Food Tours

[Foreigner]

There's so much discussion of lounge food and wines and other culinary interests. Have AFF members done food tours or would consider these? Which cuisines?

 

[zig]

I have done quite a few over the years. I enjoy doing a food tour, market tour or cooking class when travelling as you get a great insight into the culture of a country through it's food.
In Australia you can get a similar experience through Gourmet Safaris run by Maeve OMeara. Anyone who has enjoyed the TV series on SBS would enjoy doing a day tour with Gourmet Safaris. A range of day tours are offered in Syd and Mel either on foot or bus. They also offers tours on Kangaroo Island and the Victorian High Country as well as overseas locations.

 

[drron]

Always try and eat at some good restaurant,do a cooking class or visit winery restaurants when away.So far haven't felt like doing a food tour.Mrsdrron though went on a 2 day break cooking with Ric Stein.

 

[Homer]

Marge and I did a one-week cooking tour in Thailand with a chef and restaurateur from Sydney. Each night we visited a different restaurant to eat their regional specialty and then the next day we would learn to cook a range of similar dishes. It was one of the best vacations we've ever taken.

 

[Foreigner]

Marge and I did a one-week cooking tour in Thailand with a chef and restaurateur from Sydney. Each night we visited a different restaurant to eat their regional specialty and then the next day we would learn to cook a range of similar dishes. It was one of the best vacations we've ever taken.

And that too a deductible business expense!

 

[Homer]

And that too a deductible business expense!

Unfortunately it wasn't at that time...

 

[MissBurrill]

There's so much discussion of lounge food and wines and other culinary interests. Have AFF members done food tours or would consider these? Which cuisines?

My Mum and I did a Hawaii Food Tour. The guide was great and we tried so many different foods. I recommend it to anyone who has a spare day on Oahu.

 

[SamR]

Haven't done one yet, but I'm booked to do a food tour of Brooklyn and Queens with Famous Fat Dave when I'm in NYC in November. I saw him on an episode of one of Anthony Bourdain's shows a couple of years ago. Can't wait.

 

[petunia]

I thoroughly recommend the Taste of Hoi An tour in Vietnam, run by an Aussie (Neville). Not only about food, but a real insight into the Vietnamese culture from an Aussie perspective. I initally went alone as my husband and travelling friends groaned at the prospect of another cooking class/tour, but I raved about it so much they booked to go the following day and declared it to be the highlight of the holiday.

 

[zig]

Haven't done one yet, but I'm booked to do a food tour of Brooklyn and Queens with Famous Fat Dave when I'm in NYC in November. I saw him on an episode of one of Anthony Bourdain's shows a couple of years ago. Can't wait.

I haven't don't this tour, but I did a Food of New York Tour of Greenwich Village which was wonderful. The guide integrated a lot of history, art and architecture into the tour, along with a lot of lovely pit stops for tastings and discussion about food trends etc. It was a great way to explore the neighbourhood.

 

[mannej]

Adam Richman could make a fortune running a food tour company

Adam Richman (actor) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It never ceases to amaze me some of the challenges on his show.

 

[zig]

I thoroughly recommend the Taste of Hoi An tour in Vietnam, run by an Aussie (Neville). Not only about food, but a real insight into the Vietnamese culture from an Aussie perspective. I initally went alone as my husband and travelling friends groaned at the prospect of another cooking class/tour, but I raved about it so much they booked to go the following day and declared it to be the highlight of the holiday.

Is this tour associated with the Red Bridge Cafe and Cooking School? I remember having a lovely meal there and it was owned by an Australian.
I did a cooking class in Hoi An at Miss Vy's, which I would also recommend.

 

[petunia]

No, it's not actually a cooking class as such. It's a foodie tour around Hoi An, sampling little dishes from street vendors and different restaurants, ending up back at a restaurant where you have a sit down lunch while Neville regales you with information and tips on where to sample other Vietnamese dishes in places you would otherwise never know about. After this tour we only ate from street vendors and markets.

