I love food and I love discovering new restaurants. And, when I travel, I love learning as much as I can about the history of the area I am visiting. But how often do you get to learn the local history of the area in which you live (unless you grew up in that area that is)? So what better than a tour of local restaurants with some fascinating tidbits of local history thrown in along the way!
A couple weeks ago, we had the pleasure touring several hot spots in the Northwood area of West Palm Beach (and one in Lake Worth) with Taste History Culinary Tours. The lovely Lori J. Durante, Executive Tour Guide did a wonderful job of putting together a fantastic tour with stops at several locally owned eateries, art galleries, an antique store and more. And, the best part? Each tour is different so you can do this more than once-- it is a great way to spend a Saturday, find your new favorite restaurant and entertain guests from out of town! This would make such a cool gift as well.
Check out all of the fun we had in the Northwood district of West Palm and beyond!
Here are the places we visited on our tour:
Dos Amigos Mexicali Restaurant - EXCELLENT mexican food in the heart of the super cool historic Northwood district. They gave us a variety of things off the menu to try- from guacamole and salsa to the Tacos and what they call their rattlesnake burrito (which is not really rattlesnake). The margaritas are also fantastic and come in a wide variety of flavors. Rumor has it that Dos Amigos is the place to be on Tuesdays when margaritas are only $.99 and Tacos are only $2.00!
Olivia's Special Teas - yummy loose-leaf teas in over 50 different flavors, organic herbal craft-brewed kombucha, fine raw honeys, and more. Owned and operated by a sweet family, they make their own products and distribute them nationally. We loved their kombucha- so refreshing and healthy!
Bohemia AG Apothecary Gelato - this funky part art gallery, part gelateria was a favorite. Their gelato flavors are wonderfully unique and change often. We tried the lavender honey gelato and it was seriously one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life.
Something Lively Antiques - part antique store part art gallery- we had a great time browsing the antique furniture (some of which are hundreds of years old) and the local art.
Los Trompos (Spinning Tops) Art Installation - this was such a fun stop on the tour, and just shows you that they put a lot of thought into these tours with stops to entertain. If you haven't taken the kids to experience this super fun interactive art installation, check it out soon because it closes on August 28th!
Mama Gizzi Pasta - The best part about Mama Gizzi's pasta (other than the incredible homemade pasta, of course) is Mama Gizzi herself. This Italian mama is full of moxie and knows how to cook the best Italian food this side of Italy. The little shop she owns with her husband is where the magic happens- made-to-order pasta, stuffed breads, and more are to die for. You must, however, order ahead - because her pasta is in high demand (used by the top chefs at the top - and I mean top) restaurants and resorts in town). If you want the full experience, book a suppah club where you can have an intimate dinner in her shop- limited to 12 guests, this sells out fast so reserve early! Check her website for more info.
The Taste History Culinary Tours are held on Saturdays and explore different areas of Palm Beach County (historic West Palm Beach (Various Districts) are the first Saturday; Lake Worth and Lantana are held on the second Saturday and the culinary tours of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach are held on the third and fourth Saturdays plus private group tours are available during the week).
The Taste History Culinary Tours are conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History which is a non-profit organization. Please LIKE the culinary tours on Facebook and sign-up to Follow the Blog for the Taste History Culinary Tours.
The author was a guest of Taste History Culinary Tours for the purpose of this review. All opinions are those of the author.
