A Food tourist takes a walk on the Socratic Side

The Wok Shop in San Francisco

I’ve been on three food tours so far. First, Georgetown, D.C, second, San Francisco China Town and last week Chicago. I’ve learned a lot, tasted a lot, and enjoyed a lot. Food tourism might just be my new sport. There are a few practical advantages of a food tour besides the obvious excitement of eating cultural history.

First, a tour allows me to sample small dishes in various places without feeling guilty or sorry for the waiter.

Second, it allows me to follow someone around and focus on eating not locating.

Third, it allows me to meet interesting people happy to talk about their food experiences.

All good reasons to go on a food tour.

If you have dietary limitations, allergies or just don’t like trying new things, I would still encourage you to go. Here’s why: while food navigates the tour, the walk and associated stories themselves are well worth it. These discoveries are just as enjoyable as finding a new delicious taste. Like listening to owner of Wok Shop in San Francisco passionately defend the superiority of traditional Woks or looking at the Tiffany Domes in the Chicago Cultural Center while Jazz music floats in the air. These are moments when design and food, the aesthetic and the gastronomic touch in fantastically beautiful and delicious ways. Its better than walking through museums because we use all of our senses as the privilege of the objective eye diminishes. Food tours offer a taste of what might be a 21st century philosophical walk of consumption and shared meaning. The conversations during a food tour center around personal and shared nostalgia, vacation plans, personal taste preferences, favorite sports teams and so much more. The information shared is both public and intimate.

On a domestic level, The Philosopher’s Table by Marietta McCarty aims to help us engage in philosophical dinner conversation. Each dinner involves diners around a table with a question to consider and corresponding food. http://www.thephilosopherstable.com/

Here are a few images from my tours as provocation………to go on a tour and take a walk on the Socratic side.