A Tour for the Taste Buds

The Savor the Flavors of Charleston tour gives visitors insight into such things as how the sesame-based benne wafers made their journey from East Africa to the Lowcountry.

With the advent of guided culinary tours that take guests behind the scenes at some of the city’s most revered dining establishments, complete with samples, it’s easier than ever to experience Charleston’s culinary history firsthand.

Tour groups are a common sight; dozens of people riding in horse-drawn carriages, air-conditioned tour buses or meandering on foot down city streets with knowledgeable guides leading the way. But for the true aesthete, nothin’ could be finer than to be in Carolina for breakfast, lunch or dinner. What better way to nourish both mind and body than with an educational journey into the heart of Lowcountry cooking?

Bulldog Tours founder John LaVerne knows tours. For more than 20 years, LaVerne has taken adventurous explorers down the cobblestone streets of Charleston’s history, first as a guide, then as the owner of a successful walking tour business. The latest addition to his company’s tour repertoire is his acquisition of Culinary Tours of Charleston.

“Charleston has a unique culinary history that needs to be shared,” says LaVerne. “Folks who aren’t from Charleston or the South gain a newfound appreciation for why our food is the best anywhere. I think it rivals any cuisine out there in the world. It’s a big part of why Charleston has become a hot destination for people; we’ve got awesome food, recipes and world-renowned chefs.”

Culinary Tours of Charleston offers two distinct tours from which to choose. The first is the Savor the Flavors of Charleston tour, which blends facts with victuals, giving visitors an opportunity to learn interesting insights into such things as how the thin, sesame-based cookies known as benne wafers made their journey from East Africa to the Lowcountry, or why grits are stone-ground. Southern staples like collards, barbecue and sweet tea are all on the menu, too, with the bonus of a guide to enlighten tasters about the histories behind them.

For the curious home cook, there’s the Charleston Chef’s Kitchen tour—offering guests a chance to peek behind the wizards’ curtains into the workspaces of some of the city’s finest and most innovative chefs. Many of the restaurants on the tour have been around for decades and feature colorful chefs eager to tell their tales about the ongoing renaissances of Charleston’s culinary scene.

The two distinct tours offered by Culinary Tours of Charleston each last two-and-a-half hours, with stops at restaurants such as Cypress, Tristan, Blossom, McCrady’s, Magnolias, High Cotton, Carolina’s, Noisy Oyster and Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. Round out the adventure with a sample of Charleston’s famous pralines or other sweet treats from River Street Sweets or Lucas Belgian Chocolate. And don’t forget to pick up a cookbook by a local chef from Charleston Cooks to take home.

Get a complete list of Charleston's restaurants.

Photos by (from top to bottom): Matthew Scott (2) and Rick McKee/Cypress Cookbook (2).

The Audubon Gallery Not just a gallery, but a Charleston destination since 1987. Located in the heart of the antique district The Audubon Gallery is the only local gallery to specialize in the finest Natural History and Sporting Art from the 17th - 20th centuries. A sportsmans paradise with a fantastic selection of paintings, etchings, limited edition fine art prints, antique wildfowl decoys and wood carvings by local artisans. Audubon's "Birds of America", Natural History Art by Besler, Redouté, Clark, Benson and many others. Contact Joel Oppenheimer Inc., The Natural History Art Gallery.

McCrady's Inventive cuisine. Fresh from the farm. Named one of the Top Ten Restaurants in North America by Opinionated About Dining. McCrady's Restaurant, located in an historic 1778 Georgian public house, offers an award-winning dining experience with the best of new Southern cuisine. Chef Sean Brock was awarded the 2010 James Beard Best Chef Southeast for his talented mix of modern skills and classic antebellum recipes. Sensationally presented dishes one of Charleston's most extensive wine lists. Private dining available in the spectacular Long Room, Gallery, Chef's Room or Cypress Room.

Bernie Horton Gallery A native of rural North Carolina now living at the edge of the marsh, Bernie Horton paints fine art originals reflecting the beauty of his surroundings --- most recognized for his light-filled lowcountry landscapes, marshes, beaches and people. Bernie captures the moods and emotions of all the different seasons and times of day. Each painting is approached from an impressionistic standpoint, yet to the eye, they have a realistic quality because of his concentration on perspective, proportion and attention to detail. Visit or find Bernie Horton Gallery on Facebook.