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• Tracing Chad Ehrhart's path

• How do Lodi-area religious leaders feel about Sarah Palin?

• Three injured in Lodi when trucks collide, cement spills

• Teachers, administrators fighting budget woes

• Shifting student population may explain Estrellita's tumble

November 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (167)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (72)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
• Public health care is a Christian option (33)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (18)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

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Biscuits and gravy top faves at Clements diner

Lay's Roadhouse is a country restaurant, filled with ceramic chickens, pastel dishes and cowboy hats. The phone rings every once in a while, and Mabel Mortenson, who works in the morning, usually answers the large, old-fashion wooden phone hanging near the cash register. The walls are lined with Polaroid snapshots of customers and children. On a weekday morning, couples eat breakfast and watch "Regis and Kelly" and the news on the TV.

In Clements, Lay's Roadhouse is a different kind of diner. Things seem slower, simpler. It's quiet. Customers are content, stirring packs of sugar into mugs and jellying their English muffins. Still, Mabel is quick to make sure everyone has water, coffee or hot chocolate topped with cool whipped cream.

Lay's Roadhouse has been at 18839 E. Highway 88 for 30 years. Owners Una and Simon Kim took over the family diner about five years ago. Hands down, the specialty is biscuits and gravy.

"We're very proud of the biscuits and gravy," Simon Kim said. "We want to make everything from scratch."

From making the dough and baking it for biscuits to making the gravy without pre-packaged seasonings or ingredients, the dish is made fresh every day. Simon Kim says the best time to go is in the morning — and most of his regulars already know that. Often times, his customers are waiting for him to open.

Lay's Roadhouse Farm Boy breakfast includes two pancakes, two strips of bacon, two sausage links and two eggs for $6.99. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

For breakfast alone, there are dozens of choices. A second popular choice is the Ranch Hand — two slices of French toast, two strips of bacon, two sausage links, two eggs and hash browns or country potatoes.

The Farm Boy is a similar meal, but includes pancakes and it doesn't come with potatoes.

If you like omelets, you'll enjoy Lay's Roadhouse. There are more than 10 omelets to choose. The 4-Star is filled with ham, bacon, sausage and cheddar. Turkey, Swiss and American cheeses, mushrooms and tomatoes make up the Comstock. The Roadhouse is made of homemade chili, onions, bell pepper, cheddar and Swiss cheeses. For a zesty omelet, try the Spanish — homemade salsa, cilantro, tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and cheese.

The 4-Star omelet is stuffed with ham, bacon, sausage and cheese. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Roadhouse specialty breakfasts are diverse: Corned beef hash with eggs, ham steak and eggs, chicken fried steak (very popular), steak and eggs, hamburger steak and even large breakfast burritos.

What kind of roadside haven would Lay's be without famous burgers? Take you pick of a super double quarter pounder, Western burger, Hwy. 88 burger (with sautéed mushrooms, pineapple and glazed with homemade teriyaki sauce), California burger (bacon, Ortega chilis and Swiss cheese), chili cheese burger, the Bushwhacher (Swiss and American cheeses, two strips of bacon, grilled onion on sourdough) or a patty melt.

But they also offer meatless options, like the meatless melt that includes Ortega chilis, tomatoes, red onions and cheeses. Garden burgers are also available.