While travel fuels my curiousity, food literally fuels life.

I realized recently that I have in fact taken many, many food tours. I review some of them in lots of detail on my blog already. But I decided this would be a running short intro of all the food tours I’ve taken, and some that my Twitter friends have taken. Food tours are an amazing way to be introduced to a new culture or place. But not only that, if you take a food tour early in your trip, you’ll automatically get ideas for meals during your stay! (win!)

This post will be organized by location, so feel free to use the Table of Contents below to pick and choose whichever one you’d like. (Click to expand the Table of Contents.)

Each post will include:

• photos,
• a brief description,
• adult prices verified at the time of writing,
• my/our thoughts,
• a website for booking.

Two food tours are *free* (!!), denoted by * in the Table of Contents. And, several even contain *discount codes* for future bookings, denoted by ** in the Table of Contents.

This blog and its contributors do not receive commissions for the tours booked via this post. This post is created exclusively to introduce the reader to food tours, as well as promote small business during the time of covid.

So, without further ado… I bring you, all the food tours you can imagine.

1. North America

1.1 Bahamas

1.1.1 Nassau

by Donna from Curious Donna

Just say “Nassau, Bahamas” and immediately, the turquoise ocean comes to mind. But there’s so much more to it than its pristine beaches. Consider a food tasting and cultural walking tour with Tru Bahamian Food Tours. You’ll get a good grasp of traditional Bahamian food and drinks as well as the stories behind them. You might even get the chance to meet the owners of the local establishments.

During the four-hour tour, the knowledgeable guide will take you on a mile-long walk to important sites, provide fascinating historical background, and share helpful tips. Along the way, you’ll find several vibrant colored buildings and eye-catching details around downtown Nassau. 

The tour’s six stops include: 

• Bahamian Cookin’ Restaurant – here you’ll taste the traditional steamed chicken, peas n’ rice, Bahamian mac n’ cheese, banana plantains, and conch fritters. From this restaurant, you’ll get a glimpse of the Central Bank of the Bahamas and the historic two-century old Balcony House.
• Towne Hotel – a downtown inn dressed up in eclectic décor and is pure eye candy just like its bar and restaurant called Talking Stick. Here, you’ll meet the resident blue macaw named Max while you sip on the classic Planters Punch. 
• Graycliff Chocolatier – renowned for its chocolate factory, you’ll be able to sample some elegantly handcrafted chocolates here.
• The Drawbridge – an adorable gelateria and patisserie where you’ll be treated to refreshing gelato. 
• Athena Café & Bar – where you’ll be served authentic Greek salad and a cup of tasty conch chowder reminiscent of Manhattan clam chowder. By the way, make sure to pronounce conch as “konk” (rhymes with “honk”).
• Tortuga Rum Cakes – at this last stop, you can buy some of the best-selling original Caribbean rum-infused cake to bring home. 

For more information, visit TruBahamian Food Tours.
Eat, Drink, and Discover Authentic Nassau, Bahamas
Cost: $69 USD adults + 12% tax
Expert tip: By the way, this tour is held rain or shine! If it does rain, the tour guide is prepared to hand you a rain poncho.

1.2 Canada

1.2.1 Montreal

Finding activities to do in the middle of winter can sometimes be a challenge. But thank goodness for Local Montreal Food Tours! So bundle up and show up hungry!

I’ve written about this tour previously. Feel free to give it a read here for all the details!

For more information, visit Local Montreal Food Tours.
Cost: Adult $64.99 CAD | $48.99 USD

1.2.2 Toronto

by Lisa from Following the Rivera

Of all the food tours I’ve joined on my travels, there’s one in particular that stands out. The Culinary Adventure Co. St. Lawrence Market food tour dishes up delicious local bites as well as the local history.

St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, Canada, consistently features as one of the world’s best food markets. And, unlike doing a self-guided tour as I did in Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, I wanted to learn from an expert. 

Our expert, came in the form of a British-born expat called Ian. He greeted us with a warm smile and a freshly baked pain au chocolat. There were just 3 people in the group, myself and a couple from Chicago. Call it luck, or my greediness, but I was grateful for a small size group.

Before the actual eating began, Ian took us around the local vicinity, providing us a brief history lesson. Taking us to St James Cathedral and the park, it was a great introduction for a first-time visitor. It was then back to the market for the main event.

Our first stop was the Carousel Bakery, a place famous for one thing: peameal bacon rolls. A boneless cut of back bacon, wet cured and then rolled in cornmeal, it’s popular among Torontonians. The warm rolls are filled with generous slices of the bacon, and completed with plenty of melted cheese.

Other highlights included melt-in-the-mouth Portuguese pastel de natas, Polish pierogis and chocolate dipped strawberries.

By the end of the tour, we were seriously stuffed though satisfied. Better yet, we were able to take home any of the leftover food to minimise any waste.

The tour lasted around 3 hours and was excellent value for money. If Toronto is on your list of places to visit in the future, do your palate a favour and add the Culinary Adventure Co. to your itinerary.

For more information, visit The Culinary Adventure Co.
St. Lawrence Market Food Tour
Cost: Adult $76 CAD | $56 USD, Seniors & Children (6 – 12) $71 CAD | $52 USD

1.3 Mexico

1.3.1 Playa del Carmen **

by Chris from 48 Hours Somewhere

On a recent visit to Mexico, we took the opportunity to sample local cuisine through an organised Taco Tour. A quick hop in a minibus from our hotel in Akumal to Playa del Carmen.  The tour was run through Cancun Adventures and we were advised to skip lunch, advice I’m glad we took!  

To start this little food adventure, we were taken to a small bar and given a brief history of how true Cochinita Pibil was made – whole suckling pig roasted with the juice of Seville oranges. We were also given the opportunity to make our own tortillas with a tortilla press. We drank a nice Mexican beer, while we watched everyone else’s efforts.  The participation events continued as we split into teams to make a salsa against the clock.  Then it was time for what we were there for… Taco’s.  The Cochinita Pibil was served with some tortilla and the salsa we just made. There was enough for 2 or 3 each and quickly devoured by everyone. To finish off the visit a taste of traditional Mexican beverage, Pulque.

Next stop was a local market stall and an introduction of local fruits and vegetables, before jumping back in the minibus. After a quick drive across town, we enjoyed an Al Pastor Taco – sliced spit roasted pork served with pineapple. Before tasting, we played a game where you tried to catch the pineapple as it was sliced and flicked of the spit! With this tasting, there was enough for 2 or 3 tacos each, which we happily washed down with a local beer.

Finally, for the traditional tacos, we went to Don Sirloin’s for Carne Asada, or beef steak tacos.  No fun and games this time, but another thoroughly enjoyable taco.  

It was probably a good place to end the evening as I think everyone was totally stuffed. But one final surprise was a walk down the road to enjoy a “savoury taco” to finish the night off – I won’t spoil it for those who want to find out but I will say everyone managed to find room!

For more information, visit Cancun Adventures.
The Taco Tour
Currently, there is an automatic 40% discount on bookings.
Normal cost: $99 USD per person
Cost with current promotion: $59.40 USD per person

1.4 United States

1.4.1 New York City

by Stefan from BerkeleySquareBarbarian

During my last visit to NYC I joined the 3-hour Tenements, Tales, and Tastes Tour run by Urban Adventures. The tour kicks off in Downtown Manhattan, then meanders through China Town and Little Italy towards the Lower East Side. Our friendly, knowledgeable guide Bruce turned out to be a published travel writer.

After a quick stop in the notorious Five Points neighbourhood portrayed in “Gangs of New York”, our first ‘proper’ stop was at the non-descript Chinese snack bar Fried Dumpling in a side street on the edge of China Town. We were served some of the tastiest dumplings we’ve had in a long while.

A few minutes later we were on our way through the streets of China Town towards Little Italy, zigzagging our way past street food stalls and a few tiny street markets. We learned how many of the poor immigrants’ dishes were the result of coping with shortages. The cuts used for the absolutely amazing pastrami at Katz’s Delicatessen’s, for example, would be virtually inedible if it weren’t for the complex preparation processes.

