Minnesota Eats Out: An Illustrated History

“Let’s eat out!”

Minnesotans have always loved to, in the opulent dining rooms of fancy hotels, in piney resort halls, or in standard around-the-corner cafés, where the food is hot and plentiful. And the best of these eateries inspire cherished memories of fabulous food and charming camaraderie.

Minnesota Eats Out is a virtual romp through the state’s dining spots, from early health resorts to Prohibition-era speakeasies to A&W drive-ins, illustrated with nearly one thousand photographs, postcards, menus, matchbooks, and collectible dishes. Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky narrate the history of dining in the North Star State, highlighting innovative foods, inspired restaurant architecture, and cutting-edge graphic design, along with anecdotes about beloved restaurants remembered through the decades.

Accompanying this rich history is a priceless collection of recipes for dishes made famous through the years, like the pioneers’ Indian Pudding and old favorites from Eibner’s Bakery in New Ulm or Ruttger’s Resort in Brainerd. Eleanor Ostman revised these recipes for preparation in modern kitchens. Embellished with photographs of historic restaurants, collectible tableware, and restaurant ephemera, the recipes invite today’s readers to re-create cherished food memories.

Minnesota Eats Out, a one-of-a-kind venture into the state’s history, serves up over a century of fine and fun Minnesota dining.