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Taste The West Side 2022

Help Give Back

Celebrate Community Success By Giving Back

Every Spring, Steepletown hosts Taste the West Side to honor the accomplishments of its participants. Featuring several of the West Sides’ restaurants and breweries, Taste is an amazing event bringing together the diverse culture and communities to celebrate these accomplishments and to support Steepletown’s ongoing efforts.

The Taste

2022

March 23rd

The event will be held at: 

Goei Center - 818 Butterworth St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

  on 

March 23rd
Click For Directions

Event Instructions

The 2022 Taste The West Side event has ended. See you all next year!

TTWS 20220081
Taste The West Side Award Winners
Matthew Peterson
Matthew Petersen completed the Kitchen Sage culinary training in 2018. One of Chef Karen’s first memories of Matthew was during the first week of training. As she describes, it had already been one of those days with a couple hours’ worth of prep still needing to be completed. Matthew walked into the kitchen and insisted: “I’m here to help, put me to work.” Chef smiled and handed him an apron and Matthew stayed until the work was done. This determination to help out as needed continued throughout the training. After completing Kitchen Sage and earning the ServSafe Manager Certification, which is a Department of Labor recognized credential to work in the food service industry, Matthew continued his training under Chef Chad Dietrich at Blythefield Country Club. There he worked action stations during caterings & ran the pantry station like a Boss! After 2 years there he decided to pursue opportunities in another kitchen, accepting a sauté/grill cook position at The Green Well, a contemporary scratch-based restaurant here in Grand Rapids.
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Netty
After dropping out of high school and finding safety in social isolation, Netty decided it was time to continue studying towards a secondary school credential at Steepletown. As progress was made, Netty chose to engage in more and more program elements offered through Steepletown - like a work experience with the Community Media Center; participating in almost every leadership development training Steepletown offers; attending Talent Tours of local employers & college tours; and even enrolling into a post- secondary training. And as many of us can relate, progress is not completely linear. Throughout her time at Steepletown, Netty had sometimes felt defeated when she did not pass a GED test; or when she had conflict in her workplace. However, through many 1-on-1 coaching moments with staff, and developing deeper resiliency skills, Netty fought off doubtful/negative thinking to accomplish every goal she had set for herself. She earned her GED. She earned her driver's license. She bought her first car. She got her first job; and when she grew out of that job, she got another job; and when she grew out of THAT job, she got ANOTHER job. She completed a CNA training program and has enrolled at GRCC to continue seeking more opportunities. Steepletown is proud to see her committed to being a friend and neighbor to all and continuing to live the mission of Steepletown every day.
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Mercedes Lopez-Duran/El Granjero Mexican Grill
In 2007 the owner of a well-known West Side restaurant decided it was time to sell and move back to Mexico. Realizing that the closing of the restaurant would adversely impact her and her co-workers, Mercedes Lopez-Duran, a waitress at that time, found the courage and tenacity to buy the restaurant to keep its doors open, renaming it El Granjero Mexican Grill. This concern for others showed itself once again during the early months of the pandemic, when Mercedes did all she could to keep the business going in order to provide a paycheck for some of her staff who could not access government support due to their immigration status. Her daughter Paola also reached out to the local Chamber of Commerce to identify available grants for small Latinx-owned businesses to help them remain open. Paola’s altruism is also known through her work at GROW as a Business Development Specialist, assisting primarily Latinx entrepreneurs realize their dreams. Her husband Alberto, who is the Kitchen Manager at El Granjero, was a great mentor to Emilio, one of Camp Kitchen Sage’s participants last summer, greeting him every morning at 9:00a.m. with an apron in hand and plenty of on-the-job training in the kitchen. And then on a very hot August afternoon, Mercedes, Paola & Alberto and their two boys attended the outdoor closing celebration of Camp Kitchen Sage to honor Emilio. They truly demonstrate a compassion for and commitment to the West Side community in which they work and live!
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2023 Award Winners:
Alumni Excellence Award
Gabriella Chrapek was the first visually impaired student I’ve worked with in the kitchen. I have learned so much from her. During our time together we focused on Gabby’s goals and what skills I could teach Gabby along with creating & using adaptive equipment that makes it possible for her to work in a kitchen. Her determination to succeed is what I will remember most about our time together

2022 Award Winners:
Alumni Excellence Award
Matthew Peterson is a past Kitchen Sage participant (2018) where they showed a strong dedication for culinary arts.  Matthew went on to train at theBlythfield Country club, and after two years he had achieved the position of sauté/grill cook at The Green Well restaurant.

Alumni Excellence Award
Netty is a past participant of many Steepletown programs.  Their efforts paid off, earning their GED, getting a job, and then another job, and completing a CNA training program.

Steepletown Neighborhood Recognition Award
Mercedes Lopez-Duran/El Granjero Mexican Grill in 2007 Mercedes was working as a waitress in a restaurant, which was closing.  Realizing the impact it would have on the workers and the community she decided to take on the challenge of keeping the doors open and renamed it El Granjero Mexican Grill.  Since 2007 Mercedes, with her family have continued their services to their staff and the West Side community.

2021 Award Winners:
Alumni Excellence Award
MIlan Rea is a past Kitchen Sage participant (2015) where they showed leadership skills quickly.  They have continued to develop their culinary skills and network across the culinary community where they are respected by all they meet.

Steepletown Neighborhood Recognition Award
Engineered Protection Services  EPS Security have long been strong supporters of Steepletown and Kitchen Sage.  This support has provided instrumental resources for provide programing to the community. They truly share our mission of neighbor helping neighbor live with dignity and hope. 

Business Sponsors

EPS Security
Underwriting Sponsor
Pienton Family Foundation
The Steepletown
Amway
The West Side
Fifth Third Bank
The West Side
Gary & Karen Postma
The West Side
Grand Rapids Community College
The West Side
Horizon Bank
The West Side
Bridge Street Market
The West Fulton
Interphase Interiors
The Stockbridge
Jars Cannabis
The Stockbridge
Ottawa Communications
The Stockbridge
Sibsco, LLC
The Stockbridge
Spectrum Health
The West Fulton
The Well Being
The West Fulton
Choice One Bank
The West Fulton
Fence Consultants of West Michigan
The West Fulton
GVSU
The West Fulton
Madelaine Lane
The West Fulton
Micron Manufacturing
The West Leonard
Nature's Releaf
The West Fulton
Nexus Technology Services
The West Fulton
Pharmhouse Wellness
The West Fulton
Bud & Susan Brasic
The West Leonard
Commissioner Carol Hennessy
The West Leonard
CompuCraft Technology Solutions
The West Leonard
Crawford & Laurie Craft
The West Leonard
Jerry's Garage
The West Leonard
Mercantile Bank
The West Leonard
Rockford Construction
The West Leonard

Restaurant Sponsors

El Granjero Mexican Grill
Long Road Distillers
Harmony Hall
That Polish Girl Catering
Salvatore's Italian Restaurant
Hissho Sushi
Blue Dog Tavern

The Taste Archive

Click on one of Taste the West Side’s years to see who the sponsors and participants were for that year.

Taste The West Side 2023
Taste The West Side 2022
Taste The West Side 2021

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    Directions

    Location

    827 Bridge Street NW
    Grand Rapids, MI 49504

    Hours of operation

    Monday:  9:00am – 5:00pm
    Tuesday:  9:00am – 5:00pm
    Wednesday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
    Thursday:  9:00am – 5:00pm
    Friday:  9:00am – 5:00pm
    Saturday: Closed
    Sunday: Closed

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