Our next food stop was at America’s oldest cheese shop: Alleva Dairy, established in 1892. The master cheese maker behind the counter explained the delicate mozzarella production process, while an assistant offered us each a large ball of mozzarella and some fine cured ham. The pride our host held for his produce was infectious.

We stopped at various other places, until we arrived at Yonah Schimmel Knishery, founded in 1910, probably my favourite stop of the tour. This eatery just has so much character! Oh.. and the knishes!!

Sitting down for the first time, all of us started chatting with each other. We continued the conversations on the short walk over to Loreley Beer Garden, where the tour finished with some German pretzels.

For more information visit, New York City Urban Adventures.
Tenements, Tales, and Tastes
Cost: $79 USD

1.4.2 Seattle

It’s literally impossible to visit Seattle without a trip to Pike Place Market. One of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the US (opened in 1907), Pike Place overlooks Elliott Bay in Seattle. While Savor Seattle offers several different food tours, I opted for the VIP Early Access Tour, to Pike Place Market. The VIP Early Access Tour is limited to 12 people, and is held earlier in the day, so you can avoid tourists crowds.

One of the things I appreciated most about the tour, was its recognition of the history of Pike Place. Prior to World War II, as much as 80% of the vendors were Japanese-American farmers selling their produce. Following Executive Order 9066 issued by President Roosevelt, Japanese-Americans were forcibly relocated to internment camps. In a matter of days, their homes, farms, and businesses were abandoned. Following the war, many Japanese-Americans did not return to their original home. Today, in Pike Place, there are no Japanese-American vendors.

Going back to the tour itself, you’ll visit the famous Honest Biscuits and pair it with some local Seattle coffee (for those coffee enthusiasts!). After all, not only is Seattle home to Starbucks’ first location (which you’ll see), but it is famous for coffee roasting and coffee supply chain management. Little known fact! Let’s not get too carried away with coffee – you’ll also try out local specialties like maple bacon donuts (yummmm) and hot smoked salmon (super yummm). And, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could catch a flying fish!

For more information, visit Savor Seattle Tours.
VIP Early Access Tour
Cost: $55.99 USD (+$3 Fri-Sun)

2. Asia

2.1 Hong Kong

by Katie from What’s Katie Doing?

I did the After Dark Food Crawl in May 2018 with Hong Kong Food Crawlers. Led by owner and guide Ashley, a HK local who has also guided Jon Hamm and Richard Ayoade on Channel 4’s Travel Man, we were in for a local eating treat! The tour visits 5 different food stops, starting with a very local market bustling with street food stalls. 

We started off with some grilled meats on a stick, followed by Taiwanese savoury pancakes, while learning more about the culture between Hong Kong and Taiwan. Next up, a great Hainanese chicken rice place! This classic dish is poached chicken served with rice, chili sauce and cucumber garnish. Whilst it’s associated mostly with being a Singaporean national dish, there is a version in most Asian countries with diaspora from Hainan in Southern China. 

We then went sweet with a Hong Kong classic – egg waffles, from a shop that has been run by the same family since the 1950’s. We ate these waffles traditional style, with peanut butter, condensed milk and crunchy peanuts – divine!  

Then via the Metro, onto Causeway Bay! Here we visited a snake specialty restaurant. We had Cantonese roasted meat, a nourishing Chinese bone broth and there was snake soup for those who dared… (and also snake shots!) 

We rounded off the evening with soft serve ice cream, including matcha and black sesame flavours. Here you would normally part ways from Ashley, however we were all up for a drink, so Ashley took us to a local mezcal bar that she normally visits on her Hidden Bar Crawl. I was impressed to find a mezcal that used similar botanicals to my favourite drink = gin.

For more information, visit Hong Kong Food Crawlers
After Dark Food Crawl
Cost: $90 USD

2.2 Japan

2.2.1 Osaka

If you’re looking for the freshest sushi and sashimi you can find on a food tour, look no further than All Star Osaka and their special foodies tour. It’s a private tour, so costs are a little bit higher. Since it’s a private tour, you can select what your main course will be – we chose sushi!

Our tour started in the Tsuruhashi market, a fish market normally only a wholesale fish market. All Star made special agreements with some of the vendors to allow us tastings of traditional japanese pickled foods, nato (fermented bean paste), super fresh tuna, sea urchin, octopus, and freshly ground wasabi! All the seafood were only caught earlier that day in Osaka Bay! The sushi restaurant was hidden in the nooks and crannies of the fish market and only fit less than 10 customers. It’s known for its “dancing shrimp” whose tail flickers to prove its freshness. (If this isn’t your thing, maybe the udon or takoyaki main “tracks” would be better for you!)

There were other stops in Shinsekai, but I won’t give it all away. We ended the tour in Dotonburi, with a sake tasting. If you’re not completely full by then, Dotonburi is a great place to sample local foods from street vendors too!

2.3 Malaysia

2.3.1 Kuala Lumpur **

by Helen from Differentville

The man standing behind the hot plate in the middle of the street outside a shopping mall might not look like he’s producing one of Kuala Lumpur’s must-try dishes, but one bite through the crispy batter into the perfectly sweet banana and you can see why the Banana Fritter Man is a must stop on this food tour that covers the diverse cuisine of Kuala Lumpur.

You meet in trendy Bangsar, then wander through the backstreets and alleys to explore the food-filled areas of Brickfields and Little India. On the way you visit the flower market, try sticky Indian sweets and an Indian buffet chosen by the stall holder from his best dishes of the day. After a visit to the small Sam Kow Tong Temple, you stop for cendol – shaved ice topped with creamy milk – and the famous banana fritter and just when you think this means the tour is done, you hop on the train to Chinatown for even more food!

I’d been to KL about six times before I took this tour, and has tried quite a lot of fun things for foodies in the city,  but I tried foods on it, I’d never had before simply because I just didn’t know where was good to try them. I do now.

For more information, visit Food Tour Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur Walk Tour
Cost: $59 USD
Cost after discount code below: $44.25 USD

Exclusive 25% discount for blog readers:
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Valid until July 2021

Now through July 31, 2020,
pay $40 USD for a gift voucher worth $60 USD!
Click here to purchase!

2.3.2 Penang

by Tiffany from Epicurean Expats

Tiffany has written about this tour, as well! Feel free to give it a read here for all the details!

Penang’s capital city of Georgetown is a unique cosmopolitan playground for foodies. For centuries, this important trade port has been the home for Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian cultures.  If you want to go to just one place to taste all these amazing cuisines, Georgetown is the place.

Learning about the different cultures of Penang through a book just isn’t the same. To see it, taste it, and hear about it from a local is so much more personal and rewarding. The neighborhoods are dominated by one culture or another and it’s interesting to see the different architectures or observe food prepared side by side by people with different heritages.

My husband and I found A Taste of Penang: Small Group Tour and we highly recommend them. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable on the food cultures and history of Georgetown. Our tour began with a Malaysian breakfast of Nasi Lemak, then through the wet market and hawker stands of a Chinese neighborhood where we sampled nutmeg juice, Char Koay Kak and Singapore Laksa. We strolled down 5^th Avenue to admire the Art Deco shophouses, visit a Chinese pharmacy and eat at a 100-year-old Indian restaurant. We shared Nasi Kondar and Murtabak, two excellent Indian dishes.  We finished the tour through a Malaysian street market and small cafe where we each had a bowl of spicy Asam Laksa and Cendol for dessert.

This was one of our most memorable food tours, and we learned much more about the culture and cuisines than we ever expected. We feel more curious to know more about the people and cultures that live there, how they live together, what influences each have on the other, and most especially, what other great dishes are out there that we need to try.  

For more information, visit A Taste of Penang.
Cost: $47 GBP | $59 USD

2.4 Myanmar

2.4.1 Yangon **

I learned a very valuable lesson, while taking the Yangon Street Snacks tour. Go on a food tour with an empty stomach!

During my first trip to Myanmar in 2017, I stayed in Yangon only for one day. I spent most of the day sightseeing and trying local foods. To understand the food culture in many Asian countries, one needs to immerse themselves in the culture of street food. Yangon is no different. Through the Street Snacks Tour, you’ll walk through downtown Yangon and try up to 8 different street snacks! 8! See what I mean about an empty stomach?

