Length or Duration of Tour

A Southwest US food tour could take as little as an hour if you prefer to visit specialty restaurants in one town or city. Many food tours, however, last longer, varying from a few hours to an entire day. Some may have you hopping from one state to another to give you an authentic taste of everything the Southwest has to offer.

Type of Activities

Contrary to popular opinion, food tours are not entirely about eating. Food, after all, can be enjoyed in other ways. Cooking is just one of them. A number of Southwest US food tours include teaching guests how to prepare select Southwestern dishes. These cooking lessons could involve a simple demo or have guests cook alongside their instructor.

Cooking and eating food, however, are not the only possible items in the itinerary. Several Southwest US food tours also entertain guests with visits to historical landmarks and other important cultural attractions. The unique taste of Southwestern food owes a lot to its history, and locals are more than happy to share why. A visit to chili farms may also be in the offing; New Mexico is the country’s biggest chili producer and seeing how these extra hot ingredients are produced is always an interesting experience.

Food and beer festivals could also be a part of your Southwest US food tour. The Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta is one popular example; it takes place between the last week of Septermber till the first days of October and lasts for five days. More than a hundred wineries participate in the annual event and the festival also offers the best chile dishes the city has to offer. Speaking of beer, food tours – for adults at least – could also include a visit to the most popular bars and clubs of the Southwest and where the best margaritas are served.

Variety of Food

One thing you have to know about Southwest cuisine is its many subsets. Some food tours which advertise Southwest cuisine may only offer you a taste of Mexican dishes. If you want a genuine opportunity to get up close and personal with the best of Southwestern cuisine, make sure to ask for a sample list of dishes you can expect to try on the tour. Do a bit of research as well; Southwest cuisine is a combination of Native American, Tex-Mex, nueva Latina, and Mexican; does the menu you’re given cater to all of the above?

Rates

Last but not the least, make sure you choose the food tour you can surely afford. How much you’ll spend will not only be based on the fee the tour organizer will charge you wish. An estimate of miscellaneous expenses you could spend during the tour itself should also be taken into consideration.

Other Factors

Your Southwest US food tour could be ruined by the smallest of things. As such, it’s important to make sure you like every aspect of the tour. Determine who else you’ll be traveling with, the kind of tour guide you’ll have, the flexibility of arrangements and so forth.

Have fun on your food tour!

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Hot, Hot, Hot!

Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, California, and Arizona, states which are located west of the Mississippi River, make up the Southwest region of the United States. Something hot is what all of them have in common and we’re not just talking about the weather, but their specialty dishes, too!

Oldest of All

Southwest cuisine is said to be the oldest living indigenous cuisine in the United States. You can trace its roots beyond Plymouth Rock. People in the Southwest are vastly proud of the past so

if you’re joining a food tour in the Southwest US, don’t be surprised if you get a brief history lesson along the way!

An Amalgamation of Everything

If you want to be really specific, you should know that the term Southwestern cuisine is just too broad to define the rich variety of food compromising it. Food from the Southwest can be distinguished among various classes such as American Indian, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and nueva Latina, which is one of the newest additions to this growing regional cuisine. Knowing the difference is something natives always appreciate, maybe enough for a free beer!

Major Characteristics of Southwestern Food

If you’re familiar with Mexican cuisine, you’ll probably notice immediately how similar Southwestern food is to it. The differences between both cuisines are subtle, from lesser use of brain, tripe, and other select ingredients to use of larger cuts of meat.

The Difference between Chili and Chile

It’s crucial that you know the difference between the two or you might be in for an incredibly hot surprise and one that will get you running for the nearest gallon of water. Now, chile pertains to pepper native to the Southwest; these have long been considered a staple by the locals. Chili, on the other hand, pertains to a soup or stew containing meat and beans. Either way, be sure to let your server know if you’re not ready to have smoke come off your ears. Better safe than sorry!

Noteworthy Dishes from the Southwest US

Your Southwest food tour could introduce you to a number of spectacular dishes, including but not limited to salsa, chimichanga, chili con carne, taco salad, rattlesnake fillet, pozole, burrito, sopapillas, rice and beans, menudo, chile relleno, nachos, stuffed peppers, taquitos, and King Ranch chicken.

Traditional versus Contemporary versus Upscale

Now, food tours in the Southwest US can be generally classified into three kinds: traditional, contemporary, and upscale.

Those on a budget could choose between traditional and contemporary Southwestern cuisine. Food tours focusing on traditional dishes often come with history-related side trips.

For those willing to shell out more for a better and greater variety of food, there are high-end tours for contemporary and traditional Southwestern cuisine and of course, there are always the upscale and innovative restaurants to visit. New Mexico, which is the largest producer and consumer of chile in the country, also prides itself as the best state to go for upscale Southwestern cuisine.

