Recently Viewed
Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
5.0
829 Ratings
Charleston
Embark on a chef-led historic food tour in Charleston, exploring the city’s culinary heritage. Enjoy a walking tour, cooking demonstration, lunch, and wine tasting at Bistro a Vin.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- 1 Vendue Range - Charleston’s acclaimed Chef Forrest Parker guides you along an undiscovered path where food and history meet on in historic Charleston, distilling 400 years into a walking tour experience culminating with a cooking demonstration and three course tasting of the iconic flavors of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Chef Forrest leads you on a 90 minute walking tour unlike any other in the city, as the only certified chef tour guide, exploring the complicated history of the Holy City and the culinary influences that shaped Charleston into one of the world’s top food destinations. You’ll visit the not-to be missed sights, but also the lesser known and understood locations where, for example, an enslaved chef created a recipe that still helps define local menus. The tour concludes at a cozy bistro where you relax while Chef Forrest demonstrates how to prepare the recipes he wrote interpreting definitive Lowcountry classics, and prepared using techniques he mastered over two decades. You’ll enjoy a lunch with each of those courses carefully paired with wine, and then take his recipes home with you as our gift to you.
What's Included
- Tea and coffee
- Take-home copies of Chef Forrest’s recipes for each guest
- Cooking demonstration by the renowned Chef Forrest Parker
- 90-minute guided walking tour of Charleston’s historic district
- Wine tastings at Bistro Au Vin, matched with Chef Forrest’s dishes (options to buy more)
- Gourmet lunch included
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Meal Options
- Lunch - Tours conclude at a cozy bistro where Chef Forrest demonstrates how to prepare Lowcountry classics. Enjoy a lunch carefully paired with wine.
Additional Information
Charleston’s sole chef-led historical walking tour, cooking show, and lunch! Our adventure starts with a 90-minute culinary history walking tour through the historic district, followed by a cooking show, lunch & wine tasting at the beloved local venue, Bistro a Vin. The experience is led by Charleston’s only South Carolina Chef Ambassador & Palmetto Guild Certified tour guide, Forrest Parker. As the leader of teams at some of Charleston’s most famous eateries, Parker has been described as a ‘visionary who leverages the culture, history & flavor customs of South Carolina to create heritage-rich experiences.’ In 2016, Parker was acknowledged by Governor Nikki Haley as a S.C. Chef Ambassador, a peak achievement in a culinary career that kicked off in 1995.
Chef Forrest encourages you to take the road less taken; to see, touch, sip, and savor the Undiscovered Charleston!
- Guests must be 21 or older, with the exception of older teenagers accompanying parents
- FOOD ALLERGIES! I regulary cook, handle, prepare and serve meats, shellfish, eggs, dairy, nuts and gluten. That said, if you require reasonable accommodation of any food allergies, aversions or special diets: most common special diets etc. can be accommodated, provided I’m aware in advance. Vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, dairy allergies, nut allergies & celiacs are all welcome, provided I’m aware in advance. I’m not a restaurant and if I’m not aware in advance I will not be prepared. If you are requesting reasonable accommodation, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO MESSAGE ME DIRECTLY.
Location
1 Vendue Range
Vendue Range
Waterfront Park, also called Joe Riley Waterfront Park is at the end of a street called Vendue Range. We'll meet at the famous Pineapple fountain.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(829 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
K'ron
Aug 19, 2024
This hidden gem is worth every penny!! - Simply put, if I could do this again and again, I would.
This event with Chef Forrest Parker provided me with an experience that was worth way more than what I paid for.
The historical tour around Charlestons' historic district provided tons of very interesting insight about the towns historical relationship with food and how some of their cuisines came to be.
And then there was the lunch! One word, spectacular 🙌 ✨️ Each dish was carefully crafted right before our eyes all while he told us where the inspiration and the history behind it. Truthfully, there was never a dull moment. Chef Forrest is professional, insightful, and extremely personable.
If you have the opportunity to spend the afternoon walking around and eating with him, you should jump at the chance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G29ipmichaelg
Aug 14, 2024
Our Best Tour Ever - Wow. Chef Parker was absolutely amazing. His knowledge of historic Charleston was exceeded only by the quality of his brunch and food. This was a wonderful experience and one that we can very enthusiastically recommend. We would do it again just to get more time with Chef - he is engaging, humble and great to be with.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eileenmp4676bw
Aug 5, 2024
History with Yummy Twist. - My sister and I had a fabulous time with another two sister on this tour. Chef Forrester was very knowledge about the history of Charleston but he also was able chat other topics - (real estate, plant life and life in general). We had fun time on the walking tour and then the best was our fabulous lunch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nancyc680
Jul 29, 2024
Outstanding value! - This was the favorite experience of our weekend. The lunch exceeded expectations and the cooking lesson provided several new tips for my time in the kitchen. My husband is ready to do this again the next time we are in Charleston.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nancy_c
Jul 29, 2024
Our best experience in Charleston! - Chef Parker is a talented man with a great sense of humor. The lunch we had was much, much better than dinner the night before at 82 Queen. The value of this experience is outstanding and well worth the price. We hope to repeat the experience our next trip to Charleston.
Review provided by Viator
Bartbs7922gd
Jul 28, 2024
A Unique Experience - Chef Forrest provides an informative, thought provoking, and delicious experience. He has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the history of Charleston and its food and shares it in an entertaining and interesting way.
Whether you are a first-time visitor to Charleston or a long-time resident, you will learn much about the city and its food and enjoy a wonderful lunch. A unique experience worth every penny.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cassiebm9290cd
Jul 27, 2024
Amazing experience!! - Amazing experience! Wonderful and fun knowledge plus the best food we have had. I would totally recommend doing this surely if you love food and wine.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tina_h
Jul 16, 2024
Excellent experience - Chef Parker was amazing in his experience and knowledge of low-country cuisine and the history behind it. He was excellent at storytelling, funny and engaging. The lunch he prepared was wonderful as well!
Review provided by Viator
Maryellen_t
Jul 14, 2024
Educational, Fun and Delicious! - Chef Forest was terrific - engaging and super interesting - knowledgeable of Charleston History and, of course, in the kitchen!
Review provided by Viator
Trip772114
Jul 9, 2024
Well worth the cost of the tour and the heat of July! - The tour was so informative and the small group made it very easy to ask questions. Chef Parker is fun to talk to, so knowledgeable and the food and wine pairings SO delicious!! Fantastic tour. We would do this again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor