How Taste Buds Began

Taste Buds was born in 1986, a creation brought about by four friends’ (two couples) love of each others’ company, food and the desire to expand their culinary experiences. The Taste Buds are Kay and Matt of Eden Prairie, Minn. and Schnue and Wolfie of Saint Paul, Minn.

The genesis was over dinner at a long-forgotten restaurant somewhere in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. “Trickle down economics” of the Reagan era was in full swing. It began with a conversation about the meal we were enjoying, moved to other establishments at which we had memorable meals. Then, almost as quickly as a bolt of lightning, came the idea from either Kay or Matt.

We would start a dinner club-the four of us would go to a restaurant once a month at which none of us had ever eaten. The planning continued-we’d alternate selecting a dining destination monthly giving each person a choice every four months.

For the next couple of years, the Taste Buds achieved their mission of trying a new establishment nearly each month. Among the memorable early Taste Bud escapades were Ping’s for enjoyable Chinese food and enough laughter that our sides ached; the Barbary Fig where a pleasant and knowledgeable waiter guided us through the intricacies of a Moroccan meal and Sherlock’s Home (R.I.P.), where nutty, full bodied English beer and below average British food (redundant?) ruled the evening.

A child born to Schnue and Wolfie in 1988 severely cut the disposable income and frequency of Taste Buds outings. Then Kay and Matt took new jobs in Chicago further reducing the Taste Buds adventures to once a year.

The mid-90s brought the Chicago wing of the Taste Buds back to the Twin Cities permanently, which meant the group could resume a more regular schedule of dining. Both couples had children so quarterly adventures proved to be logistically and financially preferable. Nearly 15 years later, we continue to dine at a different establishment four times a year.

Since the founding of Taste Buds in 1986 we have broadened the scope of our adventures. We’ve eaten meals ranging from exquisite to nearly inedible, obscenely big to petite at more than 100 different restaurants. Taste Buds has taken its culinary quest on the road to exotic locales near and far- Ellsworth, Wisc., Milwaukee, Chicago, New Orleans and New York to name a few.

Stories of more exploits, unforgettable repasts and dining suggestions to come in future posts so stay tuned.