Ultimately, however, however you choose to explore the Southwest, a food tour is sure to give you more than a delicious taste of what this part of the United States has to offer.

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Weather Protection Gear

The Southwest states may not be snow-prone areas, but this doesn’t mean you can expect sunshine 24/7. Rain showers are a daily threat and it’s best to prepare for this by taking a sweater or jacket with you, together with a cap or umbrella.

Then again, the heat in the Southwest may be a surprise when you’ve come all the way from the North. In that case, be sure to have an extra set or two of fresh clothing. You’ll be surprised at how hot and humid the air can be in the Southwest. Mosquito-repellent lotions, sun block, and a pair of shades won’t go amiss either.

Spare Change

Besides bringing all your hundred-dollar bills to take care of any emergency, make sure you have an ample amount of spare change as well. They can be of great help when your tour’s running a tight schedule and there’s no time to wait for change for large bills.

Recorder

This is especially important when cooking lessons are a part of your food tour. Our memories are not always reliable so if you want to duplicate the masterpiece of your cooking instructor, have your recorder ready and get all the instructions on tape.

Camera

Photographs are not only good for capturing memories of your Southwest US food tour, but they’re also great in helping you navigate your way back to the restaurants you’ve visited on your return trip with family and friends.

Pen and Paper

You’ll be surprised at the many little things you want to scribble about and take note of during your food tour. It could be anything between the address of your favorite Mexican restaurant to nuggets of wisdom shared by a Southwest chef to dates of important cultural events in the area.

Medication

There’s nothing more effective in ruining your day than a sudden headache or an upset stomach. Be medically prepared for any eventuality to ensure the success of your Southwest US food tour. And if your body has a quick metabolism rate, you might want to take with you pills that can help prevent sudden calls of nature.

Bag

Small, cute bags do not go well with food tours. A large or at least medium-sized bag is preferable; it will not only handily hold all your travel essentials, but it can also have enough room for the souvenirs and other purchases you may acquire in the duration of the tour.

Also, make sure that your bag is water proof; this will provide ample protection for its contents during unexpected rain showers. Bags with shoulder straps or ones you can carry on your back are also preferable; hand-carry bags can be tiring, not to mention heavy, after a while.

Calling Cards

Finally, slip in a couple of your calling cards in your wallet. There’s no way to know what opportunities could arise during a Southwest food tour and especially when you’re in the food business.

Of course, there may be other essential items that we might have missed. It all depends on the type of Southwest US food tour you’ve joined. The best way to prepare is to ask your tour organizer for advice.

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First, you need to remember that when in the Southwest, you are not going to be in just one kind of city: in fact, you will be confronting many different customs and cultures because you will be in touch with both large cities and rural areas. You will come into contact with the Mexican culture, a slice of America, some Native Americans, and even migrants from Asia and Europe. This part of the U.S. is filled with so many different cultures, so you need to do your research on the unique cultural norms that you will encounter.

Moreover, be careful not to blanket all of the Southwest, and especially not southwestern cuisine, under one term. When people say Southwestern cuisine, they are actually referring to many different kinds of cuisine that include combinations of American Indian, nueva Latina, Tex-Mex, border, and Mexican. Woe be to you if you come across a chef and carelessly talk about Southwestern cuisine! Moreover, the American Southwest is not just a small batch of land that includes California and New Mexico. It actually covers Texas and Arizona, as well as some parts of Colorado and Oklahoma. Southwestern cuisine and Southwestern culture are more diverse than you think!

Because of its diversity, you will need to do a lot of research on the cultures of Southwestern America before you even plunge into the fray. Moreover, do a lot of research on Southwestern cuisine. You will find that what determines the complexity of Southwestern cuisine is not the number of dishes that go into one dish. In fact, most of Southwestern cuisine is very simple but still very flavorful. The complexity of the dishes come from the ingredients that its specialists use. For instance, over two hundred wild herbs are cultivated by Native Americans in the Southwest and are routinely used in their cooking. Over three hundred varieties of corn exist and are used in Southwestern cuisine, and these kinds of corn can be different only to the seasoned palate.

When in the American Southwest, also avoid lumping Native Americans together. Make no assumptions: these tribes were present even before any Caucasians made their way to American shores, and these hundreds of tribes all have their own unique customs and traditions. Do a lot of research on what these customs and traditions are or you risk classifying them all into one group – a sign of discrimination and lack of consideration on your part!

The Southwest US is also not your office, so don’t rush through your food tour. Enjoy it for every single bite that you get, and don’t forget to enjoy the view! The US Southwest also has one of the world’s cleanest atmospheres, so you can see thousands of stars at night, not to mention great sunrises and sunsets!

