the road served up by MOTOR Bar & Restaurant.

June 13, 5 p.m. – American Classic Diners
Richard Gutman, director and curator of the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island and author of American Diner and American Diner, Then and Now, speaks on the history, architecture, menus and appeal of this uniquely American creation. Sampling menu includes mini meatloaf sundaes, and bourbon and house made ginger ale.

July 26, 5 p.m. –  American Roadside Attractions
Jeff Kunkle, co-founder of Vintage Roadside in Portland, Ore., discusses "The American Road: Past and Present" and shares vintage commercial images of roadside attractions and images of landmarks still in existence. Sampling menu includes BBQ brisket nachos, and Tang and vodka cocktails.

Aug. 23, 5 p.m. – Topic: Route 66
Photographer Tom Ferderbar, who studied with Ansel Adams, shares his images of Route 66 from 1947 to the present. Ferderbar’s work is in the Ansel and Virginia Adams collection at the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona at Tucson and the collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Sampling menu includes corn dog pops and Sprecher Hard Root Beer floats.

Tickets for the entire three-sampler series are $144 each; individual events are $50 for members, $55 for non-members. A cash bar is available at each event, and each ticket includes admission to the museum. Event details, full tasting menu information, and tickets are available at h-dmuseum.com.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.