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Deciding which Southwest US food tour you should join depends on numerous factors. Take your time considering your preferences: food tastes better, after all, when you're enjoying yourself as... |
Deciding which Southwest US food tour you should join depends on numerous factors. Take your time considering your preferences: food tastes better, after all, when you’re enjoying yourself as well.
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!