A Taste of Two Cities: Food + History Tour of STL Past + Present

We'll meet up near Writer's Corner at a brewpub that has been a favorite haunt of Central West End locals since 1980 and sample a one-of-a-kind sandwich Guy Fieri once took two bites of before telling the executive chef to "Tear up the rest of the menu - you don't need it!".

While you partake in your first nibbles, your guide will give you a background of St. Louis' early history, leading up to the time that the Central West End becomes the epicenter of concentrated wealth in the fourth largest city in America during her illustrious Gilded Age - culminating in a global event that would celebrate all of human achievement right next door in Forest Park - the 1904 World's Fair.

Within a literal stone's throw of the Delmar Divide sits some of the most impressive architecture from the World's Fair era that still remains, and it's completely outside of Forest Park. Hear hidden history and see artifacts from the early days of this "Valley of the Giants" listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

We'll discuss the dichotomy of living in St. Louis, including the long term effects of the 32 of our 79 neighborhoods collectively referred to as the "Northside" that sit north of Delmar Boulevard and have borne witness to many generations of disinvestment and abandonment.

We'll walk past mansions where future presidents once slept, brewing heirs enjoyed their fortunes, and where the "Spirit of St. Louis" was born. After enjoying a couple of local snack staples, we'll discuss the star-studded history of the iconic Chase Park Plaza hotel and enjoy one of St. Louis' most delicious mistakes.

St. Louis' European chapter began with the settlement of French Catholics, bolstered by the arrival of thousands of Irish Catholics throughout the 19th century. One can barely speak of any element of the history of St. Louis where the presence of the Catholic community was not felt, and the enormity of St. Louis' importance to the church was eventually made manifest in one of the great churches of North America.

See the most important venue in American chess, see where the "cocktail party" was invented, and taste some of our most storied cuisine including a cheese you'll only find in St. Louis.

We'll wrap up the tour with a final nibble in homage to our sister city, where the founders of St. Louis had previously called home, while hearing of St. Louis earliest days at a locally famous bistro and music venue known for great food and great jazz.

We'll return to St. Louis' roots with a final culinary tribute to our fabulous, much more French sister city downstream. But not before seeing a historical landmark that dates its roots in the city to 1860, and would become the launchpad for one of the most famous dance troupes in the world.