Something I bet you didn’t realize is the prominence of chickpeas in Burmese food. You’ll try a few different varieties, plus some delicious fried fritters and delicious Shan noodles and Chinese baos. You’ll top it off with a delicious dessert drink – the falooda! A dessert drink typical of South Asia, the Burmese Falooda typically is rose flavored and has a large combination of sago, egg pudding, ice cream, rice noodles, and jelly.

See what I mean by, go on an empty stomach?

For more information visit Yangon Food Tours. If you’re looking for a Manadalay Food Tour, visit their sister company, here!

Costs range from $27 USD to $75 USD, depending on the tour, before discount!

Exclusive discount for blog readers:
5% for 1-2 travelers,
10% for 3-4 travelers.
Use discount code 5%YFTviaLannie for 1-2 persons and 10%YFTviaLannie for 3-4 persons.
Valid for Yangon Food Tours, Manadalay Food Tours, and their bamboo bike and motorbike tours.

2.5 Taiwan

2.5.1 Taipei **

by Helen from Differentville

If you want try pretty much all of the foods Taiwan is known for in one morning this tour through the backstreets of upmarket Xinyi is the one to pick.

You start sampling fruits and scallion bread at the local market. Then hit your first sit down stop for the fluffy meat-filled buns known as bao. They might be popular everywhere now, but this is them done right, clouds of steam billowing out from the baskets as person after person stops by to grab one for breakfast.

Next, it’s time to try one of the most unusual things to do in Taipei, chewing betel nut. This stimulant is sold in stalls over Taipei and it’s quite the experience causing your heart to race. And, just as it slows back down, you enter the stinky tofu restaurant. Does it taste as bad as it smells? Are you brave enough to find out?

More stops follow then just when you’re not sure you can fit in any more you get to try dumplings, learning how to slurp out the soup that makes Taiwanese dumplings famous around the world.  you’ll also visit the place the locals go to try them rather than the more touristy Din Tai Fung!

There’s a reason this tour is called the Iconic Food Tour, it really does cover all the most famous foods in Taipei – and also shows you where to get the best pick of iconic Taipei 101. Do this on your first morning in the city and you’ll get a real feel for what Taipei’s food scene is all about. Take notes on the locations though as the portions are small and you’ll want to go back to at least one of the stops for more! 

For more information, visit Taipei Eats
Iconic Food Tour
Cost: $70 USD
Cost after discount below: $63 USD

Exclusive 10% discount for blog readers:
Use discount code LANNIE10

2.6 Thailand

2.6.1 Hua Hin **

For those who don’t know, I’ve lived in Thailand, traveled there for work, and visited for fun several times. Thailand is often called the “land of smiles” – which is one of the reason I love it so much! Well that, and not to mention the food! Oh, the food!

The last time I was in Thailand, I visited Hua Hin – original beach resort town. Starting out as a sleepy fishing village, by the 1920s, it was a favorite summer spot for Thai nobility. Located about 150 km (or 3-4 hours drive) from Bangkok, it’s the perfect beachy getaway. For those wanting to make a side trip from Bangkok, here are all the ways you can make that trip!

Back to the food! I found Feast Thailand, and of the several food tours they offer, I chose their Eat like a Local tour without hesitation. We started out our day with Guay Tiaw (noodle soups), served in coconut shell bowls to keep it piping hot. Three soups – two types of tom yum (one with coconut milk and one without) and a rich boat noodle soup (with pork meatballs, pork liver, a sprinkle of pork rinds on top!). Eating like a local isn’t for the faint hearted or (as I would later learn) for those who can’t handle the heat!

From then, we went on to try some colorful dumplings or Gui Chai. Say the word dumpling, and I’m already salivating! The dumplings ranged in flavor from (my dumpling favorite) chives, to pumpkin, to taro, among others! Served with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, with a huge kick!

These first two courses were my absolute favorite, but it didn’t stop there! There was a visit to an outdoor food market, where we stopped at stalls eating expertly fried chicken and delicious satay. Top it all off with some Thai curries – Southern style Gaeng Kiew Wan, Green Curry and Gaeng Khua Prik Sii Khon Muu which is a pork rib curry. Top it off with the herb most commonly eaten with southern food – Maeng Luk or Lemon Basil!

I’ve said this before about other food tours, but come hungry! This tour is sure to keep you satisfied. And remember, if you want to eat like a local, that means you’re keen to try the local heat level! Mouth on fire! but in a good way!

For more information, visit Feast Thailand.
Eat like a Local
Cost: 1,350 THB | $43 USD
Cost after discount code below: 1,215 THB | $39 USD

Exclusive 10% discount for blog readers:
Use discount code LANNIETRAVELS
Valid until 30 June 2021

2.7 Vietnam

2.7.1 Hanoi*

I delighted in the culinary wonders of Vietnam, with Hanoi Kids. Hanoi Kids employs local university students to give tours of the city, in exchange for a few hours of English conversation. You can customize the type of tour you’d like – I chose the combination of history and food! So, technically a food tour.

My guide was an enthusiastic college student, who navigated us through the windy, alleyways of Hanoi. Some of my favorites was Bánh cuốn (ground pork and mushrooms, wrapped in rice flour pancakes) and Bun Bo Nam Bo (beef vermicelli salad, common in the South of Vietnam). Both of these dishes were so fresh and light. I loved that they were topped off by fried onions or scallions or peanuts. A perfect crunch to go with it! We topped it off with Hanoi’s famous egg coffee. During a milk shortage in the time of war, whisked egg yolk was used to replace the cream. Don’t be put off by it – it was delicious!

For more information, visit Hanoi Kids.

Although the tour is free, you pay for the food, transportation, and entrance fees for both you and your guide. It still makes it extremely worthwhile. Gratuities are greatly appreciated.

3. Europe

3.1 Bulgaria

3.1.1 Sofia*

By Janina from Stromfield Adventures

Bulgaria isn’t well known for its cuisine and I guess this is one of the reasons we thought a food tour would be a great introduction to our trip. This particular tour had been recommended to us on the twitter grapevine and so we rocked up at the allotted meeting spot on our first afternoon in Sofia.

Our first stop was a patio garden in a restaurant and bread with one cheesy garlic dip and one red pepper dip, these we would find all over Sofia. Second was a more upmarket restaurant where we tasted soft cheese wrapped in courgette and lavender meringues, both delicious in totally different ways.

After this it was wine time and this wine shop sold wine ‘on tap’ for the specific reason of recycling the bottles – you buy one, drink it, bring it back and refill it, genius…. Oh yeah, and the wine (Vrachanski Misket) was fabulous. We followed this up with a stop in a street bakery for a maritsa, a bit like a cross between a doughnut and a churro – tasty!

Lastly we stopped in the Hadjidragana tavern for more dips and Pelin wine which is mixed with Artemisia absinthium during fermentation.  The atmosphere in the restaurant was so good we promptly booked it for our evening meal!

Overall, the tour was very tasty and varied, our guide was knowledgeable and we got some history thrown in with our food, we would definitely recommend this experience to others. It was ‘free’ but we thought it deserved €20 each, so that’s what we paid! 

For more information, visit Balkan Bites.
Although this tour is free (can you imagine?!), gratuities to your guide would be the right thing to do.

3.2 France

3.2.1 Dijon

Written by Darlene from Thirsty Journeys

Dijon, France offers visitors a rich history, romantic architecture, and an outstanding array of culinary specialties. (You know a city is famous for its food when it has its very own International and Gastronomic Fair every year!) But the best way to experience a sampling of everything Dijon has to offer is by taking a food tour.

The 2+ hour Dijon Market Food & City Tour is a walking tour that hits some of the best highlights of Dijon. Both history buffs and foodies alike will enjoy this tour, which includes iconic sites such as the 13^th Century Church of Notre-Dame of Dijon. Be sure to rub the little owl carving on the corner with your left hand and make a wish!

The tour also takes you to Les Halles – the oldest and largest food market in the city. This is where you can sample some of the local baked goods, cheeses, and other mouth-watering treats.

