Columbus Food Adventures: Short North Tour – Columbus, Ohio

Take a leisurely stroll with us through Columbus’s hip Short North and savor its culinary delights. More than just an arts district and home to the monthly Gallery Hop—a famous downtown Columbus event—the Short North also boasts a wealth of dining and shopping opportunities. The Short North is packed full of Columbus’ best restaurants, boutiques, bistros and nightlife, and this local food and walking tour is designed to show off some of the best that the Short North and Columbus have to offer.

We’ll start at the historic North Market, Columbus’ only public farmers’ market, where we’ll meet some of the local food vendors and learn the history of the building.  We will then stop at five eating establishments, sampling some of their signature dishes and hearing their stories. Stops will include some neighborhood favorites, some already highly regarded new additions, and some of the finest dining in the city, such as James Beard nominated Kent Rigsby’s restaurant. We will finish on a sweet note with a trip to the renowned Jeni’s ice creams, featured on the Food Network’s “America’s Best Sweets.”

We will be walking approximately 1.5 miles during the tour, and along our route you will also learn about the colorful history of the Short North neighborhood.

The Short North Food Tour & Walking Tour starts at 11am, rain or shine. Although we are never outside for more than a few blocks at a time, we do ask that you dress appropriately for the weather. Please check the calendar for availability.  Specific stops are subject to change.

This culinary tour is priced at $50.00. It includes tastings at 6-7 stops, which is plenty of food for a complete lunch, and an experienced guide with a wealth of local culinary knowledge. Visit our food tour page to see other Columbus Food Adventures tours.

More info & reservations

Bites of Boston: The Sweet & Savory South End Walking Food Tour

Over the course of our 3-hour guided tour, you’ll sample scrumptious food from neighborhood restaurants, cafes and specialty food stores while learning about the foods you are tasting and the people who make them. You’ll also experience the local culture as we stroll the neighborhood streets, visiting sites of historical and architectural interest. The casual pace makes this walking food tour appropriate for all ages and fitness levels.

Delicious Food Tastings – The Sweet and Savory South End Walking Food Tour takes place in Boston’s historic South End neighborhood. You’ll taste local favorites from 6 South End eateries including award-winning pizza, a creatively concocted cookie, and the iconic New England fried clam, to name a few. You’ll also learn how these local establishments came to be, who owns them and some fun and interesting stories they have to share. The food sampled on the tour is included in the price of your ticket and is enough for a satisfying lunch. Tasting Locations are listed and described below.

Neighborhood Nourishment – On top of delicious food tastings, you’ll also enjoy a hearty helping of historical, architectural and cultural information about the South End neighborhood.  You’ll see some beautifully planned Victorian bowfront communities, learn about the cultural development of the area, and hear some fascinating facts about some of the South End’s sites and famous residents. Our Sweet & Savory South End Walking Food Tour is full of food, facts, and fun!

Delicious food specialties are served on the South End Food Tour (subject to change):

• Parish Cafe American restaurant featuring sandwiches created by renowned Boston chefs (Est. 1992)
• Orinoco Kitchen A Latin kitchen inspired by family-run Venezuelan eateries (Est. 2003)
• Flour Bakery Popular local bakery and cafe with mouth-watering pastries and delicious sandwiches (Est. 2000)
• Morse Fish Company Boston’s oldest fish market (Est. 1903)
• South End Formaggio Purveyor of fine meats, cheeses, wines and specialty products (Est. 1999)
• The Upper Crust Pizzeria Award-winning pizzeria serving gourmet thin-crust pizza (Est. 2001)

When: Wednesday/Thursday – Sunday, April through November
Time: Tours depart daily at 12noon and last 3 hours
Price: $48 Adult | $35 Child (Ages 12 and under) +tax

More info and reservations

Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts: Thai Cooking Classes

While a visit to Ko Samui may seem like paradise, SITCA’s curriculum is down-to-earth, comprehensive and above all enjoyable. Our chefs are Thai experts with years of experience cooking Thai, and a love of their art. Whether avid home cook or aspiring professional, you will learn all the skills you need to cook one of Asia’s most varied and fascinating cuisines.

Please be sure to watch the short video introduction to SITCA at the bottom of our home page HERE.

If your interest is simply in learning more about what goes into Thai food dishes in order to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment when dining out, don’t hesitate to join us. Whatever your aspirations, whatever your level, because our classes are kept small, your individual needs will be addressed with as much attention as you require.

Private classes for groups

Colleagues, friends or families may wish to organize a private experience for their group. The minimum number required is 10. For more information click HERE.

