It’s official – my pal Cynthia and I have just launched Texas Toast Culinary Tours.
Here’s why: You love Texas and its increasingly fabulous selection of dining, talented chefs and authentic food/wine experiences The only trouble is, you don’t always know exactly where all the best bites and sips await, and you want to know more about what makes it all taste so great.
That’s when you need someone whose epicurean expertise will take you down all the right roads in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio – and beyond. As a travel journalist, dining critic, and cookbook author with more than 20 years of experience, I know where the taste thrills are and I’ll introduce you to the people whose work in food and wine is downright artful.
Our company: My partner in these culinary adventures is Cynthia Wahl, a long-time colleague at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. With a background in art and design and a passion for food and wine, she brings aesthetic expertise to the table. Together, we’re plotting paths that your palate’s gonna love.
Feeding Frenzy: Because locals want to get a look behind the scenes at their favorite restaurants in Dallas and Fort Worth, we’re planning a variety of day and evening eating tours around town. These Feeding Frenzy events, usually offered twice a month, will give guests a chance to eat one small course, with a special wine or cocktail pairing, at three different places. We’ll link the participating restaurants together by neighborhood or cuisine. Best of all, you’ll get a chance to meet the chef or food-and-wine staff and chat with them about what inspires them and what goes into their work. We’ll be blogging like mad on these events, and we’ll update on Facebook and Twitter.
Half-day tours: Visit a cheesemaker, artisan bakery, wine cellar, or specialty market for tour and tasting; or take a cooking class with noted chef; or enjoy a wine or food seminar with an expert; then top it off with lunch at a leading restaurant. 4 to 5 hours, morning or afternoon.
Full-day tours: Combine several of the ideas found in the half-day tours and include lunch or dinner. 8 hours.
Multi-day tours: Each day has a theme, with choices that might include ethnic cuisines; pairing wines and foods; local and regional foods; the Texas Trilogy: barbecue, Tex-Mex, and steaks; and celebrity chefs. As noted above, the itinerary can incorporate visits to see food/wine production, specialty markets, tastings, seminars, cooking demos or classes, and meals with appropriate wines or other beverages.
Customized ideas: Need to add museums, live music, shopping, spas? Let’s do it.
From our website: We’re working on tours that you’ll find posted soon at www.texastoastculinarytours.com. These itineraries will consist of three-night stays and most will have themes, ie, Wine 101; Bodacious Barbecue and Beer Tour; Local Color; The Texas Triology: Steak, Barbecue and Mexican Food; Food, Wine, Art, and Thou; How Do They Do That? and The Texas Table. These will be designed for a maximum of 16 to 20 people, with a full schedule of dining, tastings, market tours, and behind-the-scenes peeks as above. Packages can include lodging, food, and ground transportation.
Questions? Email us at texastoastculinarytours@yahoo.com. Be sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter, too.
