The Big Apple’s culinary world may be as famous as its most iconic buildings: from the versatile bagels to the well-known General Tso’s chicken, without missing out on desserts like baked Alaska or cheesecake, New York’s food is an example of the multiple cultures that have influenced the city’s lifestyle. Nevertheless, this may also challenge those aiming to start a gastronomic tour of the City that Never Sleeps: where to begin? How to choose the best food tour? Here, we propose some tips.
How to Choose the Perfect Food Tour in New York
Suppose you are considering having an overall New York experience. In that case, try to combine visiting traditional, well-known sites (like the Flatiron Building, Central Park, or Little Italy, among others) with a New York Food tour. What should be taken into account when planning this kind of activity?
Food Tours: General Considerations
Food tours are a great way to get to know the whole local culture, yet picking one from a list is difficult. Some general considerations to consider when booking one are:
· Research
After choosing your destination, check the available food tour companies, their offers, and their reviews. You should know what kind of tour you want beforehand: on wheels or walking? Does it include cultural and historical overviews as well? Is the food menu varied?
· Food Preferences
Food tours offer a wide range of options: from street food to fancy restaurants, from all kinds of diets to more specific ones (like vegan or vegetarian). It is important that you keep this (as well as preferences or allergies, among others) in mind while looking into the different alternatives.
· Period
While some tours may last only a few hours, others can last over a few days. Consider the time you plan to dedicate to this activity beforehand.
· Amount of People
Some tourists prefer walking around with a large crowd, but others may be more comfortable with a reduced group. You should check for a minimum regarding the number of people, especially if you are traveling alone, for the tour may be canceled if the minimum is not met.
Price
The price range varies greatly depending on the activities included, the kind of meals scheduled (either snacks or full meals), the time span (if a tour lasts several days, it may comprise accommodation), and the restaurants considered. Make sure to compare different companies before choosing and take heed of what is included, for not all tours include things such as alcoholic drinks, among other items.
Best Tpurs in the Big Apple
When talking about the Big Apple, some of the best-known food tours in New York are:
· Greenwich Village
Yes, you can enjoy the sights of the iconic neighborhood that served as the background to shows like “Sex and the City” and “Friends” while also enjoying its food. Classic New York plates, international options, and a diversity that represents the cultural mixture that lies behind the city: in “The Village,” you will be able to grab a bite at the celebrity New York pizza, try the famous local rice balls, and delight in its pastries, among many other menu items.
· Chinatown and Little Italy
As the names suggest, both neighborhoods have a deep-rooted culture that shows in both landscape and cuisine. Known for its sense of community and generation after generation, family-owned restaurants that serve traditional dishes and its markets, where you can buy fresh products, in these districts, you will be able to find every taste from sweet to salty.
While Chinatown is best known for its dumplings or roast pork buns, Little Italy is the place for those who love pizza, artisanal cheeses, and cured meats.
· Flatiron District and Union Square
Where food meets History: Stroll through some of New York’s best-known architecture and culinary culture in Flatiron and Union Square. Your itinerary can include Italian plates from various restaurants (like Eataly or Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop, among others) and a visit to the Union Square Farmer’s Market.
While deeply influenced by the neighborhood’s historical component (and its iconic Flatiron building), many boutique firms and start-ups have also located there, embedding the area with dazzling activity.
· Chelsea Market and The Highline
Chelsea Market is one of the most famous indoor food markets, and the High Line is one of New York’s best-known elevated parks. This food tour combines them both and includes the Meatpacking District to offer an experience that includes some of New York’s best hot dogs, ice cream, and artisanal delicacies, as well as the History of how Chelsea Market became the birthplace of the Oreo cookie.
· Hell’s Kitchen and Central Park
Have you visited the Big Apple if you have yet to visit Central Park? With this food tour, you need not worry about that, for you will be able to tick two iconic places off your list in one go, from hush puppies to empanadas, without missing out on doughnuts, curry puffs, and baba ghanoush; try every different taste from the Latin, Indonesian and Middle Eastern plates that form the culinary patchwork that lies behind this famous neighborhood that was once the residency of the Irish-American working class.
· Best of Brooklyn
A savory experience in which you will get to visit from Greenwich Village to Greenpoint, Carroll Gardens, Dumbo (known as the waterfront neighborhood), and Williamsburg, this tour includes traditional dishes that go from New York’s-brick-oven pizza, classic Cuban sandwiches, and Polish pierogis and kielbasa, among many other flavoury examples like tacos and pupusas.
· Pizza Tour and Other Dish-Specific Tours
As the name suggests, the pizza tour is crafted for pizza lovers, for it will take you to the most renowned sites that offer this dish: Little Italy, Brooklyn, Lower East Side, and Greenwich Village and restaurants like Joe’s Pizza, John’s of Bleecker Street, Patsy’s and Lombardi’s, among others.
Suppose you are looking for a specific taste. In that case, you can try the Downtown Donut tour (which covers the History of this loved American delicacy from its first shop, which opened in 1673), the Lower East Side Bagel tour (in which you will get to visit some iconic restaurants like Russ and Daughters and The Pickle Guy, among others), and the Upper West Side’s Kosher tour (which includes a taste of both Jewish cuisine and its culture).
· New York’s Best Known Recipes
Some dishes are attached to New York’s name and culture. If you want a complete Big Apple experience, try not only the bagels and pizza but also the pastrami, the egg and cheese, the black and white cookie, or the ice cream cookie sandwich.
Known for the variety of cultures that have left their mark on the city’s landscape and culinary culture, New York has something to offer for every palate. Whether you are vegan or into Latin food, whether you like historical buildings or strolling through parks, the Big Apple has the tour you are looking for.
By Chris Bates