 

[dmitri]

Myself and the wife did a food tour the first time we went to NYC, well worth the money as we were taken to some great spots that we would of missed for sure.

 

[amaroo]

I sent the missus and MIL on a cooking adventure when we stayed at FS Chiang Mai a few years back Chiang Mai Cooking School | Chiang Mai Cooking Class | Four Seasons

Very professional and excellent facilities, tour of local markets, etc .... Fat lot of good it did - the girls haven't knocked up one dish.

 

[SamR]

I haven't don't this tour, but I did a Food of New York Tour of Greenwich Village which was wonderful. The guide integrated a lot of history, art and architecture into the tour, along with a lot of lovely pit stops for tastings and discussion about food trends etc. It was a great way to explore the neighbourhood.

That's exactly the reason I'm doing this. You probably haven't read my early posts here about my partner - he's terrified of flying and terrified of travel in general, and has always (partially, anyway) hid it behind this macho facade of "oh, I'm not interested in travel, the idea bores me." Which is a statement that doesn't make much sense if you know him. Anyway, after many years of refusing to go anywhere, I have finally convinced him to come to the US with me. It will be his first time ever leaving Australia. (He's 41.) I want to make it interesting enough for him that he will be inspired to travel again in future, and he's steadfastly refused to do any "tourist stuff". I thought a food tour would be the perfect way around that little conundrum. Be shown the city by a local with interesting stories, plus I believe food is one of the best ways to learn about a place. Dave has told me that a couple of people on our tour used to live in Brooklyn and are doing it to properly revisit the neighborhood while they're in town. It sounds like it's going to be wonderfully interesting and non-touristy.

 

[Mattg]

I haven't don't this tour, but I did a Food of New York Tour of Greenwich Village which was wonderful. The guide integrated a lot of history, art and architecture into the tour, along with a lot of lovely pit stops for tastings and discussion about food trends etc. It was a great way to explore the neighbourhood.

I did this exact tour earlier this year and would agree, it was excellent.

I also did a food tour in Philadelphia which was fantastic - a great variety of mostly street food from the vans around the university area, I didn't even need to eat dinner that night! (The tour finished at lunch time.)

I love a good food tour, they're not only a great way to try the local cuisine, but they usually incorporate plenty of culture, history and other things too which can make for an excellent culutural experience. I must try to do a few more on my travels!

 

[zig]

That's exactly the reason I'm doing this. You probably haven't read my early posts here about my partner - he's terrified of flying and terrified of travel in general, and has always (partially, anyway) hid it behind this macho facade of "oh, I'm not interested in travel, the idea bores me." Which is a statement that doesn't make much sense if you know him. Anyway, after many years of refusing to go anywhere, I have finally convinced him to come to the US with me. It will be his first time ever leaving Australia. (He's 41.) I want to make it interesting enough for him that he will be inspired to travel again in future, and he's steadfastly refused to do any "tourist stuff". I thought a food tour would be the perfect way around that little conundrum. Be shown the city by a local with interesting stories, plus I believe food is one of the best ways to learn about a place. Dave has told me that a couple of people on our tour used to live in Brooklyn and are doing it to properly revisit the neighborhood while they're in town. It sounds like it's going to be wonderfully interesting and non-touristy.

I had missed your earlier posts about your partner SamR. Sounds as though you have chosen a good tour and I hope your strategy works and your partner is inspired and enjoys the trip.

 

[bPeteb]

We did an Intrepid food tour of Vietnam last year. We had a fantastic time and will consider doing another of their food tours.

I blog all of our holidays on travelpod. Here's the link to last year's Vietnam trip Travel Blog: Pho IS on the menu

Cheers

Pete

 

[Bad Seed]

I haven't don't this tour, but I did a Food of New York Tour of Greenwich Village which was wonderful. The guide integrated a lot of history, art and architecture into the tour, along with a lot of lovely pit stops for tastings and discussion about food trends etc. It was a great way to explore the neighbourhood.

I've done this one too -it was excellent, highly recommended!