Chowing Down in Carlsbad – Carlsbad Food Tours

Food is universal. It gathers family and friends, allows creative expression, provides sustenance, and is a window into the landscape and culture surrounding it. Southern California cuisine is known for a variety of fresh ingredients and forward thinking presentation. Avocados. almonds, and citrus grace the agriculture scene. Things like avocado toast and almond milk are trends that span coast to coast and can be found all the coast. Fish tacos are a SoCal specialty that have emerged from seaside eateries in Mexico. The cobb salad traces its roots back to Hollywood in the 1930s where Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant introduced it and named it after the restaurant’s owner, Robert Cobb. Carlsbad is home to many different mouth watering restaurants that highlight Southern California’s favorite cuisines. For food lovers wanting to try a variety of the tasty options Carlsbad has to offer, Carlsbad Food Tours offer guests a taste of the city by providing approximately three hours of samples from the best restaurants and specialty food stores Carlsbad has to offer.

Carlsbad Food Tours seek to unravel Carlsbad Village’s history and culture by showcasing neighborhood favorites via a walking tour that allows participants to try bites from each location and entices them to come back later for a full meal. The tour guides pay special attention to educate guests about the origins of Carlsbad through food. The walking tour passes by some of Carlsbad’s most historic landmarks. The Twin Inns and Carlsbad Mineral Spa are featured along the route, in addition to a variety of shops and galleries along the way. The most unique thing about the Carlsbad Food Tours is the authenticity with which the tours are planned. Each of the culinary stops within the tour are locally-owned and operated.

There are eight stops on the ‘Experience a Taste of Carlsbad’ tour. Each provides a quick peek into the different foods available around the Village. The tour highlights the many Italian eateries neighborhood locals have come to love. From Caldo Pomodoro, to Humble Olive Oils, Vigilucci’s Gourmet Market, Gaia Gelato and Gregorio’s, the Italian cuisine featured on the tour is next to none. With nods to origins in Sicily and Milan as well as locally sourced and family-owned olive oils and authentic Italian gelato recipes, each of these locations are great examples of the fresh and vibrant cuisine of Italy with a Southern Californian flare. In addition to Italian cuisine, The Carlsbad Food Tours also make stops at one of the city’s best American breakfast and lunch spots, as well an Authentic Mexican eatery located within the Village. Cafe Topes has been voted the ‘Best Breakfast in Carlsbad’ and offers a contemporary take on traditional breakfast dishes. Lola’s Mexican Deli has been serving Carlsbad’s diners since 1943. Favorites include things like carne asada and fish tacos, rounded out with authentic staples like rice and beans. For food lovers with a sweet tooth and a love for wine, the tour also makes stops at Senor Grubby’s, Witch Creek Winery, and the Carlsbad Chocolate Bar. Chocolate, coffee, and espresso are in good supply at both Senor Grubby’s and the Carlsbad Chocolate Bar. Witch Creek Winery produces local blends that range from Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot. As San Diego’s oldest urban winery, Witch Creek Winery has a dog-friendly tasting room one block from the beach.

Carlsbad Village is home to many different places for food lovers to enjoy. There are new restaurants opening each month and endless opportunities to try the local cuisines that contribute to the culture and history of the city. Carlsbad Food Tours offers guests the ability to bundle a handful of samples into one outing while enjoying a walk through Carlsbad Village. The tastes experienced within will delight all palettes and encourage exploration into all of the other food options Carlsbad has to offer.