November 21, 2019
Join the Knoxville History Project and special guest Paula Johnson, author of Lost Restaurants of Knoxville. Just in time for Thanksgiving, Paula will be discussing the delicious, and sometime not so delicious, culinary history of Knoxville.
Over the past 225 years, Knoxville dining has come full circle–from early taverns and saloons to upscale continental cuisine and back to the roots of local eating experiences. Greek immigrants Frank and George Regas founded the legendary Regas Restaurant, which operated for 90 years, spreading culinary influence throughout the entire city. Early country music stars frequented Harold’s Deli while visiting the city to perform on Tennessee’s first live radio shows. Guests from around the world sat 266 feet in the air at the Sunsphere Restaurant, a fine dining establishment run by the Hardee’s Corporation during Knoxville’s World’s Fair. Discover these and many more fascinating stories as author and historian Paula Johnson dives back in time through the stories of the city’s great restaurants.
Bill and Grady Regas will also be in attendance to share some personal memories from Regas Restaurant.
East Tennessee native Paula Johnson has made herself an expert in Knoxville history, haute cuisine, hole-in-the-wall eateries and hidden culinary hot spots. Since creating Knoxville Food Tours in 2010, Paula has personally led over eight hundred food tours and has also served as a step-on guide for bus groups touring Knoxville and the surrounding area. In 2016, she was asked to partner with the University of Tennessee’s Personal Development Food & Wine Courses and also with WDVX’s Tennessee Farm Table radio program. In 2017, Knoxville Food Tours received the Service Supplier of the Year Award from the Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association.
Paula’s book, along with several other KHP publications will be available for sale before and after the talk.
Thursday, Nov 21 - 6:30pm
Visit: www.Knoxvillehistoryproject.org