Welcome!

About Salem Food Tours
 

It all started as an idea at the kitchen table…

Salem Food Tours was created and founded in 2012 by Karen Scalia. With a passion for fresh local foods, a love of cooking and history, and a background in event planning as well as the performing arts—she knew that sharing Salem’s past with a ‘taste’ of the culinary present was the perfect way to understand and appreciate this much-loved city. Salem is situated right on the water, with a rich spice trade history and a modern thriving culinary scene. 

“Salem continues to grow as a food destination.  Our award-winning restaurants, shops, Farmers Market, and food and wine events, make this wonderful historic city that much tastier! 

As a Tour, we love to teach about these resources. Our Tour Partners are the best of the best, offering homemade and freshly prepared foods, and sourcing many ingredients locally. Meeting the amazing people behind these local businesses really helps you understand how special a place Salem is. Our mantra is to eat local, shop local, and support small business.  

My family influenced my food choices early on.  There was no better place to eat than my Papa’s garden or table. Thinking about my Nana’s homemade pasta or my Aunt Angie’s stuffed artichokes still puts a smile on my face.

Like many, my favorite memories involve food and the experience of sharing a meal with family and friends.  You simply can’t beat a great dinner party.

With this in mind, we strive for all Salem Food Tours to offer an exceptional and fun experience for both the local visitor and traveler alike. It’s truly “like a roaming dinner party”, with all of your senses engaged, you get to really know Salem.” 

Warm regards,

Karen

More about Karen...

Karen Scalia is a licensed Salem-based guide. She serves on the board of Destination Salem (past President), and on Destination Salem’s Marketing Committee. She is a member of Salem Chamber of Commerce. Her food and cultural event planning background has included work for Fortune 500 companies. She has emceed food-related events, such as hosting Giada de Laurentiis book tour stop at the North Shore Music Theater, local Chef competitions and more.

Karen is also an actor and writer, and can be seen in various film, TV, and theater projects, and currently sits on the New England board of SAG-AFTRA.  She was featured in the 2017 film Stronger opposite Tatiana Maslany.  

Cooking, cycling, dinner with friends, and travel are some of Karen’s favorite things.

As Featured On:

2015, 2016, and 2017 Certificate of Excellence Awards