So what tasty local delights make Dijon special? Well, of course there’s the mustard. But they’re also famous for pain d’epices, or gingerbread cake, and creme de cassis, a black currant liquor.

One of the most interesting food facts we learned was that despite the fact that Dijon mustard was created here in 1856, most of the mustard seed used in local production actually comes from Canada!

For more information, visit Wine and Voyages
Dijon Market Food and City Tour
Cost: 63 EUR | $71 USD

3.3 Iceland

3.3.1 Akureyri / Reykjavik **

If you’re like me, chances are you have no idea what Icelandic food is about. When I first visited northern Iceland to chase the aurora borealis, the delights and complexities of Icelandic food were unknown to me. But I was in for a delicious, eye opening experience!

I’ve written about this tour previously. Feel free to give it a read here for all the details!

Unfortunately, Akureyri Food Walk is no longer operating. However, if you’re in Iceland and want a food tour in Reykjavik, their sister company, the Reykjavik Food Walk is open and taking bookings.
Cost: 13,900 ISK | $101 USD
Cost after discount code below: 12,510 ISK | $91 USD

10% Discount for blog readers:
Use discount code FOODANDFUN

3.4 Ireland

3.4.1 Dublin

I will forever remember this food tour for introducing me to Murphy’s Ice Cream (the best ice cream shop in Ireland!!!) and beginning to cultivate my love of whiskey. But before we get there, let’s talk about the deliciousness and heartiness of traditional Irish food.

The tour starts at Trinity College Dublin. If you have some extra time, I highly recommend taking an hour before the food tour and visiting the Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells. Just for a brief description, the Book of Kells is a gorgeously illustrated manuscript, containing the Four Gospels of the New Testament, from 800 AD. It’s absolutely beautiful and worth the visit before your tour starts.

And now, the food! From the campus of the historical Trinity College, you set off for the first meal of the day – Irish Breakfast. Irish breakfast can’t be complete without some potato cakes and white pudding, served with a spicy tomato relish. White pudding is similar to black pudding, but does not contain blood. The rest of the ingredients, oats, pork, suet, and bread crumbs, are similar. Hearty enough for us to start our journey!

While the common belief is that there are lots of potatoes historically in Irish cuisine, I’m here to say that it’s true. I can’t recall the inner workings as to how or why potato became so important in Irish Cuisine, but it’s safe to say that at one point in time, the average Irishman was eating 40 – 60 potatoes a day. Since it was their absolute main staple, different ways of preparing potatoes emerged.

But not only are potatoes central to traditional Irish cuisine, so is Irish whiskey. We popped on over to the Celtic Whiskey Shop for a whiskey tasting, which included Powers Tyrconnell, Kilbeggan 21 Year old (now discontinued), and The Quiet Man. At the time, I preferred Irish whiskey to scotch (but now that is not the case!)

We rounded out the tour with a visit to the Hairy Lemon, a traditional Irish pub, for some Dublin Coddle (voted best in the city!). Dublin coddle is traditionally a leftover soup, with sausages, carrots, potatoes (of course!), onions and herbs. Perfect for a rainy Irish day!

As if there wasn’t enough food, we ended the day with Leo Burdocks’ smoked cod and chips. Probably the best fish and chips I’ve had! I loved the smoky flavor of the cod, which was different than your regular fish and chips!

If Irish food has piqued your interest, learn all about Irish food!

For more information, visit Secret Food Tours
Cost: 59 EUR  |  $66 USD

3.5 Italy

3.5.1 Bologna **

by Anda from Travel for a While

Anda has written about this tour previously. Feel free to give it a read here for all the details!

If you’re looking for a proper food tour, you should probably head to Bologna, the official capital of food in Italy, which is saying something! Anyway, a couple of years ago we went on this food tour in Bologna and my mouth is still watering when I think about it.

The tour starts at 10 am and I strongly advise against having a full breakfast before that. First stop, an Italian breakfast-cappuccino, and a croissant.
Then, you’re off to see how traditional homemade pasta is made at a local shop. The most distinctive local pasta is ‘tortellini’, a fresh pasta usually filled with meat.

It’s time to taste some local specialties: Grana Padano cheese, mortadella, cured meat, and aceto balsamico, all from the Emilia-Romagna region.
Next, you have to try some of those tortellini. One of the traditional dishes of Bologna is ‘tortellini in brodo’, a soup with tortellini. Of course, you will try another dish Bologna is famous for, ‘pasta al ragu’, fresh pasta with a slow-cooked meat sauce.

There are a couple more things to try, a slice of pizza, gelato as well as an espresso. The tour is designed for you to see some of the most important landmarks in Bologna, hear some of their stories on also learn some of Bologna’s secrets.

For more information, visit Delicious Bologna.
Cost: 80 EUR  |  $90 USD
Cost after discount below: 72 EUR  |  $81 USD
Expert tip: Wear comfortable shoes and show up hungry!

Exclusive 10% discount for blog readers:
Use discount code TFW10

3.6 Romania

3.6.1 Bucharest

Written by Vanessa from Traveling Ness

In my travels I have become intrigued at how foods and spices are so closely tied to the culture of a country. Food is the gateway to connecting with locals on a deeper level and a bunch of fun. In researching for my trip, I stumbled upon My Secret Romania run by the lovely Gabi and Ioana. 

The 3 – 4 hour Garlic Themed Workshop is a mix of Bucharest’s history and culture while dining on traditional Romanian dishes that are all heavily garlic infused. I love anything garlic so I was immediately intrigued as to why Romanians were such big fans of garlic and how it related to superstitions aka vampires…

Normally the Garlic Themed Workshop is held in small groups with either Gabi or Ioana. But as I was visiting in December, I was fortunate enough to have a private garlic themed dinner with Ioana that was one of the best experiences I had in Romania.

Ioana met me at my hotel and we walked to a restaurant with excellent traditional Romanian foods. During the walk she pointed out various points of interest and explained much of Bucharest’s recent history and how life had changed post-communism.

Once we arrived at the restaurant, Ioana order a number of delicious dishes that all had garlic in them. My favorite was the pork sausages and boiled potatoes in pesto sauce. I won’t give away the fascinating details but I was on the edge of my seat with excitement to listen to her stories! 

She explained the history of how garlic has become a central part of Romanian culture and why it intersects with practical use, traditions, spirits, and Dracula. I enjoyed sharing a meal with the warmest company and can’t recommend this experience enough. 

For more information, visit My Secret Romania
Garlic Themed Culinary Workshop
Cost to be confirmed.

3.7 Scotland

3.7.1 Edinburgh **

Scotland may not be on the map for amazing cuisine, but it is definitely a personal favorite! On my first trip to Scotland, I was happily introduced to Scottish cuisine by Eat Walk Edinburgh on their Old Town and New Town Food Tour. On the tour, we started with deliciously fresh and light Scottish smoked salmon. We gradually moved towards heavy classic, with a whisky pairing – Haggis, Neeps and Tatties! I won’t give it all away, but for those adventurous eaters, try haggis with an open mind! We also tried black pudding with Scottish “comfort food”, paired with a bubbly gin spritzer (not shown).

Sounds like a lot of food? Don’t worry, you walk all around Old Town and New Town in between courses to aide with the digestion. Through the tour, you’ll be regaled with tales on Edinburgh’s interesting, though sometimes macabre history. You’ll walk through the curved and colorful Victoria Street. At the end, you’ll receive a map and some discounts to re-visit some of the delicious stops!

I’ve written about this tour previously. Feel free to give it a read here for all the details!

For more information, visit Eat Walk Edinburgh
Due to covid-19 and social distancing requirements, 2020 tours are only offered as private tours for your specific group.
Costs before discount below:

• 2020 food tour for 2 people is 79 GBP | $99 USD per person,
  • 3 people 75 GBP | $94 USD per person,
  • 4 people 71 GBP | $89 USD per person,
  • 5 to 8 people 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.
• 2021 tours costs 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.

