Whenever I think about my visits to Carmel By the Sea this past year, I think of a few things. The cute storefronts with their wooden signs full of so much character and charm. The beautiful art galleries that adorn the shops along Carmel. The Beach, with it being in such close proximity, and the food. Carmel truly has some GREAT restaurants that cater to those that visit yearly, but also to locals. A huge reason that these restaurants are able to stay open year round.
When I first found out about the Carmel Food Walk, it was because my friend Jen over at The Mom Reviews wrote a great article about it. I had to experience the tour myself, so on one of my recent visits, to give back, I purchased a ticket.
Once we purchased our ticket, the location of where to meet was given to us. The tour takes between 3 to 4 hours, and through the experience we are truly given a sample of the area’s restaurants. Tours may vary by tastings.
Some unique experiences on our tour included:
Spanish Tapas Tasting at Mundaka
Wood Fired Pizza at La Bicyclette
Amazing Gnocchi at Casanova
Olive Oil Tasting at Trio Carmel
Yes! Even an Olive Oil Tasting over ice cream was involved, and let me tell you, an incredible treat that compliments each other quite well.
Cocktail Pairing at Terry’s Lounge at the Cypress Inn
The Classic Manhattan. And yes, we got a little education on Whiskey.
Wine Tasting at Figge Cellars
I loved that they even had wine on tap available with their recent released, and I LOVED their Gewurtztraminer. As you taste your wine you’re invited to walk around the art gallery and appreciate the art around you. A GREAT wine tasting experience if you ask me.
Chocolate Tasting at Lulu’s Chocolates
Between Beverages, Chocolates and Eats, you will not go hungry. And of course, during the tour, tour guide Staci Giovino gives some great insight into Carmel By The Sea.
Ticket Price: 69 Dollars
Fridays and Saturdays: 11am – 2pm
My experience? I loved this tour because it gave me a GREAT insight to the areas restaurants and specialty shops around the beautiful town. And it also brought me inside restaurants, that if I were just visiting, I may have just walked by. I found some new favorites while trying some different food pairings I otherwise may not have thought of before.
