Culinary tourism is a niche in the travel industry. Food tours are generally associated with international tourism, but the domestic market is getting renewed interest in times of economic upheaval. Did you know that you could even turn a staycation into a culinary vacation?
What is Culinary Tourism?
Culinary vacations focus on trying new foods, becoming familiar with ethnic cuisines and learning about local meal customs. Chef Craig Schmantowsky outlines that such traveling diners search for “unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences.”
Hallmarks of restaurants catering to travelers on food tours are the commitment to preparing dishes most likely not available at the tourist’s home, as well as the understanding that local specialties on the menu are a must. This obviously rules out chain restaurants that adhere to a regional office’s menu prerequisites.
Culinary Tourism Statistics: Where should you go?
Culinary tourism statistics reveal that during the past three years, approximately 27 million American travelers undertook culinary vacations; they spent $12 billion on meals. Domestic hot spots for food tours include California, Florida, New York, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia. Of course, even if a state is not on the list, there are still plenty of hot local restaurants that offer regional specialties. Case in point is Colorado, which has numerous mountain area restaurants well worth a visit.
Staying Local: How to pick the right restaurant
As a domestic traveler, consider the type of culinary tours that would appeal the most to your sense of adventure and to your palate. For example, you might commit to sampling all the pasta hot spots in your city. Conversely, seek out the eateries with the biggest gimmicks or most lauded chefs. If this fails, or if money is tight, consider opting for a dessert or appetizer experience instead.
Once you nail down the type of culinary tourism you want to experience, check for this year’s hot local eateries. Zagat is generally considered the gold standard with respect to honest restaurant evaluations to discover what’s hot and what’s not. For out-of-towners, consider booking a locally guided food tour.
A good example is the Foods of New York tour agency, which guides tourists to ‘hole in the wall’ restaurants and those venues that would be considered “off the beaten path.” If you do travel to an area where insider information is a must, booking this type of tour early during the stay is an absolute necessity.
Pitfalls: When culinary tours are really not for you
Culinary vacations are not for everyone. If you like to go back to a favorite restaurant and order the same dish every time you sit down, you might lack the adventurous soul that is so essential for food tours. The same holds true for the squeamish eater or those with strict dietary mandates. Eating the unknown or at least trying something you would not normally order are just a couple of experiences that make this tourism niche so desirable.