Fantastic Food Tours
Exploring Nashvilleâ¦One Bite at a Time
By Tina Wright
Culinary tourism, the pursuit of unique and memorable dining and drinking experiences in a given place, is one of the hottest trends in travel. And with Nashville stealing the spotlight as both one of this countryâTMs top travel destinations and an âitâ city for foodies, it should come as no surprise that some of the most delicious and informative food tours around are happening right here in Music City. Tourists and locals alike are flocking to sample the breadth of our cityâTMs cuisine and learn more about its rich history; if you are looking to explore Nashville bite by bite, Local Table has done the legwork for you and rounded up three great tours to take now while tourist season is at low tideâ¦and one to pencil in for the future.
Local Tastes of Nashville
Local Tastes of Nashville offers two distinct tours: one in Germantown, and one in the Gulch. Each is a walking tour of approximately 1.5 miles, and includes five to six stopsâenough tastings to make a meal, along with a rich dose of history about the neighborhood. Restaurants are subject to change depending on the date of your tour, but your Germantown offerings may include B&C BBQ, the MaD PLaTTeR, the Cupcake Collection, Tempered European Indulgence, Butchertown Hall, Cochon Butcher and/or Christie Cookie. The Gulch tour may include Prime 108, M. Restaurant, Biscuit Love, Peg Leg Porker, Colts Chocolates, Juice Nashville, Watermark, the Turnip Truck and/or City Fire. Each tour is $49 and lasts approximately 2 ½ hours. Says Local TastesâTM Debbie Warden, âSome guests enjoy one tour so much, they do both! We offer a $10 discount to experience the second tour.â Private tours can also be arranged.
Sample TripAdvisor review: âTheâ¦Gulch tour is the best food tour weâTMve taken. Ourâ¦guide did a terrific job of explaining the history of every venueâ¦The tour included no less than six food stops, ranging from the historic Union Station Hotel, a 4th-generation bar-b-que, a chocolatier, a cold-pressed juice bar, nouveau southern cuisine by a Food Network star and Biscuit Loveâ¦where diets go to dieâ¦a real bargain.â
For tour dates/times, reservations and more information: localtastesofnashville.com, or call (866) 736-6343.
Nashville Food Adventures/Music City Bites & Sites
Do you like choices? Then Nashville Food Adventures is the tour for youâthey offer nearly a dozen different food tours! Tour participants will ride in a small passenger van and visit four-six narrated stops. Says partner TJ Fritz, âWe assembleâ¦tours made up of tastings of NashvilleâTMs most iconic foods and drinks, including bourbon, craft beer, barbecue, hot chicken and other local favorites.â The diverse tour offerings include the Barbecue Pit Stops tour, the Just Desserts tour, the Music City Coffee Club, the Global Eats Tour, the Food Truck Chasedown Tour and many more. Most of the tours last three hours and are $65/person plus tax. Custom tours are also available. If youâTMd rather walk than ride, opt for the Music City Bites and Sites tour. â[ItâTMs] the oldest operating walking tour in Nashville,â says TJ, âAnd covers the cityâTMs history, culture, architecture and, of course, its food!â
Sample TripAdvisor review: âOur group of eight women took the BBQ tour. It was delicious, filling, informative and a great way to see the city. The van was comfortable and TJ was an interesting and knowledgeable guide. We would definitely recommend.â
For tour dates/times, reservations and more information: dabblestudio.com, or call (615) 678-8784.
Walk Eat Nashville
Walk Eat Nashville offers three delicious tour options: East Nashville, Midtown/Vanderbilt and SoBro/downtown. Each tour features six tasting stops and, depending on the location and date you choose, you may enjoy fare from Five Points Pizza, Lockeland Table, Marche Artisan Foods, Bongo Java, Tavern, Midtown Café, the Elliston Place Soda Shop, Husk, Etch and the Cherry Street Eatery, among many others. Says Walk Eat Nashville owner Karen-Lee Ryan, âA Walk Eat Nashville tour shares the stories of the people, places and food that make Nashville such a wonderful place to visit and live. We sample locally made dishes and interact with chefs, restaurant owners and food artisans. Between bites, we walk through a historicâ¦neighborhood filled withâ¦landmarks and lore that even locals donâTMt know about.â Each tour lasts approximately three hours and covers 1.5 miles. Ticket prices vary; check website for details. Private tours are also available upon request.
Sample TripAdvisor review: â[Tour guide] Karen-Lee was very friendly and informative and had a relaxed style of touring. We visited some amazing foodie locations and the best part was talking intimately with the chefsâ¦about their restaurants and the inspirations behind their food and menus. Found out a lot about Nashville that we wouldnâTMt have known otherwise. Would definitely recommend!â
For tour dates/times, reservations and more information: walkeatnashville.com, or call (615) 587-6138.
Coming in 2017:
Chef Paulette Culinary Tour
Anyone who loves ethnic cuisine will be counting the days until next spring, when Chef Paulette Licitra will introduce a new food tour featuring cross-ethnic tasting up and down Nolensville Road. âWhen you drive on Nolensville, sometimes youâTMre not sure where to stop,â says Paulette. âThis will be a great introduction into the richness of this fabulous corridor. WeâTMll sit and dine on samplers from Kurdish, Ethiopian, Thai, Mexican and Indian [restaurants]. We will also shop in the ethnic markets and bring home treats!â
The tours, which will kick off in April, will be small and intimate and last four-five hours. Says Paulette, âIt will feel like a friendsâTM day out.â The tour cost will be $150 per person.
For more information: ChefPaulette.net, or emailpaulette5@gmail.com.
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