The key to knowing customs is to do research, so read a lot and talk to a lot of people. In the end, your knowledge will allow you to enjoy your food tour better.

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Southwestern cuisine can actually be broken up into hybrids of different cuisines. Border cuisine, sometimes playfully referred to as South of the Border, might be more toward your local Mexican restaurant fare, with some burritos flavored mildly to suit a wider range of palates. You also have Tex-Mex cuisine, a blend of Texan and Mexican, heavy on the meats and spices. There is also the fresh, corn-rich American Indian cuisine, the richer and hotter Mexican dishes, and even nueva Latina, a new version of Southwestern cuisine that is springing up in various places along the Southwestern states.

If you are going on a Southwestern Food tour, then you’ll surely pass by the Lone Star State, and get a whiff of large Texan meats and steaks. You’ll go through Arizona, where you can sink your teeth into rich corn breads and products. You will visit Southern California and Baja, where the burritos are hot and the tamales are hotter. You will find yourself in New Mexico and Colorado, even parts of Oklahoma, and you’ll get yourself some American Indian cuisine that is as old as the hills but plenty flavorful, too!

It is no wonder, then, that the Southwest is often seen as the grandmother of all American cuisine, containing the roots of its indigenous cooking. Think about it: even before Jamestown and Plymouth Rock got their first taste of Europe, a whole lot was already cooking in these parts! A food tour through the Southwestern United States, therefore, is a trip through history, where you can actually taste the meals that have been around for ages, and are testaments to tales long gone but never forgotten.

So what should you expect? Look for blue, purple, or even red corn, all of which can be made into different tasty tortillas, among other things. You will also get a whole lot of heat, so go for fire-roasted chilies, and other chili dishes that will make your mouth water constantly (and your eyes tear up, too!). You’ll get meat grilled with mesquite, searing air with flavorful aromas. Whether you’re drinking it all down with a pint of South of the Border beer, or a glass of European wine, you’ll surely find something to look forward to in the US Southwest.

If you are planning a trip to the US Southwest on a food tour, there are a few things that you will need to remember. First, since many of the dishes are spicy, you may need to check if you have any palate or health sensitivities to spicy foods. For instance, if you have irritable bowel syndrome, then you may want to ease up on the chilies. You will also need to check with your tour group if the tour covers only the lodging and transportation, while you have to pick up the check when you stop for food. Don’t forget to read the fine print and ask questions. Take the necessary precautions, and you can turn your Southwest US Food tour into a great getaway.

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Have a Big Appetite

The best way to do justice to any food tour is to have a big appetite. What’s the point of paying for the opportunity to taste the best food of a given area or culture when your stomach can’t accommodate more than a bite?

Of course, having a big appetite doesn’t mean starving yourself the day before. Just make sure you don’t overeat the day before your tour. If possible, take a pill to ensure your stomach’s certifiably empty for the food fest ahead.

Prepare for the Heat

Hot is a word often associated with the Southwest in more ways than one.

Firstly, majority of the dishes of Southwest cuisine are extremely spicy. Chimichangas, nachos, taquitos, stuffed peppers, chile relleno, chili con carne, and salsa are just some of the well-known dishes that could get you hopping mad out of the restaurant with burning taste buds. If you’re not good at eating spicy stuff, make sure you have a small canister or jug of iced water with you at all times; there may be instances when you just can’t wait a second longer to cool your tongue off.

Secondly, Southwestern states are not exactly the coldest areas of the country. The weather in this region, especially in Arizona and Texas, can be quite stifling in its heat. Be sure you’re dressed comfortably in light, airy clothing. Wearing a cap or sun visor as well as a pair of shades can help protect you from the heat.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are always a possibility so, again, having a ready source of water with you at all times is encouraged.

Prepare for the Weather

Speaking of the heat, there are also certain aspects of the weather that you might have to watch out for. Mosquitoes are a nominal but irritating problem, but one that a mosquito repellent can easily cure. Rainfall could also be cause trouble, but not if you come prepared with a raincoat and umbrella.

Clothing

While we’re in the topic of clothing, be sure to ask your tour organizer if you’ll visit any place with a requisite dress code. Knowing what to dress can also help ensure that you pack light for your Southwest US tour.

Bring First Aid with You

Tour organizers always have first aid kits with them, but there’s no telling when you’ll find yourself lost and separated from your group. As such, it would do you no harm to have your own first aid kit with you.

Now, if you’ve considerable experience traveling, you might already have a first aid kit packed with your things. There are, however, extra things you could add to your kit in consideration of “special dangers” you might face during your Southwest US tour.