Exclusive 5 GPB discount for blog readers:
Use discount code LT5OFF
Valid until June 2021

3.8 Slovenia

3.8.1 Ljubljana

by Steven from the Thorough Tripper

Our time in Ljubljana was short – less than 24 hours.  We were in Slovenia for our wedding at nearby Lake Bled.  I figured that a food tour would be the best way to cram lots of Ljubljana history, architecture, and cuisine into our brief time there. I knew nothing about Slovene cuisine and wanted to be educated by a local.  After all, this was the country we would forever associate with our marriage. 

On our nearly 4-hour tour, we meandered through Ljubljana’s compact and beautiful old town, while stopping at various historic locations and restaurants. We sampled 9 different types of traditional Slovene food, often thoughtfully paired with Slovene wine.  We also received a general education about the wine-producing regions and types of wine in Slovenia. 

Food highlights included eating grilled sardines and squid along the river running through old town. I surprisingly enjoyed the sour turnip soup with millet and pork called Bujta Repa, served with chewy bread and pumpkin seed oil.  We ate Idrijski Žlikrofi streetside near a quiet town square in perfect weather.  This is a traditional Slovene dish of small potato-filled dumplings. Ours was served with a mushroom sauce.  

The tour finished atop the 13-storey “Skyscraper” – the Balkan’s tallest building when it was first constructed in 1933.  It’s topped by a restaurant offering 360 degree views across the city.  Here we were treated to one of Slovenia’s favorite desserts called Gibanica – a layered pastry with poppy seeds, apples, walnuts, raisins, and cheese.

All in all, a great introduction to a beautiful city and great cuisine.

For more information, visit Roundabout Travel.
Cost: 55 EUR | $62 USD

4. Oceania

4.1 Cook Islands

4.1.1 Rarotonga **

If you’ve found your way to the Cook Islands, and are looking for an amazing way to meet and get to know local Cook Islanders, and you love food, the Progressive Dinner is the thing for you! Through the course of the evening, you eat a 3-course meal at three different peoples houses! Each host shares their story and extends beautiful islander hospitality to you.

It starts off with appetizers nicluding absolutely fresh ika mata and paw paw amid a lush garden. (Don’t know what those are? I suggest you start here for the full intro to Cook Islander foods!) But in brief, ika mata is what most people would think of as poke or ceviche, but with creamy, coconut milk. And a paw paw? Well, that’s just papaya, usually with some grated coconut on top.

Before you get to the main course, you change locations to another person’s house, experiencing a different islander’s warmth and hospitality. The main course obviously has some umu, or meat cooked in an “earth oven”. That night, it was chicken, cooked in the traditional way, with a fire pit of volcanic rocks, dug into the ground, and covered with banana leaves. Let me just tell you, how absolutely delicious chicken from the “earth oven” is!! The umu chicken comes with all sorts of trimmings – noodles, rukau (Cook Islander spinach), some cole slaw, and Cook Islander poke. Cook Islander poke is not to be confused with the ika mata. Poke here is made from the chewy cassava, and is similar in nature to mochi.

You round out the evening at the home of another family, who puts a gracious dessert spread out. Dessert consists mainly of fruits and cakes. All super fresh, all delicious.

By the end of the night, not only are you exceedingly full, but you’re genuinely touched by how welcoming islanders are. You’ve literally been welcomed into the home of three Cook Islander families, and you’re left with that island magic and spirit that they imbue.

For more information, visit Cook Islands Tours
Progressive Dinner – Through Local Homes
Cost: $99 NZD | $64 USD
Cost after discount code below: $89 NZD| $58 USD

Exclusive 10% discount for blog readers:
Use discount code PDBLOG20

5. Africa

5.1 Mauritius

5.1.1 Port Louis

This tour came recommended from the only other friend that’s visited Mauritius. Basically, that’s all the recommendation I need! The History and Street Tour of Port Louis was one of the most interesting food tours I’ve ever taken! For those who don’t know, Mauritius (and its capital city of Port Louis) is a wonderful melting pot of Chinese, Indian and Muslim immigrants and their legacies. Through the tour, you explore each of these diverse cultures, its food, and their architecture. I was super excited to try 2 different kinds of Mauritian “Chinese” dumplings, called niouk yen (in the pink photos below). Both dumplings are made with chicken, chayote and tapioca flour. But the more “local” variety (on the right), has a rice flour wrapper around it, similar to a shu mai. You all know how much I love my dumplings!

An amazing part of the tour is hidden gems you get access to. Not only do you visit the Jemmah Mosque, but you get to visit some of the secret parts of it. Not only do you visit Chinatown, but also visit a Chinese community center. You also chat with shop owners whose shops have been in their families for 3-4 generations!

For more information, visit My Moris
Cost: 2700 Rupees | $67 USD

Parting Thoughts

If you’ve made it all the way through this post, you must really love the combination of food and travel! I hope you’re able to see how food can genuinely introduce you to a culture, a place, and give you a sense of warmth and comfort, all in one.

As I mentioned before, taking a food tour at the beginning of a trip can give you ideas or recommendations for restaurants or dishes to try again later on. Most of these tours require lots of walking and are done rain or shine. So get on your walking shoes, and bring an umbrella if you need to. But most importantly, go on an empty stomach and get ready to eat great food and learn the culinary culture of a place!

Warm thanks for their collaboration…

(in order from above)

Travel Bloggers

• Donna from Curious Donna
• Lisa from Following the Rivera
• Chris from 48 Hours Somewhere
• Stefan from BerkeleySquareBarbarian
• Katie from What’s Katie Doing?
• Helen from Differentville
• Tiffany from Epicurean Expats
• Janina from Stromfield Adventures
• Darlene from Thirsty Journeys
• Anda from Travel for a While
• Vanessa from Traveling Ness
• Steven from the Thorough Tripper

Food Tours

• Food Tour Malaysia – 25% off with discount code: LNXFTM
• Yangon Food Tours &  Manadalay Food Tours –  5% and 10% off with discount codes 5%YFTviaLannie for 1-2 persons and 10%YFTviaLannie for 3-4 persons
• Taipei Eats – 10% off with discount code: LANNIE10
• Feast Thailand – 10% off with discount code: LANNIETRAVELS
• Reykjavik Food Walk – 10% off with discount code: FOODANDFUN
• Delicious Bologna – 10% off with discount code: TFW10
• Eat Walk Edinburgh – 5 GBP off with discount code: LT5OFF
• Cook Islands Tours – 10% off with discount code: PDBLOG20

If you are a food or travel blogger and want to contribute to this food tour directory OR if you are a food tour operator and would like to collaborate in the future, send me a message and let’s chat!

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Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

Most tours and dinners include hotel pickup/drop off, which is really convenient.  If they don’t pick up on time, the island is a small circle.  Trust that they’ll be along shortly, because they always are.  (same with the bus!)  Everything is on island time.  So relax, sit back, and enjoy the awesome things to do and eat in Raro.

But first, if you haven’t read my post on Cook Islands food, I suggest you start there!

1. Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes

For my first full day in Rarotonga, I scheduled a BBQ Lunch and Lagoon Cruise with Captain Tama.  It was NZ$79 | $52 USD, which included snorkeling, lunch, a coconut demonstration and sarong show.  The ship was crewed and the tour hosted by a few, young Cook Islander men.  Good humored and full of fun, they took us out from Muri Beach to a beautiful area of blue seas for some snorkeling.  I went in for a bit, but it was a bit cloudy under the water from the current, and man… that current was insane!

Watch this video on YouTube.

After snorkeling, we headed back towards the Muri area, and docked off of an uninhabited island across from Muri. Captain Tama (and maybe another tour company) set up a small dining area with facilities on this island for use during the day.  The crew were busily getting lunch prepared, and were grilling fresh fish and bananas.

From the paw paw (papaya) up top and clockwise, grilled banana and grilled onions, fresh grilled mahi mahi, bread, cole slaw, potato salad, and a sliver of a coconut slice.

I won’t give much else away, but here are a few photos from their coconut demonstration.  No photos of the sarong show.  Why?  I was selected as the model for an introduction to how to tie sarongs or pareos.  shrug..

Really fun time with the crew that took us out that day.  It’s a warm welcome to the Cook Islands and an introduction to their fun loving personalities.

