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After returning from Quebec City, the food capital of Quebec. I have to say, I’ve been thinking an awful lot about food tourism and the importance of good food at a destination. There’s something inherently special about focusing on the food.
It’s more than nourishment—it’s storytelling, culture, identity, and memory. And for many travelers today, food is at the heart of the journey itself. Whether it’s sipping cortado in a Spanish café, taking a cooking class in New Orleans, or sampling fresh seafood on the coast of Quebec Maritime, culinary tourism—also known as gastro-tourism—has become one of the most delicious trends in travel.
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Culinary tourism has evolved from simply dining out while traveling to a deeper, more immersive experience that connects travelers with a destination’s flavors, traditions, and techniques.
Culinary tourism is about travelers motivated wine tasting, brewery or distillery tours and farm-to-table or 100-mile menus, which are unique to a place. It goes beyond fast food and convenient snacks to include exploring local ingredients at farmers markets, discovering regional cooking methods (think smoked BBQ) and artisanal cheese production, participating in hands-on experiences such as cooking classes or tapas tours, and learning about the history and culture behind the food. This sensory experience helps travelers understand a place through their palate.
Communal Table – Special Events
Gastro-tourism can include unique experiences like secret community dining events. One famous example is Paris’ Le Dîner en Blanc, which translates to “Dinner in White.” This highly anticipated annual event has been bringing food lovers together in a surprise location for over 35 years. Thousands of participants eagerly await the reveal of the communal table’s setting each year.
Today, Le Dîner en Blanc is celebrated in over 120 cities in 40 countries, including several in Canada. You can find this event in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, and Vancouver.
Street Food
You don’t have to be all fancy-schmancy to enjoy food. Consider a street food tour in Bogota or a pub crawl in Dublin. Street food and food trucks have become staples in many cities throughout the world.
When I was in Colombia, there were quite a few food tours in Medellin when I visited, but a highlight was my visit to the La Perseverancia Market in downtown Bogota. They had taken what would have been traditionally mom & pop stands and street food and consolidated it under one roof. You could have friend fish from the coast or a traditional soup from the interior.
Food Tours
Food tours have become first activity to do in a new destination. In Athens we were hosted by Athens Food on Foot. This gave us a good idea on where we needed to be in the city. We walked around, tasted the best food and ended the tour at a sitdown lunch in a marvelous restaurant. The food in Greece surprised us so much because it was so fresh, plentiful and delicous. We still talk about the restaurant that we went to in a small town on our FAM trip to Olympia.
Across Canada—and especially in places like Quebec City, which has inspired many food tours—culinary tourism is thriving. From butter tarts in Ontario to smorgasbords in Saskatchewan, Alberta beef, and the multicultural cuisine of cities like Toronto and Vancouver, every bite tells a vivid story of people, place, and heritage.
Insider’s Tip: check out James Blic and his wife Yoli are the best on YouTube. They vlog at Spain Revealed and it has AMAZING videos on life in Spain as an ex-pat married to a Spaniard, food tours throughout Spain. Check out their EPIC Barcelona Food Tour (10 AWESOME Stops!)
Cooking Classes
Although I have taken cooking classes in New Orleans, at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, WI and in Barcelona (see the video below), my daughter and I also took a baking class with Pastelaria Batalha in Portugal. It was a baking class offered online with the baker based in Lisbon. We made delicious pastel de nata. Hosted by Zara & João, they will walk us through the process of creating this national treasure! I cannot recommend it enough!
Pastelaria Batalha in Portugal
Our very first cooking class was with BCN Kitchen in Barcelona. My daughter and I (along with a group of TBEX attendees) made traditional crusty bread with tomatoes, potato pie, paella, and crema catalana (the Catalan version of creme brulee).
The ABCs of Food Tourism
Food serves as a lens to experience and appreciate the history, values, and people of destinations globally. Below are some of the best foodie expeiences that I have had as a travel writer and self-professed foodie: Click on the link to learn more!
A – 🍲 Andouille Sausage Gumbo from my Cooking Class in New Orleans, Louisiana.
B – 🍩 Beignets at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans (see picture below).
C – 🧀 Chuletta – Steak in Basque Country in Spain
D – 🍕 Deep Dish Pizza – Uno in Chicago, Illinois.
E – 🍳 Elk meatballs and Bison from Little Chief Restaurant in Calgary, Alberta
F – 🐟 Fried Fish from La Perseverancia Market in Bogota, Colombia.
G – 🍈 Guanabana from The Ultimate Guide to Fruits and Juices of Colombia.
H – 🍤 Hush Puppies from Hattie’s in Saratoga Springs, New York.
I – 🍨 Ice Cream at the Italian Market in Philadelphia
J – 🍖 Jamon Iberico from the Step-by-step Guide to Jamon Iberico.
K – 🍿 Popcorn KERNELS – Pain Perdue (caramel french toast) from Zinc in The H Hotel, Midland, Michigan.
L – 🦞 Lobster Roll from Chez Mag from our Quebec City Food Tour.
M – 🥪 Muffuletta Sandwich from The Napoleon House in New Orleans, Louisiana.
N – 🥧 Pastel de NATAL – virtual cooking class from Pastelerie Batalha, Lisbon, Portugal.
O – 🦪 Oysters from Taniere3—the newest 2-star Michelin restaurant in Quebec City.
P – 🥘 Paella from San Miguel Market in Madrid, Spain.
Q – 🧀 Queso from a cheese boutique in Paris, France.
R – 🥧 Raspberry Tart from the Oxygen Lounge in Midland, Michigan.
S – 🍗 Seafood Chowder in Saguenay-Lac St. Jean Region
T – 🥗 Tuna Poke Salad from Rumfish in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
U – 🍇 Uvas – Grapes in Spanish. Learn more with the Ultimate Guide to Fruits in Colombia.
V – 🥦 Vegetables from Farmer’s Markets in Southwestern Ontario.
W – 🥃 Whiskey Ladder in Killarney Ireland.
X – 🍷 el Xampanyet the best tapas bistro in Barcelona – authentic, busy loud.
Y – 🥤 the Yard Milkshakes in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Z – 🦐 Zatarains – Shrimp and Crab Boil in Louisiana.
Food tourism invites us to explore our world one bite at a time, whether we’re wandering the lively markets of Madrid, savoring gumbo in New Orleans, or sampling fresh produce closer to home. Even when travel is limited, there are still countless ways to immerse ourselves in the joys of culinary discovery—be it through local takeout, virtual cooking classes, or sharing food experiences online. I hope this ABCs of Food Tourism inspires you to seek out new tastes, support local businesses, and make unforgettable memories, wherever your appetite leads you. Stay tuned on @DownshiftingPRO for more delicious journeys and insider tips!
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