If your tour includes a trip to the desert, antidotes for snake bites and medication for other kinds of bites (remember: scorpions and spiders can cause harm, too!). High altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS) is also a possibility if your food tour includes a short but challenging mountain climb.

Double Check Everything

Lastly, review your travel checklist a few days before you leave for your tour. Call your tour organizer to ensure that everything’s fine in their side as well.

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There are many ways for you to enjoy the Southwest. If you want to go it on your own, you can take tours of the major cities throughout Arizona, Texas, California, and Nevada, and go from gambling to skiing, waiting for the stars to come out at night to waiting for the Hollywood stars to walk the red carpet. With the rising prices of gasoline and the likewise rising prices of food, you may want to save this road trip for later.

Many different companies offer different food tours of the American Southwest. For instance, the famous Santa Fe School of Cooking has a Culture and Cuisine Tour that happens every year, and that has been documented as one of the best tours of the Southwest imaginable. In this Culture and Cuisine tour, you will tour through the surrounding areas of New Mexico and explore it for its roots in ancient cooking and agriculture. You will also tour through the best restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico and meet, face-to-face, the chefs who are at the forefront of this branch of American cuisine.

The Santa Fe School of Cooking tour includes four nights of lodging as well as meals, except for one night when you have to go to dinner on your own. You will also be provided with the transportation to and from different places. You will also get three culinary classes, which will teach you the history of New Mexico by tracing its culinary roots, the different aspects of cooking with chilies, and a real cooking class at Los Poblanos. You will also be provided with wine at most of your meals. Moreover, you get a walking tour of Santa Fe, which allows you to go downtown and taste real Southwestern cuisine!

If you miss the Santa Fe School of Cooking Culture and Cuisine Tour, you can still hook up with the school and get your dose of cooking and history through its Mountain Adventures. Built for outdoor lovers, this tour is offered in mid-September through a partner of the cooking school. You will stay at a luxury resort during this tour, and you will still get some cooking classes along with your outdoor treks.

Another way to get in touch with the area’s history is through communing with the Native Americans who still live in the area. You can do so through Colorado Plateau Journeys, which offers an exploration of the ancient cultures within the Southwest. You will be able to talk to tribes such as the Hopi; learn about their culture, talk to their elders, cook and taste their cuisine, participate and watch their rituals, and walk away with a greater appreciation of the first true Americans who lived on this land.

These are only a few top tours that you might be interested in. For more information, talk to your travel agent about options in getting yourself into the Southwest and going on a food tour. There are many other food tours available through many different states, so keep on doing your research and you’ll soon find the package that you like.

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If you’re for the big cities, then go on a city tour while on your food tour of the Southwest. You can visit the stars in Hollywood and simply go shopping on the posh streets of Los Angeles. While you are in California, you can go to the local amusement parks, Disneyland and Universal Studios, and have a bit of fun, especially if you are bringing children along. You can also see the sights in Dallas and San Antonio, where a whole lot of history can make your food trip all the more enriching. If you’re going on a romantic holiday, try Las Vegas or Reno for some gambling fun.

Food tours don’t just happen in the big cities: the Southwestern US has a picturesque countryside that has a whole lot of character, not to mention diversity. You can comb through the wine valley of California, with its rolling hills and lush vineyards. You can go through the canyons and mesas of Colorado and Arizona, trek through the rocks and go whitewater rafting on the rough rivers. You can trek the mountains of New Mexico and experience the culture of the American Indians. You can relax by the fields of Oklahoma, and go through the roads of the Southwest as thought every day were a lazy Sunday afternoon.

If you are planning a food trip to the Southwest, be sure to check all particulars so that you can go through your tour smoothly. First, if you are sensitive to spicy foods, you may need to ask your tour operator if they are offering non-spicy alternatives that you can still try while on the food tour. Second, ask about lodgings and payment and what amenities are included in your travel package. Third, ask about the weather: although the Southwest is relatively temperate, temperatures can soar up at different times of the year.

There are several important national parks in the US Southwest. You can visit the Grand Canyon in Arizona, or even walk through a forest of redwoods in their special protected region of Sequoias in California. You can visit old army forts in Texas, or go through pueblos in New Mexico. There are many places that you can go to, and many places that you can eat at. In fact, if you want to walk away with more knowledge about the cuisine, you can enroll in any of several cooking schools in the area, which also offer short courses that include treks through mountains and tours through the surrounding cities!

These are only a few places that you might want to stop by at when you go on a food tour through the American Southwest. For more information, talk to your tour guide or to a local travel agency about what other options are available to you. With a lot of research on your part, you can certainly enjoy your food tour through this historic section of the United States.

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