I have never tried gels or energy drinks; I figure if I need calories I would rather eat "real food."
On long rides, I try to have some kind of bland, hot breakfast (something like oatmeal, omlette, pancakes, or peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat toast) before the ride. Snacks are bagels, bananas, home-made trail mix. I will take an energy bar of some kind with me but only for emergencies. On really long rides I try to eat some protein too -- like some kind of blander flavored beef jerky.
If I stop at convenience store for food I'll get oreos or Fig Newtons.
Today I was on a long ride in the country and ran across an espresso stand at a crossroads -- it was chilly, and stopping for a double espresso was *perfect* and a nice pick-me-up.