One-Tank Trip for
June 9/18
(c) By Jim Fox
The “journey of
delicious exploring” is no longer the purview of big cities – it’s coming to a
city or town near you.
A fun part of
exploring new destinations is to sample the local cuisine to get the flavour of
the place.
 |
| “Spicy Jan” |
Take it from “Spicy
Jan” (aka Jan Vilaca), owner and guide of Tasty Road Trips, and gourmet food
industry veteran, who finds “the buzz of food tours in small towns is catching
on.”
Her company’s
adventures have now expanded to include Woodstock with tours to “tickle your
taste buds whether you are a visitor or have lived here all your life.”
The launch of Tasty
Road Trips Food Tours helps to “discover this hub
for delicious tastings, unique shops and to learn about the rich history of
Woodstock.”
Also offered are tours in St. George
and Paris (near Brantford), with an affiliate operator in Peterborough.
It’s “ideal” for
visiting family and group tours can be curated for special occasions, team
building, sales incentives and educational outings,” Jan said.
The tours of 2-1/2
to 3 hours take in from six to 12 locations with food, shops and cultural stops.
“From chocolate to
pizza to seafood to the best guacamole you will ever try, Buddha bowls, fresh
oysters and produce tastings, we touch all types of food and experience,” she
said.
 |
| Enjoying a slice of pizza at Finkle Street Tap and Grill in Woodstock. |
As well, “some
incredible chefs” prepare tastings off the menu just for the tours.
Meredith Maywood,
Oxford County’s tourism specialist, said “food tours are full of entertainment,
interesting stories and great eats.”
In welcoming Tasty
Road Trips, she said the tours “make an excellent activity for couples, friends
and singles to explore the great food history of Woodstock.”
 |
| How sweet it is on
the tasty tour of Woodstock.
|
Sip, sample and
savour
A recent tour called “Explore Woodstock with a
Foodie” was called a “delicious adventure” in the city known as the Dairy
Capital of Canada.
There was, of course,
a sampling of cheese at Fritzie’s Fries from “Fry King” Steve
Charron via gourmet poutine prepared especially for the visitors.
 |
| Fritzie’s Fries is a popular stop for poutine on the Tasty tours. |
It consisted of
melty cheese curds, gravy and fresh cut fries on the tasting menu.
Over at Habitual
Chocolate, owner Philippe Lehner uses cacao beans from around the world that become
rich dark chocolate bars.
He also prepared
small batch, all-natural ice cream drizzled with dark melted chocolate for sampling.
The tour included wood-fired
oven pizza at Finkle Street Tap and Grill to sample, a visit to the farmer’s market, local entrepreneurs including the Record Works and
the art gallery.
Each tour has a
guide for the group or private tour and takes into account those with food concerns
or allergies and the distance walked.
 |
| Habitual Chocolate's Philippe Lehner |
Jan’s first tour
was on a snowy day in January with two guests from Toronto who wanted to
discover “the sips and samples in small towns,” she said.
“Big city folks are
enticed by what a small town has to offer and they always find they return over
and over,” she added.
 |
| The Record Works, Woodstock |
If you indulge
Sharing the passion
for food and travel, the company is booking through Tasty Road Trips Food Tours
and on the Airbnb Experience Platform.
The cost is between
$45 to $55 a person depending on the requirements of the tour (food
restrictions, beverage samples, etc.)
Children, aged six
to 12, are half price and it’s free for those five and younger. Walking
distance is 1 to 1.5 kilometres.
For more
information: tastyroadtrips.com
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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