Zehnder also includes a story about the Italian side of the Zehnder family, the Ardussis, and offers up two family favorite recipes, Ardussi Spaghetti and Ardussi Red Wine Salad Dressing.

The new cookbook ($9.98 + tax) is available at the Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth Gift Shop and can also be purchased online at www.zehndersstore.com.

Automotive Giants and Famous Actors Visit Zehnder’s
Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, made the 90-mile drive from Dearborn, Mich., with his young family to enjoy a chicken dinner with all the traditional Zehnder trimmings. When the Ford open-air touring car pulled up to the restaurant, it caused quite a sensation.

When John Delorean was with General Motors, he also brought his family for chicken dinners. Delorean favored the popular Zehnder’s Sautéed Chicken Livers on most every visit. The cookbook includes the chicken and chicken-livers recipes.

Lee Iacocca could be found standing in line and not asking for special favors; he liked sitting in the Tap Room so he could smoke a cigar.

When actor Will Geer was performing in a nearby city, he was a regular guest at Zehnder’s during his two week run. What was TV’s Grandpa Walton’s favorite menu item? Rhubarb Crunch. Geer said it tasted exactly like his grandmother’s recipe. The new cookbook includes several favorite dessert recipes favored by restaurant guests.

Farm to Table
“The Farm to Table movement has been alive and well at Zehnder’s for many, many years,” says Zehnder. “We also take great pride in using Michigan products as much as possible including seasonal fruits and vegetables, coffee, sugar, flour and more.”

The new cookbook includes a section on squash—Zehnder’s uses nearly 50 tons of Blue Hubbard Squash every year that is grown at a local farm. During an average year Zehnder’s guests consume 900,000 pounds of chicken, 640 tons of cabbage, 180,000 pounds of mashed potatoes, 130,000 pounds of assorted vegetables, 40 tons of locally grown squash, 17,800 pounds of Michigan-roasted coffee, 26,000 gallons of ice cream, and 150,000 loaves of bread made in the Zehnder’s bakery.

The 1,500-seat Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth family restaurant was ranked No. 1 in the number of people served among all independent restaurants in the United States according to Restaurant Business magazine’s website, www.restaurantbusinessonline.com.In 2013, the popular family restaurant served 967,636 guests with a guest check average of $14. Additionally, Zehnder’s was one of the top 100 grossing independent restaurants in the country last year.

The Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, 90 miles north of Detroit, is one of the state’s top tourist destinations with more than 3 million visitors each year. In addition to its restaurant that offers a marketplace, bakery and gift store, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth owns and operates Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark and the 18-hole championship golf course, The Fortress. Learn more about Zehnder’s at www.zehnders.com.