Summer 2013 eNews: North Shore Food Tours launches

by | Aug 18, 2013 | News

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Summer in Salem

The food scene continues to flourish here in Salem.  The Salem Farmer’s Market is in full swing on Thursday afternoons  (where you can spot local chefs at the Market purchasing fresh seasonal items to make into a special dish.)  Also, several new restaurants and shops are opening downtown – we’ll be announcing some new Tour Partners soon!  To plan your Salem food excursion, visit our Tour Partner page for a list of fantastic shops and restaurants to grab a bite or for a great picnic take-out.

Above – fresh tomato bruschetta with local salad of arugula and sliced watermelon topped with ricotta salata – at Caffe Graziani
Above – North Shore Sourdough and french baguettes – perfect for sandwiches – at A&J King. Did you know? A&J King has a baking book coming out! Visit Amazon.com to pre-order your copy.
Below – Sweet potatoes ready for dipping (and naturally gluten-free) at 3 Potato 4 Salem. Their sauces are absolutely delicious – Did you know? they get their seasonings from Salem Spice! 

NEWS: North Shore Food Tours launches!

Salem Food Tours is pleased to announce our new excursions: North Shore Food Tours.  North Shore Food Tours are chartered day-long tours for larger groups. On these Tours, we’ll visit area farms, wineries, distilleries, and eateries.  Guests will enjoy tastings at every stop, and enjoy scenic views from our comfortable coach.  You’ll come back with a deeper appreciation for our amazing region and where our local Salem Chefs and shops get their inspiration from.  North Shore Food Tours are the perfect day trip for larger private or professional groups.   

Want to join in on a Tour? We are running a public North Shore Food Tour Thursday August 29th!  Our day will begin around 9.45am in Salem and return to Salem at 5.30pm. We’ve had a lot of interest already, and at the time of this writing 26 spots remain. Advanced reservations required ($125 per person.) Excursion will include stops at two farms – including private tours, cheese making, bag lunch; one winery stop with tastings;  one special sweet place; and a couple of wonderful eateries that reflect the best of local foods.  For more info or to make a reservations, email info@SalemFoodTours.com.
Read the related Boston Globe article here.

Outdoor Spaces

Salem is not only a great place to sit down for a great meal, but also has wonderful public parks to enjoy take-out or a picnic.  Green spaces are all around the downtown and waterfront areas – so take advantage of this warm season and eat outside! 
Shown here: ready for the picnic basket — fresh local cheese, crackers and luscious grapes at Milk & Honey Green Grocer.  And we absolutely love their sandwiches!  On the right: Flying Saucer pizzas – with locally sourced toppings  – are perfect for your spread. For more ideas see: http://tinyurl.com/k3vhn3f

Grapevine’s new patio


As if enjoying Chef Tim Caldwell’s food couldn’t get any better, you can now relish delectable items like this perfectly seared scallop out on The Grapevine Restaurant‘s gorgeous new patio.  We stopped in for a toast for its grand opening – with their exclusive Pavan cocktails – see: http://tinyurl.com/mq6z67r.  Join them for Sunday brunch too! You’ll find great live music all summer long!

Summer Dish: Chitarra al Crudo

There are perfect warm-weather dishes all over Salem. Follow us on our Facebook page as we feature some of Salem’s best. 
Shown here: Chitarra al Crudo, as prepared by 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar Chef Antonio Bettencourt: http://tinyurl.com/m2avw4b.   A combination of fresh lightly seared tuna and homemade pasta with herbs and tomatoes. Unbelievably good.

THANK YOU to Visit Massachusetts who listed us as a top 10 activity North of Boston.
We just love having fun and eating in Salem – easy to do! http://tinyurl.com/n4lup4t

 
We are now on Trip Advisor!We are pleased to announce our Trip Advisor page. Sincere gratitude to all our guests who have posted such kind and positive reviews- it is an incredible help for a small business like ours to spread the word!

In the news
Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, North Shore Magazine, and Vegetarian Times feature Salem Food Tours

Shown above: Salem Food Tours was thrilled to be recently featured in a variety of local and national media, including the spring issue of North Shore Magazine.  If you didn’t catch it we welcome you to check out the online version: http://read.uberflip.com/i/122736 Page 28-29.  We were also thrilled to covered by theBoston Globe again – this time for our North Shore Food Tours (see North Shore article below left.) And most recently, Boston Magazine “Best of Boston” issue – see the special “Salem” section – on newsstands now. Finally, thrilled to have our Vegan Food Tours as part of the “The Buzz” in the September issue of Vegetarian Times magazine.

From the pens of our guests

“It was amazing!!! Thanks Karen for an incredible tour!” – L.M.G., North Shore MA, via Facebook  
“Great Group Activity! … I would recommend this tour to any group leader looking for a team building activity that is fun and different as well as anyone else looking for an opportunity to eat delicious food and learn more about the City of Salem.” E.P, Salem, MA, via Trip Advisor. 

Did you know?
Food Tours are a fun way to step outside your comfort zone and try foods you’ve never had before.
Our Tours are available throughout the year, and are perfect for locals as well as visiting guests and small groups as a special outing.
Click here for FAQs
Click here for ticket infoShown above, pinkies up for a fantastic local beer tasting at Pamplemousse.
Below, raw oysters get tried for the first time atFinz. Yup, he love them! 

Take us to your kitchen

Visit our shop to view all aprons and other Salem Food Tour items – a deliciously fun way to bring a little Salem magic to your kitchen.  Also make great gift. And… have someone in your life who loves food? Or know someone who is moving to Salem? A pair of Salem Food Tour Gift Certificates is sure to be appreciated and enjoyed. 

Shown above: cotton candy ends the meal with color and sweetness at Red Lulu in Salem.  
Below, Chef Bill’s homemade puddings at Scratch Kitchen. The flavors change constantly and pair with the season, such as this lemon-basil. Ridiculously good!