What Makes a Good Food Tour
Food is a way to define culture. It’s probably the part of a culture that is the least globalized. I am not saying that each country has not incorporated food from other cultures. We have, we adapt and change. I mean look at McDonald's, it's different in each country. But McDonalds will always be American food. National dishes will always be a representation of a country. It is still fairly easy to find local food while travelling (Except for Canada).
In the last 3 years, I have taken around 15 food tours. Food is culture so for me, as a foodie, there is no better way to get to know a place than trying its food. Food tours are the first thing I book and what I am the most excited about. I have seen the growth of these tourist attractions and as anything that becomes too popular, it loses its point and charm. The good food tours, curated by passionate local foodies are still around and I think I have cracked the code on what determines a good food tour to a bad food tour.
So, the question is, what makes a good food tour?
1- Local food: I want to try the local’s favourite food, of course. Sometimes the picks will surprise you. Some of my most memorable stops were in Victoria (Canada) where we stopped at a Korean corndog place or in Seattle (USA) we had amazing Greek ice cream.
2- Not only food: Yes food on a food tour is important. I want to come out of the tour knowing and understanding the place I am in a little bit better. I want to learn about how they source ingredients, how things are cooked, what a normal day looks like for a citizen, and how important food is. For example, in Japan, precision is a word that sticks out when we talk about food. Kitchens were quiet, dining was frequently done solo. In Brazil, the kitchen is probably the loudest room in the house. Eating in community is usually how things go. Those differences are cultural differences that relate to how we perceive food and something I would like to learn in a food tour.
3- The guide has a personal connection with the place and vendors: The Malaysian food tour in Kuala Lumpur was the best tour I have ever taken because of our guide. Kiran, created the tour because she sees the value of her country’s food, people and the street she grew up in. This place is fading right before her eyes as new developments go up. She knew everybody, all the small houses had a story and she was having as much fun walking around and trying things with us. This was the cheapest tour I have ever been on and I only booked it because the description said: ‘this is not a street tourists go to’ count me in! We tried 15 dishes, learned so much history and even tried making our own Parathas.
Trying Durian for the second time. Kiran insisted we had to have 2 bites at least. She said it was fair if we didn’t like it because she doesn’t like it either.
So how do you pick a good tour from a bad one?
1- Check who is supplying the tour. Big companies will take you to touristy areas. If they offer tours in other cities I would avoid them. I don't trust a non-local to tell me what food has been there for years.
2- Group size. It usually says how many people will be on the tour. Fewer people is better. All the tours I have done in Italy have broken my 8-people rule. The food was too good for me to pay too much attention but I didn’t learn much about the traditions.
3- Read the whole description. If you recognize any of the spots they mention or the tour starts in a frequented touristy area, avoid it. You want to eat where the locals eat, not where they pretend to eat. In Singapore, we booked a Michelin star food tour of the Hawke Centre. I was overwhelmed by the options and didn't want to go to a Hawke Centre not knowing what to order. The food wasn’t very good and it felt like we paid for someone to wait in line for us and take us to stores. Another good example is the tour we took at Pike Place in Seattle. Tourist spot which breaks one of the rules but our guide was a local chef who cared about the Seattle food scene. I had the best ice cream at Pike Place. So see what you care about, do you want local food? Renowned food? The descriptions are usually pretty specific.
4- Price is relative, more expensive is not usually better. So choose based on location and interest. The Kuala Lumpur food tour was the cheapest tour I have ever been the best. It cost $74. If you know the place is affordable, their tours should be affordable too.
5- The number of stops doesn't matter. I would rather have 5 incredible stops and lots of history than 15 spots with just stuffing food in my mouth. The first tour I took in Japan this year was just that. The guide wasn’t super confident and took us to stalls that would give us samples of everything and it got to a point that we had to start refusing because we were only halfway through and I was getting full.
I have taken plenty of tours that break many of these rules, and sometimes there aren’t many options. If you are thinking of taking a food tour soon, do it! I have taken tours close to where I live and they have been it's very interesting. If you ever want a second pair of eyes on your food tour selection, send them to me. I am happy to help make your trip a fun food experience.
Food from your culture will always feel like home. Yes, food changes, cultures incorporate dishes from abroad but the core of each culture will always stay the same. Chile will always have empanadas and Choripan, Japan will always have Sashimi, and Italy will always have pizza. That is what the best food tours will include, food that the locals call home.
Good advice!!! I would like to go with you on one of the food tours one day! ❤️
Very interesting this post about food tours, I enjoyed reading!! love Tia Re