Chicago has come a long way since its stereotypical days as a meat-and-potatoes town. Over the past several decades, as the city rose to global metropolis status, so too did its multifaceted food scene. Nowadays, Chicago's restaurants, bakeries and neighborhood eateries are as highly regarded as its famed skyscrapers. Sure there are hot dogs and deep-dish pizzas aplenty, much of it well worth a bucket list-type visit, but there's so much more to explore and eat in all corners of the city. Try Macanese food in Logan Square. Pair "culinary beer" with German chocolate cake. Go old-school in a legendary Gold Coast steakhouse. From awe-inspiring tasting menus hidden away down a quiet West Loop street to smoked fish with a side of Blues Brothers lore, Chicago is filled to the brim with unique eats and eateries. Come hungry, and bring a copy of Unique Eats & Eateries of Chicago!

While many of Atlanta’s world famous southern restaurants boast the best fried chicken recipe, its burgeoning global identity has brought a breadth to its food scene like never before. You’ll find peppercorn-crusted kangaroo from Down Under all the way to street food from Malaysia, Mexico, and Venezuela. In Unique Eats and Eateries of Atlanta you’ll discover the common ingredient uniting these diverse and innovative restaurants—the people who pour their heart and soul into the dishes they create. Curated in this guide are their stories of family, failure, and reinvention. Learn how a K-Pop star ended up running a BBQ joint in Georgia or how a college professor sold burritos out of a van to make ends meet. Take a peek behind the scenes at the making of fresh bagels that rival any in New York City or figure out why the Silver Skillet’s bathrooms are in the kitchen. Don’t miss the heartfelt stories of the southern mainstays, some of which have been integral in launching the careers of artists, musicians, and Civil Rights heroes. Local author and underground restaurant host Amanda Plumb provides pro-tips on the meals, the menus, and the must-tries throughout the city. Let the “Gate City of the South” be your gateway to a most unique, southern and international culinary experience.

Many of Chicago's greatest or most unusual restaurants are "no longer taking reservations," but they're definitely not forgotten. From steakhouses to delis, these dining destinations attracted movie stars, fed the hungry, launched nationwide trends and created a smorgasbord of culinary choices. Stretching across almost two centuries of memorable service and adventurous menus, this book revisits the institutions entrusted with the city's special occasions. Noted author Greg Borzo dishes out course after course of fondly remembered fare, from Maxim's to Charlie Trotter's and Trader Vic's to the Blackhawk.

The ultimate guide to Chicago's food scene provides the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy, and celebrate local culinary offerings. Written for residents and visitors alike to find producers and purveyors of tasty local specialties, as well as a rich array of other, indispensable food-related information including: food festivals and culinary events; specialty food shops; farmers markets and farm stands; trendy restaurants and time-tested iconic landmarks; and recipes using local ingredients and traditions."

Chicago began as a frontier town on the edge of white settlement and as the product of removal of culturally rich and diverse indigenous populations. The town grew into a place of speculation with the planned building of the Illinois and Michigan canal, a boomtown, and finally a mature city of immigrants from both overseas and elsewhere in the US. In this environment, cultures mixed, first at the taverns around Wolf Point, where the forks of the Chicago River join, and later at the jazz and other clubs along the “Stroll” in the black belt, and in the storefront ethnic restaurants of today. Chicago was the place where the transcontinental railroads from the West and the “trunk” roads from the East met. Many downtown restaurants catered specifically to passengers transferring from train to train between one of the five major downtown railroad stations. This also led to “destination” restaurants, where Hollywood stars and their onlookers would dine during overnight layovers between trains. At the same time, Chicago became the candy capital of the US and a leading city for national conventions, catering to the many participants looking for a great steak and atmosphere. Beyond hosting conventions and commerce, Chicagoans also simply needed to eat—safely and relatively cheaply. Chicago grew amazingly fast, becoming the second largest city in the US in 1890. Chicago itself and its immediate surrounding area was also the site of agriculture, both producing food for the city and for shipment elsewhere. Within the city, industrial food manufacturers prospered, highlighted by the meat processors at the Chicago stockyards, but also including candy makers such as Brach’s and Curtiss, and companies such as Kraft Foods. At the same time, large markets for local consumption emerged. The food biography of Chicago is a story of not just culture, economics, and innovation, but also a history of regulation and regulators, as they protected Chicago’s food supply and built Chicago into a city where people not only come to eat, but where locals rely on the availability of safe food and water. With vivid details and stories of local restaurants and food, Block and Rosing reveal Chicago to be one of the foremost eating destinations in the country.

Louisville is consistently recognized as having one of the best dining scenes in America, with its farm-to-table aesthetic, celebrity chefs like Edward Lee, and ultra-hip pockets of dining culture around the city, from NuLu to Downtown to the Highlands. But Louisville is also home to countless one-of-a-kind eateries that span myriad cultures, from Vietnamese food to street tacos to Ethiopian fine dining to mom-and-pop diners and soul food restaurants. Unique Eats and Eateries of Louisville will take you on a tasty tour of some of the city's most distinctive, unusual, and downright delicious places to fill your belly.

This offbeat budget guide will help travelers satisfy their midday cravings according to the strict standards of the City of Chicago's "Department of Lunch." Includes $25 in coupons. 83 listings. 23 detours.