| 535 |
St Fortunat: patron saint of cooks/chefs was born. |
| 570 |
First chef in the recorded history of the western world: Marcus Apicius. Apicius wrote what is now believed to be the oldest known cookbook in existence, Apicius de re Coquinaria. |
| 1765 |
The public dining room that came ultimately to be known as The Restaurant Originated in France was created. The first restaurant proprietor is believed to have been A. Boulanger, a soup vendor, who opened his business in Paris. |
| 1782 |
First luxury restaurant La Grande Taverne de Lourdes opened. |
| 1891 |
The YWCA of Kansas City, Missouri, established what food-industry historians consider the first cafeteria. |
| 1921 |
The first fast food restaurant, White Castle was founded by Billy Ingram and Walt Anderson. |
| 1936 |
The first drive-in restaurant opened in Glendale, California in 1936. The concept, where patrons are served food in their vehicles, dates back to pre-World War II and reached its height of popularity in the early 1950's. |
| 1954 |
Ray Kroc was the pioneer of the fast-food industry with his worldwide McDonald's enterprise. The founder and builder of McDonald's Corporation, proved himself an industrial pioneer no less capable than Henry Ford. He revolutionized the American restaurant industry by imposing discipline on the production of hamburgers, french fries, and milk shakes. |
| 1998 |
Open Table, a white linen restaurant on-line reservation service was founded by Thomas Layton. |
| 2005 |
Last Chef Standing was founded. |
| 2007 |
The first Last Chef Standing competition begins in Minneapolis. |