2. Progressive Dinner

After a few hours of rest and relaxation on my patio lounge chair, in the evening, I set out for what’s known as the Progressive Dinner (NZ$99 | $66 USD).  This is a dinner tour, where each of the three courses are eaten at a different family’s house.  Each course came with lots of stories and an introduction to their family and land.

It was a really busy night for the Progressive Dinner… there were probably close to 40 people there.  I guess that’s a bit unusual, and it’s normally a much smaller group, which is how I imagined it. 

At dinner, I met a nice Australian couple on their honeymoon, and an interesting retired New Zealander, Polly.  Polly has been coming to Raro since the mid-1990s, and lives for a few weeks or months there every year.  She’s been coming to the Progressive Dinners for at least the last 5+ years when she’s in Rarotonga, and she keeps coming for the great food and lovely people that host and take part in it.  I wish I talked to her more, because I think she must have great stories to tell.

Without further ado… the progressive dinner.

2.1 First Course

2.2 Second Course

What do you recognize on my plate from my earlier post, introducing food in the Cook Islands?

iSpy list:

• paw paw
• poke
• umu
• rukau

One of the best things to do in Rarotonga, in my book? Eat with friendly locals and hear their stories about life in the Cook Islands.

2.3 Third Course

Parting thoughts on the best things to do in Rarotonga

For my first full day on Rarotonga, not bad, right?  Captain Tama and the Progressive Dinner were both GREAT introductions to the warm and fun-loving spirit of the Cook Islanders. Definitely, if you’re looking for two of the best things to do in Rarotonga, consider Captain Tama’s Cruise and the Progressive Dinner. You won’t regret it!

– Useful Information –

• Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes – NZ$79 | $52 USD, daily, 11 – 3 pm.  Pick up, drop off, and lunch included
• Progressive Dinner – NZ$99 | $66 USD, Mondays and Thursdays, 5 – 9:30 pm.  Pick up and drop off included

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When you travel off the beaten path, make sure you’re covered with Travel Insurance. You never know when you’ll need it! Get a quote below.

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

YES – and it’s incredible!

I was introduced to Eat Walk Edinburgh by my sister and brother-in-law, who had a delicious experience with them the previous year. Never one to turn down a great recommendation, I selected the Edinburgh Old Town and New Town food tour.

1. Hotel Du Vin

When I set out for the food tour, it was a brisk, February afternoon in Edinburgh.  Not too cold, but definitely a chill in the air.  The food tour began at Hotel Du Vin, a luxury hotel in the Old Town, housed in a series of old stone buildings.  Back in the day, the location was once the town’s poor house, insane asylum, science laboratory and blood donation center.

At Bistro Du Vin, we met our guide, Alan, and began our first course – smoked salmon. I’m not sure if people realize, but Scotland has an incredible seafood industry. And their salmon is famous! Unfortunately most of it is imported, so if you get the chance to eat Scottish seafood locally, take it!

The smoked salmon was absolutely delicious!  So light and refreshing. A great start to the Edinburgh food tour. 

On the way to our second stop, we passed by some cute shops and interesting landmarks in town.

2. Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

Our next stop on the Edinburgh food tour was Makars Gourmet Mash Bar, which calls itself “healthy, Scottish comfort food.”

We tasted some ox-cheek braised for 5 hours over mashed potato, with a side of black pudding. After being braised for so long, the ox cheek melted in your mouth. Our comfort food was paired with raspberry gin from the Edinburgh Gin Distillery. The bubbly (raspberry gin and prosecco) was light and perfect.  Beware… I was definitely a little tipsy afterward.

The above photos of the oxtail and black pudding is only a sample portion for the food tour.  Imagine my surprise when I went back the following day, and the regular portion was huge!

3. Scotch Malt Whisky Society

An Edinburgh Food Tour is not a real tour without whisky! The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a members-only whisky tasting club and the host for our next tasting. I love that the food tour gives you access to an exclusive whisky club in Edinburgh.

What better way to pad your stomach for the upcoming whisky, than with some haggis, neeps and tatties!

Haggis comprises of sheep’s heart, liver, and lung, along with some minced mutton or beef. Combine it all with oatmeal with spices. It is stuffed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.  Haggis is illegal in the US – it has something to do with the sheep’s lung! So, I really didn’t know what to expect.

It was actually really good – very hearty and heavy.  All of these ingredients separately, I may not have enjoyed as much.  But together, it’s pretty darn tasty and I highly recommend it. At least to try!

Findlay’s of Portobello, a family run butcher shop, made the haggis that we tasted.  Fun fact, most haggis that you see on any menu will have the name of the butcher shop it comes from.  Locals often have a favorite butchers for their haggis. 

The haggis came with a tasting of whisky, at 62% alcohol. As my first foray into whisky, it was smoky and too harsh for me. At the time, I was not a whisky drink. That changed. I really enjoy the sophisticated, complex flavors and smells. You just have to find the ones you like, since they are all so different from each other!

Fun facts about Scotch Whisky

I’ve written a more technical introduction to Scotch after my visit to Islay – Scotland’s whisky island. So head over there if you want to learn a bit more, coming from an island devoted to the spirit!

Now. Onto the fun facts that I learned.

Whisky is normally a clear-colored spirit, but the color comes from the oils in the wood cask that it sits in.  The whisky we tasted is a lighter color than you’d imagine. Most whiskys have a caramel color added to it in the blending process. That way, each bottle looks the same color and tastes the same. 

The whiskies they have at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society are unblended. Each cask tastes slightly different from the other, unlike what we are used to in mass production exporting.  Each bottle at the society is bottled into their anonymous bottles, labeled only with a number (corresponding to the distillery and cask number) and the color sticker of the taste profile. 

Also, two side notes about Scottish whisky. 

1. Whisky is spelled W-H-I-S-K-Y (without the E) in Scotland, Japan, and Canada. Whiskey, with an e, is American or Irish;
2. Apparently, 85% of Scottish whiskys are aged in bourbon casks shipped from the US.

From the first time I visited the SMWS Member Rooms on this Edinburgh Food Tour to now, I’ve collaborated with the SMWS several times. For those wanting to read more about my experiences and the benefits of memberships, read all about:

• an outdoor virtual whisky tasting, on Islay’s famous Three Distilleries Path;
• an exclusive whisky tasting in the Glasgow member room of SMWS;
• all the benefits of becoming a member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society!

And now that you’re an expert on whisky and haggis like I am, onto the next stop! From here on out, I was full on tipsy and red.

4. Le De-Vin

Our next stop was a French wine bar, Le De-Vin, housed in an old Tudor building, where we snacked on a charcuterie plate with French and Scottish cheeses.  I love soft cheeses, so this was obviously a huge favorite of mine.

There was an option to snack on this with a beer, but no more drinks for me! Not on this tour anyway. I still need to be able to walk to dessert.

Also, don’t forget to take a good look at the chalkboard wall inside Le De-Vin. Notable Scots on the left (William Wallace, Sean Connery, and Billy Connolly among others), with notable French on the right (Edith Piaf and Joan of Arc and others).

5. Ghillie Dhu

The final stop on the Edinburgh Food tour – the Ghillie Dhu (pronounced with a hard G, the gilly doo), where we had some dessert.  The Ghillie Dhu is a solitary, male fairy, who lives in the northwest highlands. Although he’s described as relatively timid, he also has a wild side. Those fairies… gotta watch out for their antics!

So the dessert. It was a chocolate cup, with some whisky cream inside.  Topped with a cookie.  I think it was their Ghillie Boozy Cranachan, but don’t quote me on that. Typically a cranachan is a raspberry and cream dessert.

But the Ghillie Dhu take on the cranachan is also worth trying! Think of the ingredients – chocolate, whisky cream, cookie, raspberry drizzle. What’s not to love?

6. Become and honorary Scot on your Edinburgh Food Tour

Bellies full and probably buzzing, you are on your way to becoming an honorary Scot.  According to Alan, requirements for the title of honorary Scot:

• Haggis – check
• Whisky – check
• Irn Bru – complete on your own adventure.  You can’t miss the bright orange cans of fizzy energy.

It’d be too easy, if you were made an honorary Scot after taking one tour, right?

