Jean Iversen - "Local Flavor" CANCELLED

“Local Flavor is a love letter to some of Chicago’s legendary restaurants; profiling half a dozen places that have been in business for at least 20 years. Some, like Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap, have been chugging away for more than 80 years—a remarkable achievement for any business. Beginning in Chinatown, at Won Kow, and weaving through the city’s neighborhoods, Iversen sits down with the owners, matriarchs, founders and other key personnel, and details their family history. This book gave me a much better idea of how these immigration waves created the neighborhoods as they are today—a key part of the Chicago experience. This would be a perfect gift for anyone who loves this city and its many neighborhoods as much as I do, and has made each of these places a part of their lives over the years.” —Steve Dolinsky, “The Hungry Hound,” food reporter for ABC 7

"Long before there were tasting menus and molecular gastronomy, there were old-school Chicago restaurants, and Jean Iversen does them proud in her book. Anyone who cherishes Chicago’s rich multicultural history will enjoy this book. It’s a love letter to Chicago told through food." —Jan Parr, Crain's Chicago Business

Jean Iversen discusses Local Flavor: Restaurants That Shaped Chicago's Neighborhoods. A Q&A and signing will follow the discussion.

At 57th Street Books

RSVP HERE (Please note that your RSVP is requested but not required.)

About the book: The neighborhoods that make up Chicago’s rich cultural landscape have been defined by the restaurants that anchor them. In Local Flavor, the popular food writer Jean Iversen chronicles eight beloved local eateries, from Chinatown on the South Side to Rogers Park in the far North, tracing the story of how they became neighborhood institutions. Iversen has meticulously gathered the tales, recipes, and cultural traditions that define Chicago’s culinary past and present. Rich with firsthand accounts from local restaurateurs, their families, long-time customers, and staff, Local Flavor is a community-driven look at Chicago through a gastronomical lens. Including recipes for popular dishes from each restaurant that readers can try at home, Local Flavor weaves together ethnography, family, and food history into a story that will enthrall both food and Chicago history lovers.

About the author: Jean Iversen is a Chicago-based writer, editor, and communications specialist. Her latest book, Local Flavor: Restaurants That Shaped Chicago's Neighborhoods chronicles the histories of eight legendary Chicago restaurants and illustrates their significant impact on the development of the city's neighborhoods. She is also the author of BYOB Chicago, a definitive guide to the vibrant bring-your-own-bottle dining scene in Chicagoland. Her articles have been published in Crain's Chicago Business, Time Out Chicago, Daily Herald, and others. For more information go to www.jeaniversen.com.