| Rating |
Date Attended [^] |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
|
Interesting Taste of Chicago
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| Sun, May 20, 07 2:00 PM |
liwanyk |
Female |
30-39 |
International Tourist(s) |
Unspecified |
| Our guide Shane was quite informative and willing to answer questions. There were more than enough samples at all locations for our group and all were quite delicious!!!! I was surprised to sample thin crust rather than deep dish pizza, but the explanation given was satisfactory. There was excellent improvisation (garbage bags) provided to the group when we were in the middle of a huge downpour during our tour....and all shop owners were quite pleasant and accommodating.
The only downside of going on the tour on a Sunday afternoon was that the majority of places we visited were closed by the end of the tour, so couldn't go back that same day.
I would definitely recommend taking in this tour, as it really gives you more of the flavour of Chicago than just walking to Navy Pier or the Magnificent Mile. |
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You'll burn off your calories- so just book it!
|
| Tue, May 22, 07 11:00 AM |
CissyBrown |
Female |
50-59 |
Unspecified |
Unspecified |
| We had a great time on the tour. Walked all the calories off! Would have enjoyed the foods in more of an order like appetizers first, then pizza, then sweets.. Tad was a wonderful guide and knew so much about the city. He was concerned with our safety, and comfort. I wish we could have had a few more in between stops to sample. Even one bite here and there along the way or a typed sheet from each of the stops would have been informative, even if they don't offer a sample. I was more concerned with the kinds of food and the heritage. We enjoyed our small group of 6 and visiting with them along the way. I wondered how far we walked that day...we went everywhere and we really enjoyed the quaint neighborhoods. I suggest for Ghirardella chocolate shop not to open the sample package of their chocolates...so on a hot day they won't leak out into you purse if you decide not to eat them at the beginning of the tour! We had attended the National Restaurant Show in Chicago and had sampled many various foods previously, so the walking and cultural part was the better part of the tour for us.
The Browns
Benton, Arkansas |
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Informative, & fun
|
| Wed, May 23, 07 11:00 AM |
LindaKelly |
Female |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| The food was great, I enjoyed seeing a part of the city I wouldn't have found on my own. The guide was fun, very upbeat. Would certainly recommend it. |
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A great way to see how real Chicago lives!
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| Wed, May 23, 07 11:00 AM |
cpklkk |
Female |
30-39 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| We completely enjoyed our tour with Shane. Came home and recommended this tour to friends and coworkers who travel to Chicago from time to time. It was nice to get off The Mile and the usual destinations to get a glimpse of the neighborhoods and day to day life. Highly recommended outting! |
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ENTHUSIASTICLY RECOMMEND!
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| Thu, May 24, 07 11:00 AM |
shericonstan |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| This was my second experience with the same tour; did it with local friends and Shane as host, last fall. This time our group included local daughter who took day off, 21 year old recent college grad, and our 2 adult friends from Traverse City, MI, their second visit to the city.
ALL of us loved the easy informal get-to-know each other format and all the locations and historical information. the print-out of places we visited as well as nearby restaurants was most appreciated and I have used the sheet from last fall several times. I understand the time issues about "no shopping" but that is one of the things I really enjoyed this time since I had heard the tour. the hightlights were clearly the merchants but think the chocolate folks (ethel's) should have had a spokes person and told everyone another spot was along miracle mile. Their samples were delectible and merited more "chat" and easier to entice tasters to buy. the spice owner was fabulous and again a highlight. the coupons were appreciated and I forgot to use mine! The bread guy from last fall was great. How abouta local clothes designer visit? know it is non-food but think we could enjoy a little about the clothing scene around armitage. all in all it was a great way to learn about a part of the city that is very interesting. regards, sheri from TC. |
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OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE OF CHICAGO HAD BY ALL
|
| Thu, May 24, 07 11:00 AM |
shericonstan |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| Our group consisted of our 23 year old daughter who works in the sears tower, our 21 year old daughter fresh from college graduation, my husband and myself, and another couple who have been our friends for many years. we have all traveled widely and this food tour was something special and different.
I had taken the food tour last fall and LOVED IT. though I had been to chicago many times the food tour was the most excellent way to learn about a fascinating area, enjoy the tastes and scents of many great shops, and enjoy the easy-going atmosphere of visiting with new friends and just plain have a great afternoon.
It was the highlight of the trip for all my family and friends. We enjoyed every sampling, and as I wrote earlier, I would only suggest that the final location, ethel's chocolate, have one of the people who make the chocolates come out and talk about them AND mention that they have another shop on miracle mile. the printing on the special chocolates is so great; the TASTES were lucious and so different from anything else, and I think the prices are good. Visiting with the spice place manager caused some of us to purchase a few items, and we will surely order items since we collected their brochure. Ethels could do just a little more, I thought.
Another suggestion I would make is to add a visit to one of the little shops that sell clothes designed by one of the local designers. Chicago has a fashion presence and I feel sure we must have walked by some little boutique that could show off this dimension of the area.
yes, it is hard not to let us buy things. but I took the tour a SECONDTIME and made a few purchases. forgot to use the coupons...oh, well.
I vote you all 5 stars regards, sheri constantin |
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Great way to taste Chicago
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| Thu, May 24, 07 11:00 AM |
shonacameron |
Male |
50-59 |
International Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| My wife and I really enjoyed the tour. It was very informative and took us to places we would probably not have found on our own. The food was really interesting - and tasty but it was good have information given about other aspects of Chicago such as architecture. |
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Excellent for food and information.
|
| Fri, May 25, 07 11:00 AM |
GerriShort |
Female |
60-69 |
Local |
Individual |
| It was a great neighborhood adventure. We all learned some history, some trivia and about all those little out of the way really nice shops that are fun and interesting in the various neighborhood's.
Was so nice just too be able to look around and listen to our group leader with out having to check a map for directions. Some wonderful toffee at the Fudge Pot. Learn how to make a proper cup of tea at Gschwendner. The cheese at Cobey Foods was soooo good as well as the pizza at O"Fame'.
The Spice House was nice becasue of being able to taste the hugh variety of spices on their shelves. Looking forward to taking my friends when they come to town to take the tour with me and to having a Ruben at Ashkenaz Deli where the aroma when we walked in was mouth watering.
The walking pace was just right and the guide had a lot of knowledge about the area and was a lot of fun and made us all feel very comfortable and pampered.
Would recommend it a must when in the city. |
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Informative and Great Fun.
|
| Sat, May 26, 07 11:00 AM |
joyhughes |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| Our tour guide was energenic and knowledgable. I'd recommend him as well as the stops on our tour. Fun and interesting.
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Very educational
|
| Sat, May 26, 07 11:00 AM |
Billiegirl |
Female |
70+ |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| The guide was very knowledgeable & entertaining. He made a point of remembering our names & where we were from. The variety of types of places that we visited was excellent.
I know that time was at a premium but the visits seemed " rushed". |