7. Parting Thoughts on the Edinburgh Food Tour

And that’s it for my Edinburgh food tour on my first trip to Scotland! And what a great introduction to Scottish food.  The Edinburgh food tour opened my eyes to the gorgeous, fresh produce and ingredients that Scotland is full of! Although Scotland isn’t known for it’s food, the food scene is definitely on the rise!

To conclude and reiterate my love for food tours… Food tours really are the best!! The next time I’m in Edinburgh, I want to try their other tours, just to taste different foods and get introduced to new restaurants!

If you’re ever in Edinburgh, I highly recommend Eat Walk Edinburgh!

For other Scotland food inspiration and other Edinburgh activities;

• learn more about a hearty and filling Scottish breakfast;
• if you’re going near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, definitely try the tasting menu at Monachyle Mhor;
• visit the National Galleries of Scotland for free;
• stop by Holyrood Palace and say hello to the King at his official residence in Scotland!

Haven’t figured out how to get to Edinburgh yet? Consider the overnight sleeper train from London and arrive refreshed ready to eat your way through Edinburgh!

8. Edinburgh Food Tour recap + Discount Code

Tour provider: Eat Walk Edinburgh
Total walk length: 2 miles
Total food tour length: approx 3.5 hours
Please check their website for the latest covid-19 and social distancing requirements.
Costs before discount below:

• 2020 food tour for 2 people is 79 GBP | $99 USD per person,
  • 3 people 75 GBP | $94 USD per person,
  • 4 people 71 GBP | $89 USD per person,
  • 5 to 8 people 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.
• 2021 tours costs 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.

Exclusive 5 GPB discount for blog readers:
Use discount code LT5OFF
Valid until June 2021

1. Smoked salmon at  Hotel Du Vin | map
   • Pass by Greyfriars Bobby Bar and Maggie Dickson’s bar
   • Walk down Victoria Street
   • pass through Lady Stair’s Close alleyway, which is a fun little alley, that of course I forgot to take a picture of
2. Eat too much Scottish comfort food at Makars | map
3. Try not to drink too much at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society | map
4. Nosh on some charcuterie at Le De-Vin | map
5. Finish up with some dessert at a traditional Scottish bar, the Ghillie Dhu | map
6. Fall in love with Scottish cuisine and tell everyone about this amazing food tour in Edinburgh!

Hungry for an Edinburgh Food Tour?

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Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

As it turns out, I was the only one on the tour with Armann (solo travel for the win!). Along with being a licensed tour guide, Armann is also a classically trained chef and a former member of the Icelandic national hockey team!  He said long winters make you find different hobbies to try out!

Disclaimer: (23 June 2020) I’ve just confirmed that Akureyri Food Walk is no longer operating. However, Reykjavik Food Walk (their sister company) is! There is even a discount code at the bottom of this post! So keep reading for some fun Icelandic food and discounts!

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

1. Introduction to Northern Icelandic (Akureyri) food

Icelandic food has come a long way since the days of just salted cod and lamb.  Armann said that when he was growing up, all he knew was lamb and cod.  To have access now to produce and different kinds of fruits and vegetables was something that was unheard of 20 years ago.  Many people complain about the price of Icelandic food, and yes, it is quite pricey, but I can say with confidence, the quality of Icelandic food is also very high.  Lamb and cows are raised in the utmost conditions, with little to any antibiotics.  They are free range and enjoy nature often. 

There is even a dairy farm outside of Akureyri that has mechanized everything, so the cows live in a climate-controlled barn, with little machines that clean the barn (basically, Roomba for barns), and are fed automatically.  Armann told a story of taking a group of Indian Hindus to that dairy farm , and it literally brought tears to their eyes as to how well these cows were treated. Happy cows make happy cheese, and apparently 95% of Iceland’s cheese comes from Akureyri.

Icelandic fruits and vegetables are now grown in greenhouses around the country.  They are currently trying to perfect greenhouse conditions to grow bananas!  I also know there is a famous tomato greenhouse and restaurant located outside Reykjavik (which I will not have the chance to visit).

Alright, back to the Akureyri food tour.

Stop 1: Greifinn Restaurant

Of course, we had to start out with a Viking Beer, a local Akureyri brew. The beer was nice and refreshing and perfect to pair with the langoustine soup and salted cod! The salted cod is from the best salted cod fishery in Akureyri, which has been in business for 6 generations! Really delicious! 

The langoustine soup is similar to a lobster bisque – rich and creamy. Langoustine is a small lobster, that people have only started treating as food in the last 10-20 years. And I’m so glad they did!

Stop 2: Strikið

The next stop was Strikið, where it was a cod-filled tasting! For starters, the candied cod and tuna tartare were really unique and delicious! Yes, I know that “candied” cod is also pickled, but it would be rude to refuse food on a food tour.  I’ve never had a pickled meat before. Have you?  yum.. After the starters, we were served a delightful roasted (regular) cod, paired with barley and roasted carrots. Really fresh and tender cod, delightfully roasted.

Stop 3: Bláa Kannan

I’m so glad this was the final stop on our Akureyri food tour. The big, beautiful, blue building (“bbbb”) is a landmark in town. I walked past it several times earlier, and never really figured out what it was. Turns out, it’s a restaurant, with an extremely cozy interior. This “bbbb” is home to Bláa Kannan, a local coffee shop and cafe, known for marital bliss.

Sorry, what? Just kidding, not marital bliss, the “marriage bliss” dessert! “Marriage Bliss”, a dessert made of oatmeal and rhubarb jam, served with ice cream.  Named so, because if the wife makes this dessert, the husband will never leave!

Parting Thoughts on my Akureyri Food Tour

And that was my first evening in Akureyri, eating my way through their great eats!

Overall, it was a wonderful food tour. I had great conversation with Armann, who was very knowledgeable.  I did a lot that first day in Akureyri, haven’t I?  The night isn’t over yet!

In my next post… the hunt for Northern Lights and all the misconceptions about Northern Light activity!

For other things to do in Iceland, consider:

• Try hunting for Northern Lights – Akureyri (Northern Iceland) is perfect for that!
• Go horsebackriding on gorgeous Icelandic horses – in summer and winter!
• Visit Lake Myvatn, but also try to have a better trip than me! Check out a Tale of an Awful Tourist.
• Have a spa day at the Blue Lagoon!

Disclaimer: During this food tour, I was posting to Akureyri Food Walk’s Instagram account. I was not sponsored, nor did I receive any compensation. It was just a fun thing to do, and thank you to Egill at Akureyri Food Walk for letting me collaborate with you!

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Information on Akureyri & Reykjavik Food Walk

Akureyri Food Walk – sadly no longer operational.
Their sister company, the Reykjavik Food Walk is open and taking bookings.
Cost: 13,900 ISK | $101 USD
Cost after discount code below: 12,510 ISK | $91 USD

For 10% off, use discount code FOODANDFUN

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Before the Montreal Food Tour

I had to wake up at 9 to repack my suitcase and make the switch from riding boots to snow boots. There may or may not have been a little slip on black ice last night, which promptly landed my derriere on the ice-covered pavement.

So now, snow boots – out! Riding boots – in! Most of my luggage had to be slightly rearranged. 

1. Bagels at Crew Collective

After repacking, checking out, and leaving my luggage downstairs, I set off straight away to Crew Collective to meet Justin, my Old Montreal Food Tour guide, and the rest of the group.  Crew Collective sits in the wonderful old gilded-age headquarters of the Royal Bank of Canada.

At Crew Collective, freelancers rent “office space” from the collective and also sell higher end breakfast, bagels, and coffee to help pay the rent in this massive old bank atrium.  It’s a great use of a historical building and they’ve helped to preserve a lot of the interior. It reminds me of co-working spaces that my friend E frequents often.  In fact, it’s highly possible he has been here.

A quick note about the delicious, but not too decadent, smoked salmon bagel with veggie toppings.  Justin explained to us that, like New York (which shares a lot of similarities to Montreal), a large wave of Eastern European Jewish immigrants came to Montreal prior to WWI, around the same time as many of them migrated to New York, and brought along with them their traditions of bagels.  An open face bagel with fresh smoked salmon, cream cheese, and veggies was just the thing I needed to help get my day going.

