Food tour lets you get to really know a town
ALBANY, N.Y. » One way to get to know a new place is by eating your way through the town - and that’s exactly what I did last week when I went on my first-ever food tour.
Although I’m familiar with downtown Albany and many of its establishments I saw it all through different eyes on a test run of the new Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour series by Taste of Troy Food Tours.
Owner and tour guide Amy Koren-Roth led me and fellow foodies through a lovely afternoon in Albany.
At each of the stops I had a tasty new treat. Pretzels at the Pump Station, tacos and guac at Ama Cocina, vegetarian cuisine at The Hollow, coffee and Cider Belly Doughnuts at Stacks Espresso Bar, plus a drink at the Olde English Pub, were all part of the fun on my food tour adventure.
Between each of these tastes were short walks through the city streets, interesting historical facts and visits to city landmarks.
Our guide Amy kept these stops brief but informative, never letting us get too hungry before our next bite, and making sure we learn a thing or two along the way.
This Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour was enjoyable for me as a local, discovering different eateries and dishes while hearing about the Capital City’s history. It would definitely make an exciting daytime date or social outing for area residents.
I can also see these food tours being especially valuable for visitors to the area, or maybe someone who recently moved to the city. Amy, who’s taken plenty of food tours around the globe, recommends booking a food tour on one of the first few days of a trip, giving travelers an an idea of where they’d like to return throughout their stay.
I may just take her advice next time I’m out of town - and I hope my next food tour experience is as fun as my first.
In addition to the new Historic Downtown Albany Food Tours, which begin next month, Taste of Troy Food Tours is once again offering its Central Troy Historic District Food Tours, back for the third season. These tours have a similar setup in an equally as historic city with tons of cafes, bars and restaurants to explore.
More information about Taste of Troy Food Tours, which will run from May through October in Albany and Troy, is available online at www. tasteoftroyfoodtours.com.