Grand Rapids restaurants have served up meals and memories since the city's earliest days. At Bentham's, one of the first downtown restaurants, customers without money to eat could trade an animal pelt for supper. John Sebaitis trained his German shepherd, Spooky, to serve beer to the patrons at his tavern. And a seventeen-year-old Gerald R. Ford worked part time as a server and dish washer at Bill's Place. Join Norma Lewis as she explores the history of Grand Rapids' most beloved eateries and the stories behind them.

Grand Rapids restaurants have served up meals and memories since the city's earliest days. At Bentham's, one of the first downtown restaurants, customers without money to eat could trade an animal pelt for supper. John Sebaitis trained his German shepherd, Spooky, to serve beer to the patrons at his tavern. And a seventeen-year-old Gerald R. Ford worked part time as a server and dish washer at Bill's Place. Join Norma Lewis as she explores the history of Grand Rapids most beloved eateries and the stories behind them. Book jacket.

Recovering the past of Furniture City More than two centuries of overlooked history flow through Grand Rapids like the river for which it is named. The first city surveyor dabbled in seances while platting out neighborhoods and streets. When a river dredging project left a mountain of stone tormenting residents, the ordeal pitted them against city leaders. Humane society agents uncovered horrendous conditions at the city pound and successfully brought about reform and much better conditions for the animals. Grand Rapids native and city archivist Matthew A. Ellis delves into the layout of streets, the manufacture of materials used to build the city, local food trends, and more.

Grand Rapids, a booming city on the banks of the Grand River, has become a thriving center for education, medicine, culture, and the arts. As Michigan’s second largest city, it offers a treasure trove of attractions. With 100 Things to Do in Grand Rapids Before You Die, you’ll see firsthand why this city is always topping the lists of the best places to visit. Residents and visitors alike will enjoy the picturesque Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Where else will you find a twenty-four foot bronze horse first imagined by Leonardo DaVinci? Sports fans are in luck whether you want to participate in hiking and golf or cheer on the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team at the Van Andel Arena. The vibrant downtown area, with its sweeping river views, plays host to fabulous festivals throughout the year, including ArtPrize. Also included are recommendations and insider’s tips for the best dining, live theater at the Civic, and visiting the prized carousel at the Public Museum. Authors and area residents Norma Lewis and Christine Nyholm are excited to turn their love of the city into an invitation to a place that is not to be missed. With this indispensable guide, they’ll help you discover the very best of the best.

Louisville was home to fine cuisine long before the famous restaurant rows on Bardstown Road, Frankfort Avenue and East Market Street. Mazzoni's served the area's first rolled oyster. At the C-54 Grill, guests dined inside a remodeled aircraft, and Kaelin's prepared its classic cheeseburger. Hasenour's sauerbraten and Hoe Kow's war sui gai are two dishes that still make local mouths water when mentioned. Authors Stephen Hacker and Michelle Turner revisit the vivid personalities, celebrated spaces and unique recipes that made Louisville's historic eateries unforgettable.

El Paso was a crossroads long before it was a border town, and its restaurant history represents the same intersection of foodways and culinary traditions. When the Ladies' Auxiliary for the YMCA produced El Paso's first known community cookbook in 1898, a number of its recipes appeared in English for the first time. Many of the eateries that supported that variety are now gone, but places like Jaxson's, Griggs and the Central Café changed the city's tastebuds forever. Walk the colonnade of the Hollywood Café or plop down at Bill Parks Bar-B-Q in this collection of standbys served up by the El Paso County Historical Society.

From western roadhouses to fine dining, Tucson boasts an extraordinary lineup of diverse restaurants. Though some of its greatest no longer exist, their stories conjure the sights, smells and sounds of the city's history. Longtime locals still buzz about Gordo's famous chimichangas, an accidental dish originating in Tucson. The legendary Tack Room was a beacon of fine dining. Places like Café Terra Cotta and Fuego pioneered a new southwestern cuisine, serving regional dishes like prickly pear pork and stuffed poblanos. University of Arizona alumni miss old spots like the Varsity, while long-gone haunts like Gus & Andy's attracted a unique crowd of businessmen, movie stars and the occasional mobster. Join local food writer Rita Connelly as she serves up savory stories of good food and good company from the gone but never forgotten favorites of the Old Pueblo.