Near North Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour

I am local, so I wasn't sure if this tour would be interesting for me. I had a ball. I got to go to some places that I had never been to before - and will now definitely go back to. Be sure to bring your walking shoes! It is a long walk, especially on a hot day. However, I would do it again.

What a delightful afternoon! Now I've another great tour to recommend to locals and our out of town guests! I consider myself the lucky one because I'll have opportunities to return again and again to these neighborhood specialty shops for their delightful offerings! Our guide was welcoming and knowledgable...about both the food and the local area. The food tastings were unique and delicious. My favorite of the day was the shop specializing in olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Food portions were generous. We ended the tour with our stomachs full and glad that we had walked off some of those pizza and chocolate calories This is definitely a tour for persons able to maintain a fairly brisk walking pace...wear your comfortable shoes!

As a former city resident, I booked the tour just to spend time strolling through some of my favorite neighborhoods with the tastings being an after thought. However, much to my delight, the tastings turned out to be so much more enjoyable than I'd imagine. I did return to several of them the next day (with another former resident in tow) and made purchases -- tea, candy, olive oil and spices! Plus I plan to share info about all of the vendors with my local friends. Our guide Shane was funny, personable and gave a good presentation at each site. I felt welcomed at each stop. Our group, 10 people, was just the right size. There was so much packed into the two mile journey that it felt like a much longer trip -- but that's a good thing. The pace was perfect. I'd recommend this tour to anyone who truly enjoys interesting food.

I really liked this tour. I didn't know what to expect. I am an avid walker and this was so much fun. I was able to see neighborhoods in Chicago I had never been to. The guide was informative and funny. After it was over we were able to use coupons provided and went back and bought some of the things we tried on the walk. The tea shop was great. Thanks.

Where else can you get culture, food, and fitness all at once? We had plenty of food left over for seconds and even thirds(for the ravenous) and a good tall drink early on in the tour to quench our thirst. We picked the 2:00 p.m. tour which turned out perfect because we had had a good breakfast earlier and were able to skip lunch altogether. Our guide was courteous and knowledgeable, providing us interesting tidbits of information not only on food, spices, oil and tea but on architecture, historical landmarks, and entertainers/stars in the area. Wear good WALKING shoes (no flimsy flip-flops!). Note to organizers: Don't change a thing!

I would highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting the Chicago area as well as for those living there. We returned to three of the 8 places to purchase items the next day. Our tour guide was very friendly and upbeat and very informed. I have already told several friends/relatives that the Food Tour is a must on their next visit to Chicago.

My family and I were in Chicago visiting relatives and I convinced everyone to come along on this food tasting tour. It was wonderful and we all had a great time, even my 17 month old daughter! And our relatives, who have lived in Chicago their whole lives, were so glad that they went because it was something they would never have thought of doing by themselves. The food was great and there was A LOT of it, but we didnt feel so bad eating it all as we were walking it off. It was a really good time and very informational, just make sure you wear comfortable shoes...and pants :o)

the tour was wonderful. nikki was so knowlegeable,articulate and fun. enjoyed all the shops and the history of the area. it was most enjoyable. would do it again in a heartbeat. thanks for the great tour

The draw in the ad is the food, but our guide, Nicky, delivered a fun, fact=filled day. Our tour was more like 4 hours, so plan accordingly if you have plans after. The walking was broken up, but much more than 2-3 miles. I have a bad ankle, but was fine - it was the walk home which hurt. My fault, Nicky showed us transportation, but we wanted to go back and shop at a few shops we were introduced to. Just remember, as tempting as the olive oil is, it will be hard to get it back home by plane!! They have a web-site. Enjoy

We all enjoyed the variety of foods we ate and places we visited. It was so much fun to visit different neighborhoods of Chicago while enjoying various delicious eats. We went back and bought things from a couple places. Very fun and informative.