2. Desserts at Cookie Stefanie

The Montreal Food Tour continues onto Cookie Stefanie! A delightful local dessert shop, specializing in gluten-free baked goods. We only tried the gluten-free carrot cake, which was delightfully moist, likely due to the surprise pineapple inside!

3. Poutine at Restaurant Taberna

Can you really do a Montreal Food Tour without eating some poutine? Nope!

Hailing from the fair province of Quebec, poutine is a regular part of Canadian cuisine. The main ingredients comprise of french fries, topped with cheese curds and brown gravy. No one knows the exact origin, but poutine first appeared sometime around the 1950s in Centre-du-Québec. It is now a defining feature of Canadian cuisine, and some call it Canada’s national dish!

We tried the poutine at Restaurant Taberna, which is a Portuguese restaurant. The poutine was special, with two different kinds of cehese curds and Portuguese sausage in addition to the brown gravy. It was SO GOOD! I absolutely loved it!

4. Sausage and Duck Carpaccio at Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs

Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs is as an artisan microbrewery, housed in a former nunnery! We tried a sausage and the duck carpaccio there, but unfortunately it was my least favorite stop.

For me, duck is easy to get wrong, and difficult to make well. Although I’ve had beef carpaccio and enjoyed it, the duck carpaccio was too thickly-sliced, too chewy to eat. I don’t see on the menu anymore (as of 2020), so perhaps they removed it due to feedback. Not sure! But either way, it’s a lively environment, and if craft beers are your thing (or former nunneries), check it out!

5. Poudding Chomeur at Soupesoup

Disclaimer: As of 26 February 2019, Soupesoup filed bankruptcy. Google seems to believe that some locations are still open but I cannot confirm this. If someone in Montreal could let me know in the comments, that would be great!

The tasting at Soupesoup was our dessert. Deliciously-made Poudding Chomeur, i.e. bread pudding with real Quebecois maple syrup! Warm, sweet, and absolutely delicious! If Soupesoup is still around, go and try it!

Sights along the way

Parting Thoughts on the Montreal Food Tour

It was a wonderful tour to introduce me, not only to Canadian food, but also to Montreal as a city. I’m grateful that they ran this tour in the dead middle of winter, despite being the off season!

If you’re going in the winter, bundle up, and walk slowly – no one likes slipping on the ice, even if you’ll be comforted by a bunch of food after!

Montreal Food Tour Recap

Tour provider: Local Montreal Food Tours
Cost: Adult $64.99 CAD | $48.99 USD,
Adult + Alcohol $78.99 CAD |$59.99 USD
Total food tour length: approx 3.5 hours

1. Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel at Crew Collective & Cafe | map
2. Gluten Free (GF) carrot cake and espresso at Cookie Stefanie | map
3. Portuguese sausage poutine at Restaurant Taberna | map
4. Sausage and duck carpaccio and beer at Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs Grises | map
5. Poudding chomeur at Soupesoup | map

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

I don’t talk much about my trip to Myanmar, and you all will find out why later. Let’s just say, for now, that I still carry scars from this trip.  Don’t worry, obviously I am still alive and functioning and writing to you today.  The story will come soon.

1. Morning at Shwedagon Pagoda

I started out in Yangon, where I spent the morning roaming around Shwedagon Pagoda, or the Golden Pagoda (for obvious reasons).  Everyone who goes to Yangon simply has to go there.  It’s the primary monument in the city.  There are surprisingly few tourists there, but booming with locals.  Locals enter free, tourists pay.  I think I paid about 9,000Ks (or about $6-8).  I understand they raised their rates again recently to 10,000Ks for tourists.  And it honestly would not surprise me if it is raised again in the near future.  Oh, and because this is a place of worship, you’re asked to remove your shoes before entering.

And here it is, the Golden Stupa itself:

You can actually see the sparkles a little better in this video I took.  Look at the top.

I mean, there’s a lot here for guys and gals who like gold and sparkles.

After roaming around the complex in the heat, I was happy to see a vendor selling whole coconuts outside.  I sat and drank the coconut water as I people watched.

2. Lunch at 999 Shan Noodle Shop

After the refreshing coconut water, and putting my shoes back on, I made my way back to the entrance to look for one of those taxis.  I took out my phone and showed the driver on google maps where I wanted to go. I was headed to 999 Shan Noodle Shop for a bowl of noodle soup.  The driver did give me some grief and of course, over charged me by quoting a fixed price, instead of a meter.  Sometimes, no matter what they tell you in guidebooks about being persistent about meter fare vs fixed price, there’s nothing you can do but continue to argue with the driver and end up still paying the fixed price.  Of course, I did not, and have not, walked off in a huff.  So whatever.  I roll my eyes, and it’s the cost of being a tourist.

I chose this noodle shop because it was open early, had good reviews, and honestly there’s nothing more I love than a good bowl of noodles.  It was one of those places where, the longer you sat down, the more tourists walk in.  Apparently they all read the same reviews I did.

3. Burmese Foot Spa & “Hidden Gem Yangon”

After lunch I went roaming around in the neighborhood down in the direction of two things: traditional Burmese foot spa and the result of my googling “Hidden Gem Yangon.”

First, the Sapel Traditional Burmese Foot Spa was amazing, and I had a great foot massage there.  So relaxing and a welcome break from the heat outside!!  {I literally could not tell you how much it was or how long it was for, since it happened almost a year ago, but it was a nice break in my day.  I also could not tell you why, if you look at their trip advisor page, there are pictures of the tribal women with rings on their necks.  They do NOT have these women in the spa just sitting there weaving…}

And Hidden Gem Yangon… tada!  This banana shop.

Yes.  Literally walked by, tried not to stare, and took a singular photo of this amazing banana shop.  It’s hard to do that, by the way.  Walk and try not to stare, while obviously staring.

4. Woops! Snack on my way to a Food Tour

Anyway, I had to make my way back towards the Sule Pagoda for my food tour.  On my way there, it’s true, I stopped for a snack.

And yes.  It is stored within that wine barrel.  Eating here, was not a tourist trap (notice plastic chairs) and if memory serves me, cost a cool 1,500 Ks ($1).

Now, back towards the main town square and my food tour waiting for me.

Interested in my Foodie Guide to Yangon? Click here!

5. Yangon Street Food Tour

So, in the end, I didn’t take many pictures on my food tour.  My tour guide was very nice, and explained that Myanmar food had a lot of chickpeas, cilantro, and spices.  A lot of the street food we tried were fried snacks.  Although it was good, they make ugly pictures.  But here is a lovely stall owner and some of the fried snacks she was selling.

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We also stopped by a different Shan noodle place.  The noodles were pretty good, but I think by that point, I was too full.  And then on top of that, we stopped for dessert.  At this point, I am regretting my sweet tofu dessert from five seconds ago.  But I put on my determined face, and finished the food tour with this lovely dessert drink.

Conclusion

So, following my street food tour, which included several bags of leftovers for the road, I took another poorly negotiated taxi back to my hotel.  I didn’t mention this earlier, but I booked a hotel just for the day – a pretty nice room (with shared facilities) at Wai Wai’s Place, for $26.  When I arrived in Yangon that morning at 9:20 am, I had less than 12 hours before I had to catch a bus to Bagan around 8 pm.  I basically went from the airport and dropped off my bags in my room, had a juice at their rooftop lounge, and then set off for Shwedagon Pagoda.  Why was it so crucial to get that $26 room?  For the shower, after roaming around all day in the heat, before boarding a 10 hour bus to Bagan.  Worth it?  Absolutely.

So thanks for reading all the way until the end.  And if you realized there was nothing particularly unspeakable about my Yangon post, tune in, next time, for the conclusion to “what happened to Lannie in Myanmar that makes her not like to talk about her trip.”

Half Day Recap:

• 10 AM: Delighting at golden stupas at Shwedagon Pagoda | map
• 12 PM: Touristy shan noodles at 999 Shan Noodles | map
• << explore downtown and passing through Chinatown >>
• 1 PM: Relaxing Burmese Foot Massage at Sapel | map
• << meander back to downtown, stop at banana store, Sule Pagoda >>
• 4 PM: Street Snacks Food tour with Yangon Food Tours

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/