About Us

Our mission is to help people feel better connected to the city of Grand Rapids, MI through its food, history & culture.

Taste of GR was founded in 2023 by Kate Veneklase. If food was a love language Kate says that would be hers! She has worked in the food service industry for over 2 decades and completed the Grand Rapids Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program in 2017. Kate has lived in Grand Rapids since August 2008. As a transplant, she quickly fell in love with our city and wanted a way to share all of the culinary hot spots and hidden gems she had discovered here in GR. Thanks to the amazing food & art scene that GR has to offer and Kate’s love for any culinary adventure, Taste of GR is here to serve all of your foodie needs.

Hear it from fellow Foodies

  • “This tour was great. The food was delicious! Kate was so great at hosting a group of strangers and making everyone feel at ease. I also enjoyed learning little bits about the history of Grand Rapids as we walked and stopped at just a few points along the way"

    Laura N

  • “Tour was wonderful. We really enjoyed trying the food and learning more about Grand Rapids. We brought our son and he really enjoyed it too."

    Next Level Training and Fitness

  • “Amazing tour, 10/10! Kate is just fantastic. I've been on many food tours this year and the order and placement of the stops were well-done. Plenty of historical context and opportunities to learn about the public art works. Highly recommend."

    Romie R, @romingwithromie

  • “Thank you Taste of Grand Rapids for a great walking food tour! Highly recommended for anyone who likes food and a little history!"

    Josh O

  • "Kate was great to work with! She was able to set up a Friday night food tour for 13 people on short notice. Everyone loved the food and the opportunity to walk through the city. It was a great way to see different parts of downtown and everyone was full by the end of the tour!"

    Christine S

  • "We stopped at 3 locations and learned about Grand Rapids history. I did not know about the feud between two of our founders of the city. We stopped at Leo's, Roam, and Monsoon. What a great time! I would recommend this as a group date or just fun with friends because it's just fun to walk around the city and learn about things you never knew. It's worth checking out, 100%."

    Ian K

  • "Explore new restaurants and foods, meet the staff and hear the stories behind the restaurants. Plus bits of GR history along the way. Great for food lovers, but also art lovers! GR is loaded with art and historic buildings! I definitely recommend the Taste of GR tour! Our guide was a blast, very welcoming, and knowledgeable! The time flies by and you are wanting more!"

    Angelina L

  • "My husband and I are pretty new to the area. The tour with Kate was great. Great restaurant choices, and just enough local history thrown in to make the walking part enjoyable. We had a great time and I would highly recommend. Dessert was amazing!! In fact we will probably do the tour again."

    Cathy M

  • "Reflecting on the day's adventures, I found myself enchanted not only by Grand Rapids architectural splendor and storied past but also by its vibrant culinary landscape. The walking tour not only satisfied my curiosity about the city's history but also provided a sensory feast that celebrated Grand Rapids cultural diversity through its cuisine! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

    Lauren W

  • "So much fun! Thanks Kate for the informative tour of GR and for introducing us to some different restaurants downtown. We loved it!"

    Gretchen F

  • "My work booked a private tour earlier this week and we were blown away. We had a great time and even better food and drinks. We highly recommend Taste of GR for your next work outing or get together with friends. Thanks again Kate for a fun time!"

    Meredith L

  • "I attended the walking tour this past Saturday and was not disappointed! Our host Kate was bubbly, informative and her passion and love for good food and history was apparent the whole time. I especially appreciated the variety and quality at each of the FOUR stops; which was in addition to a beautiful and delicious tasting at Old World Olive Oil Co. An amazing bang for your buck! I can’t recommend this tour enough!"

    Maya D

  • "What a fun day! The food was great at each of the five places, and Kate shared such interesting stories about some of the history in our city! It was a wonderful experience that I would not hesitate to do again! I would recommend the tour to both people from out of town as well as locals!"

    Julie C

  • "An amazing afternoon! Kate was a great guide. The food was eclectic and the stops along the way showcased impactful woman of GR. Highly recommend!"

    Sarah H

  • "Such a fun experience and an amazing tour guide! Looking forward to doing it again!"

    Amy D

  • "Great tour! The guide is very knowledgeable about the history of the city. We learned a lot and also ate great food! Highly recommend!"

    Liz H