Being a foodie is a fun way to live: willing to try new foods, letting the “camera eat first,” and getting to experience it all with loved ones. However, the aspect of this trade that is rarely talked about is how challenging it can be when it comes to spicing things up. Food tours are seldom talked about and remembered if not going on vacation but are a fun solution to feeding an appetite for changing up the regular dinner out. Chow Town Food Tours is the latest local business to launch that caters to both the curious taste-tester and out-of-town visitor. Read on to learn more about the Essex County business and what spots its South Orange Food Tour gets to visit.

About Chow Town Food Tours

Experienced teacher and community advocate Max Gray is the owner and founder of Chow Town Food Tours. Born and raised in Morris County, he became a foodie from all of the different kinds of cuisines that exist in such a short distance. Inspired by the local eateries and their owners, Max started making a business out of giving weekly food tours in South Orange this past summer. “Chow Town Food Tours showcases the people as much as the food – the chefs, restaurant workers, patrons, and community members that make the food such a joy to experience,” Max told The Montclair Girl. “Every meal has a story behind it. We want to reveal that story and share it with the community!”

Read More: How to Spend a Day in South Orange, New Jersey

The tour accommodates up to ten guests for a two-and-a-half-hour and half-a-mile walk — rain or shine — around the Route 510 area of South Orange. The tour takes visitors to four different restaurants accompanied by small bites that can fill anyone up for an entire afternoon. The restaurants and food may change depending on the dietary restrictions of the group, but the tour will still highlight the best gluten-free and vegan spots around. A few historic sites and fun facts are sprinkled throughout the handicap-accessible tour to make room for the next stop, too, so it makes for a well-balanced experience for all ages.

Tour Time: The Food + History of South Orange

The tour started at the South Orange train station where Max shared its history and how people originally decided to settle in the town since they believed the local water healed ailments. One very short walk later led the tour to The South Orange Wheelhouse, located inside The Co-Lab at South Orange at 57 South Orange Avenue, where local, domestic, and international cheeses and spreads are sold. Participants were able to sample three different kinds of cheese (one was made by monks while another was crafted by the Amish) and its bestselling honey butter spread, making a tasty and well-rounded experience for all. 

 

The next stop was another history lesson by visiting the abstract mural displayed in a walkway across the street, titled Jazz Cats, which was created by Dan Fenelon and commissioned by the town in 2019. The piece was inspired by the jazz history that South Orange possesses and few actually know about. Being able to spend time by the mural and walk off the cheese was a good pastime before walking over to Three Daughters Baking Co., located at 12 Vose Avenue, where the tour got to sample a slice of its cottage cheese and mushroom quiche.

Photo Credit: Emily Pelle

After a brief stop in the interactive and hidden gem Spiotta Park, visitors got to experience Jus’ Tacos, which is located at 6 Village Plaza across the street. Its bubbly owner, Edith, talked about how the restaurant is named after her son and is directly inspired by her roots in Mexico. The tour participants agreed that the four homemade sauces paired with its delicious street tacos made it a showstopper on the tour. 

The walking tour ended with some fun facts and good bar food at Pumphouse Beer Garden inside Village Hall at 101 South Orange Avenue. The building it’s situated inside is one of the oldest in the town as it dates back to the late 1800s and is rumored to have inspired the first book of the Nancy Drew series, The Secret of the Old Clock. Rounding out the tour with the Bavarian pretzel, the crispy calamari, and the patty melts over a taste of one of its beers while learning about newfound friends made a great bookend to a tasty afternoon.

See More: 24 Foodie Activities in Hoboken + Jersey City

No matter what the deciding factor is for going, attending a Chow Town Food Tour is bound to lead anyone to something new — whether it be in food form, an appreciation for local small businesses, or meeting new people. Max is currently looking into producing Chow Town’s Montclair food tour and wants to plan some special holiday events for later this year. The business is also always actively seeking to partner with local hotels, local realtors, travel agencies, and nonprofits in Essex County and Northern New Jersey. The South Orange Food Tour currently takes place on Saturdays at 11AM and can be booked online.