Undiscovered Charleston: Chef-Led Historic Food Tour
5.0
794 Ratings
Charleston
Embark on a chef-led historic food tour in Charleston, exploring the city's culinary heritage. Enjoy a walking tour, cooking demonstration, lunch, and wine tasting at Bistro a Vin.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 1 Vendue Range - Charleston’s acclaimed Chef Forrest Parker guides you along an undiscovered path where food and history meet on in historic Charleston, distilling 400 years into a walking tour experience culminating with a cooking demonstration and three course tasting of the iconic flavors of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Chef Forrest leads you on a 90 minute walking tour unlike any other in the city, as the only certified chef tour guide, exploring the complicated history of the Holy City and the culinary influences that shaped Charleston into one of the world’s top food destinations. You’ll visit the not-to be missed sights, but also the lesser known and understood locations where, for example, an enslaved chef created a recipe that still helps define local menus. The tour concludes at a cozy bistro where you relax while Chef Forrest demonstrates how to prepare the recipes he wrote interpreting definitive Lowcountry classics, and prepared using techniques he mastered over two decades. You’ll enjoy a lunch with each of those courses carefully paired with wine, and then take his recipes home with you as our gift to you.
What's Included
  • Tea and coffee
  • Take-home copies of Chef Forrest’s recipes for each guest
  • Cooking demonstration by the renowned Chef Forrest Parker
  • 90-minute guided walking tour of Charleston’s historic district
  • Wine tastings at Bistro Au Vin, matched with Chef Forrest’s dishes (options to buy more)
  • Gourmet lunch included
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Meal Options
  • Lunch - Tours conclude at a cozy bistro where Chef Forrest demonstrates how to prepare Lowcountry classics. Enjoy a lunch carefully paired with wine.
Additional Information

Charleston’s sole chef-led historical walking tour, cooking show, and lunch! Our adventure starts with a 90-minute culinary history walking tour through the historic district, followed by a cooking show, lunch & wine tasting at the beloved local venue, Bistro a Vin. The experience is led by Charleston’s only South Carolina Chef Ambassador & Palmetto Guild Certified tour guide, Forrest Parker. As the leader of teams at some of Charleston’s most famous eateries, Parker has been described as a ‘visionary who leverages the culture, history & flavor customs of South Carolina to create heritage-rich experiences.’ In 2016, Parker was acknowledged by Governor Nikki Haley as a S.C. Chef Ambassador, a peak achievement in a culinary career that kicked off in 1995.

Chef Forrest encourages you to take the road less taken; to see, touch, sip, and savor the Undiscovered Charleston!

  • Guests must be 21 or older, with the exception of older teenagers accompanying parents
Location
1 Vendue Range
Vendue Range
Waterfront Park, also called Joe Riley Waterfront Park is at the end of a street called Vendue Range. We'll meet at the famous Pineapple fountain.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(794 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
147brianr
Apr 2, 2024
Unique and Amazing Experience - Wow! What a unique and amazing experience. Chef Forest was both a great tour guide as well as expert chef! He clearly has a passion for both the city of Charleston and for cooking. I was honestly expecting just a short 1-1.5 hour tour, but we toured for 2-2.5 hours, then had a good 2.5 hrs in the restaurant for cooking and dining. The food was of course fantastic and great touch that all recipes were shared after the class. Also appreciated the wine to complement each course! Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charylg2015
Apr 1, 2024
Exceptional Experience - Highly recommend this tour. Interesting Charleston sights and a nice walk. The food experience is exceptional. So much good food. Learned so much about the food we ate. Just do it! Excellent value.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shanej818
Apr 1, 2024
Best experience in Charleston - Chef Forrest Parker is the best, funniest, awesome chef and this is THE BEST THING you can do in Charleston. Had the best time with his service and best good I have ever eaten. So knowledgeable about the history and architecture of Charleston. No doubt, will refer this to everyone we know.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G2829shkarib
Mar 30, 2024
Amazing culinary tour!!!!! - Best Charleston SC tour yet!! The food was absolutely amazing and included a wine tasting!! He knows more about Charleston then most tours I have been on. The culinary cooking was amazing!!! Can’t say enough good things about this your!!!!! Amazing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P7515dadianem
Mar 25, 2024
Delicious and Entertaining - Wonderful. Entertaining. Perfect day with a knowledgeable chef sharing the history of Charleston. He fed us a local dish that was delicious, Making accommodations to us with food allergies without sacrificing the flavor.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marie_s
Mar 24, 2024
Charleston food - Chef Forrest Parker was very knowledgeable and passionate about Charleston, and it showed in both the food and tour. The cooking portion was informational and the food was very delicious! He made it very entertaining with personal anecdotes. It was a great experience to share with my granddaughter.
Review provided by Viator
J9323vymaries
Mar 24, 2024
Undiscovered Charleston - Chef Forrest Parker was very knowledgeable and passionate about Charleston, and it showed in both the food and tour. The cooking portion was informational and the food was very delicious! He made it very entertaining with personal anecdotes. It was a great experience to share with my granddaughter.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davet56
Mar 24, 2024
Charleston Tour and Food experience! - Chef Forrest was a great tour guide, passionate and extremely knowledgeable about all things Charleston, and a lot of fun during the tour. But the real magic for us began when we got back to his kitchen, and he prepared 2 amazing traditional southern dishes followed by an incredible dessert. All paired with excellent wines. He worked around our food allergies with no issues whatsoever. Everything was absolutely delicious. I would absolutely recommend this experience!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trailblazer67454
Mar 23, 2024
Tour with professional chef - This tour was excellent. Great experience having a profession chef cook for you, chat about food and history, and answer cooking questions. Of course, the food was amazing! My husband and I both thought this was probably the best tour we have done. Highly recommended!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traceymo5064pw
Mar 22, 2024
Yes, more please! - Holy moly- don’t hesitate to book this tour / dinner experience… Chef is passionate about Charleston, the history, the food, entertaining, making delicious food that is so darn enjoyable! Well worth the cost!! Wonderful!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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