SITCA isn’t just for cooks

Thai food lovers enjoy a special bonus. We purchase all our produce, fish, and meat daily from the local market, so you will not be not only preparing, but also enjoying some of the best cuisine that Southern Thailand has to offer.

Featured on BBC World TV’s Holiday program and recommended in the Lonely Planet, Rough Guide and Frommer’s guides to Thailand, our Thai cooking classes are taught in our 90 sq. meter modern air-conditioned facility. Everyone is equipped with their own burner at the stove, and everything needed for a complete hands-on experience. You also receive a cook booklet which is yours to make notes in and keep. For those ingredients which may not be available where you live, suitable substitutes are suggested. When the meal is ready we eat together Thai style in the elegant setting of our dining room, and every student can invite a friend to join them at no charge.

Booking a Thai cooking class at SITCA

SITCA’s menus change for every day of the week, and most recipes can be adapted for vegetarians. Our twice daily 3 hour class starts with the preparation of one of our famous home made Thai curry pastes, and is followed by instruction in how to prepare 3 more dishes. There is a different paste and Thai curry dish for each day (Monday-Saturday.) The meal follows immediately after class and the fruits of your labors will be some of the most sumptuous Thai food you will have in Thailand.

Lunchtime Thai Cooking Class / Time: 11:00 am / Cost: 1,950 baht per person.

Dinnertime Thai Cooking Class / Time: 4:00 pm / Cost: 1,950 baht per person

More info and reservations

Travelimes: Mistura & Machu Picchu

Travel through Peru’s culinary wonders in one single visit to Mistura, the largest annual food festival in South America. The event brings together small farmers from all over Peru, cooks, bakers, foodies, top Chefs and locals, all sharing a passion for food. Mistura is an explosion of the senses and a true celebration of Peru’s rich history and culture, not to be missed. During this tour, you will also visit the local market and Lima’s City Centre, enjoy fine dining and cook under the guidance of a top Peruvian Chef. A visit to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and the World Heritage site of Cuzco will ensure that you leave this country wanting to come back for more.

Duration: 7 days

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Travelimes: Peru with Gusto

11 days Lima – Cusco – Lima

Participate in hands-on cooking classes of signature Peruvian dishes with Chefs and locals. Travel off the beaten path to cook in unique settings. Dine at high end restaurants and modest huariques. Visit local markets, sample products and learn about Peru’s diverse ingredients and gastronomy developed over the centuries by natives, Spanish, Asian, European immigrants and African slaves. Get a lesson on Peruvian coffee and Pisco, sign up for a chocolate-making workshop and explore world heritage sites such as Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

Price: From $4,600.00 (CAD)

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TripFeast: Taste of South India

Once fought over by colonial powers for its exotic spices, South India still plays a vital role in today`s Spice Route. Blessed by two stunning coastlines, you will travel from east to west, from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Sea. Along the way, our expert chefs will have you serving up spicy Chettinad seafood and vegetarian dishes enjoyed in Tamil Nadu, and delicious dosas and idlis, South India`s signature food. With a visit to spice and pepper plantations, ancient temples and forts, and cooking lessons on the banks of Kerala`s shimmering backwaters and in the lawns of our idyllic homestays, this will be a culinary experience like no other!

Highlights
• Journey along the Spice Route
• Savour spicy Chettinad dishes
• Shop for local fruit & vegetables
• Dine with Indian families
• Stay in luxurious heritage homes
• Cook on Kerala`s backwaters
• Visit spice plantations of Thekkady
• Walking tour & cruise in Cochin

Duration: 14 days

Price: £1,695

More info and registration

TripFeast: Delicacies of North India

Few countries offer as much diversity in food as India. Cook in the foothills of the Himalayas and in majestic forts, dine with families in their homes, go shopping for fruit and vegetables in local markets, and wipe your plate clean in authentic Indian restaurants. In between the cooking and eating, you will weave your way through India`s rich cultural tapestry, taking in colonial cities, stunning mountain scenery, and ancient forts and temples. Savour a whole range of cuisines on the way – from Kashmiri and Rajasthani delicacies to mouth-watering Awadhi and Bengali dishes.

Highlights
• Feast on authentic Indian cuisine
• Shop for local fruit & vegetables
• Cook in stunning locations
• Dine with Indian families
• Enjoy an elephant-back safari
• Visit the home of the Dalai Lama
• Marvel at the Golden Temple
• Walking tours of Delhi and Kolkata

Duration: 15 days

Price: £1,995

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Colorado Springs Food Tours: Manitou Springs Food Tour

Experience this eclectic town’s most enjoyed culinary flavors in the heart of downtown Manitou Springs! On this fun walking food tour, you will dine and drink at up to six diverse dining destinations in addition to tasting the world famous mineral springs said to have brought health and happiness to visitors for centuries. Gain historical and cultural insights into this magical community at the base of Pikes Peak as your delve into the lively food scene that characterizes it today. This tour also includes a behind-the-scenes tour of a Manitou’s only winery. Alcohol is served to guests 21 and older (substitutes are available for those underage or those who would rather not partake).

