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Undiscovered Charleston: Chef-Led Historic Food Tour
5.0
809 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
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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
(809 Ratings)
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Wendy_s
Jun 10, 2024
Great tour! - Chef Forest brings his passion for Charleston history together with his passion for food. He is a great storyteller and the food he made for us was fantastic! Would highly recommend this tour to anyone - you won't regret it!
Review provided by Viator
J5734pyandrewm
Jun 10, 2024
Amazing Time! - Absolutely amazing time! Fantastic story teller with interesting history facts. Bellies were full, one of the most amazing parts of our vacation! Definitely a must if history and food are your interest!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z3609wrroberts
Jun 8, 2024
History and food - This was an awesome experience. Highly recommend others to spend time with others and learn about the history of Charleston and done on great food.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mfc_11
Jun 5, 2024
Totally worth it! - My mom, sister and I spent a wonderful 1/2 day on this tour. It was a very informative walking tour that focused on the history, architecture and cuisine of Charleston. This was followed by a cooking demo/meal with our charming tour guide and chef. The other guests were great too. One comment was “we’ve been here all week and this was our best meal”. Well worth the splurge!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
En-vacancesantarosa
Jun 3, 2024
Fantastic time with Chef Forrest Parker - Our tour and lunch with Chef Parker was the highlight of our time in Charleston. I really appreciate all the information and annecdotes Chef shared to present a unique perspective on food, culture, and historical influences on what we eat today. Lunch & wine was such a treat for me! Chef has an exquisite palate and generous soul. I hope our paths cross again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathy_s
Jun 3, 2024
Fantastic for foodies! - Chef Forrest was knowledgeable, entertaining, and witty. His lunch and wine pairings were fantastic and intimate. Great Charleston food scene intel and tips on local products as well.
Review provided by Viator
Markw853
Jun 3, 2024
Perfect Charleston tour - I’ve been all over the world on many tours and this by far was the best food tour we’ve been on . Chef Forrest was the perfect tour guide , chef and host . The tour was great and the food was amazing . So worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifer
Jun 3, 2024
Super - Great stories, great food! Wonderful addition to our trip! Chef is very friendly and approachable. A great afternoon was had by all!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacationer439944
Jun 3, 2024
Foodies with a love of travel - Chef met us promptly and kindly. His presence was immediately welcoming and as if we had been friends for years. My husband is in a wheelchair and he was thoughtful about ramps and cobblestone. His understanding and knowledge of the city is only eclipsed by his background as a chef working in some of the best restaurants with the most lauded chefs. His approach to cooking was simple but showed his love and reverence for the ingredients grown locally and organically. The lunch was set so beautifully and I can say we all never stopped talking. Everyone agreed his wine pairings were exceptional and as a non-drinker the two mocktails he made me were refreshing and also paired perfectly. Our group was small but our shared appreciation of good food and a good story as well as travel made this a special part of our trip. Thanks Chef!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Holly_s
May 27, 2024
Yuummmm! - Chef Gump was an amazing cook! It was so good and the tour was great too. Chef Gump was funny and entertaining!
Review provided by Viator