Culinary destinations may include:
D’Vine Wine
Goldminers Nuts and Candy
Naturally’s Market and Café
The Olive Tap
P.J.’s Bistro
Pikes Peak Chocolate
Ruffrano’s Hell’s Kitchen Pizza
Sahara Café
Stagecoach Inn

Please be aware before booking your tour that we ask you to arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour start time (5:15pm). The tour will begin promptly at 5:30pm and end at 8:00pm.

Tuesdays, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Historic Downtown Manitou Springs
$49 per person

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“Mai” Home – The Saigon Culinary Art Centre

At “The Saigon Culinary Art Center,” in a spacious Vietnamese House of yester-year style, you are offered a “Hands-on Cooking Course” of traditional dishes. The program of teaching is emphasized on the culture of Vietnamese gastronomy as well.

With our Grand Chefs, participants will entertain a “Hands-on” cooking of Vietnamese traditional dishes.

Full of joy and pride, you savor your own culinary creation.

An option of “Market Visit” with Chefs will help participants to understand more Vietnamese ingredients and its substitution.

Remittance of “Certificate of Recognition”, a handbook with all recipes and Souvenir Gift from “The Saigon Culinary Art Center” will crown the cooking session in warm and friendly ambiance.

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Yummy Walks: Foods of the Freedom Trail Tour – Boston

Nothing tops the Boston Freedom Trail as an introduction to the history and popular sites of Boston. This walk will take you past 14 significant landmarks, every one an authentic American treasure. You will see churches, cemeteries and meeting halls while getting to know about the Boston Common, the North End and other unique neighborhoods. So put on your walking shoes and explore Boston’s past. Its fun and entertaining- its American history but not the same old story….

Our Foods of the Freedom Trail Yummy Walk will explore the Freedom Trail sites from the Boston Common to the Old North Church and taste typical New England cuisine as its been revolutionized for today’s Bostons food scene.

A Brief Culinary History of Boston

You are probably aware of the nickname “Beantown”, because from the earliest days Boston has been awash in molasses to convert to rum as a result of the triangular trade route between the West Indies, Boston, and West Africa. They cooked the beans in molasses and this important staple was sold by the bite, or number of spoonfuls of beans available.

Its only fitting that one of the nations most historic towns would possess an intriguing food history. At the beginning of the 18th century, Boston didn’t have a central marketplace, so vendors pushed carts through town selling local fare such as seafood, wild game, fowl, apples, nuts, berries, and onions. Cooking traditions were based on those of English and Irish immigrants, featuring plenty of stews, roasts, preserved meats, biscuits, and puddings. North American regional foods such as corn, squash, beans, and potatoes were introduced to the local cuisine.

Faneuil Hall, built in 1742, served as a marketplace for fresh goods as well as an area for public congregation. The region became important for trading, farming, and fishing. By the 19th century, traditional Bostonian dishes such as baked beans slow-cooked with molasses, deep-fried batter-dipped clams, and creamy clam chowder (which got its start as a working-class, one-pot meal for New England fishermen) began to appear on dinner tables.

During your 3-hour Food Tour you will learn about the history and culture of the neighborhood while tasting delicious food specialties representative of the area.  We’ll take you past 14 significant landmarks on this tour including:

• The Boston Common – America’s oldest public park
• Massachusetts State House
• Granary Burial Ground
• Kings Chapel
• Old South Meeting House
• The “Old” State House
• Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall
• The North End
• Paul Revere House
• Old North Church

As we follow the Freedom Trail to the Old North Church, we visit several restaurants & shops and serve generous portions of foods that are iconic in Boston. Our gentle stroll has lots of stops with frequent, servings of food along the way. We point out good places for lunch or dinner, though after the tour, it’s very unlikely you’ll be hungry. Some of the foods you may enjoy include:

• Lobster Bisque
• Boston Baked Beans
• Boston Cream Pie cupcakes
• Other delicious foods reflecting the Italian heritage of the North End

So put on your walking shoes, loosen your belt, and explore Boston’s past and its tastes! It’s fun and entertaining…it’s American history but not the same old story….

Duration: 3 hours

Cost: $55

More info and reservations