These RI chefs have tasted the world. How you can join them on a culinary tour.
Food and travel are an intoxicating combination. Imagine how tempting trips planned with local food stars could be on destinations ranging from South Korea to Portugal.
Club Adventures, AAA’s small-group adventure tour operator, has teamed up with Providence and Rhode Island chefs, restaurateurs, and beverage experts to offer curated food tours starting in August and running into next year. The concept is to see the world through a local lens with a guide who knows all the best places to eat and drink.
Of the 13 food and drink trips, some are close to home including New York City and Austin, Texas. Others are to islands including the Azores and Sicily. Mexico, Spain and Germany during Oktoberfest are other destinations. One trip offers a gluten-free and vegan adventure in Italy.
The trips will have an average size of 14 travelers. They range in time from 4 days to 10 days with prices from $1,999 to $7,979.
The idea
Bethany Hodge's 15 years in the travel industry have included designing and operating culturally immersive small group trips. Now, as head of product for Club Adventures, she is launching the new tours.
But it was a conversation with Bethany Caliaro, owner/manager of both Oberlin and Gift Horse in Providence, that planted the seed for the program. Hodge was headed to Mexico with her husband Brian and Caliaro had just returned from a trip there. She shared her list of restaurants, bars and specific dishes for the couple to try.
"I’ve been watching the food and hospitality industry in Rhode Island become a national leader in innovation, community, diversity and sustainability – all values that I use when designing Club Adventures tours," she said.
"Every one of her suggestions elevated our travel experience, and I realized that the insight and guidance of a food professional could really turn a fun trip into a memorable adventure," said Hodge.
With consumer interest in culinary travel on the rise, Hodge knew tours that showcased these mutual values could be a hit. She first pitched the idea to Caliaro and Jen Davis, who manages the beverage program at The Eddy and Durk's Bar-B-Q, both in Providence. They connected Hodge to more of the local culinary community.
"Every single establishment that I spoke with was in," said Hodge.
Each chef/bartender/business owner has been involved in curating the itinerary, leading to an exclusive experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the market.
"While chef-led tours are certainly being done in the travel space, I believe this is a first to ever showcase a city’s leaders in the culinary space all at once as a unified portfolio," Hodge said.
"It really speaks to the community and creativity of Providence," she said.
She hopes to create even more trips for 2025 with more leaders in the Rhode Island hospitality scene, she said.
The trips and guides
The cultural exploration and food adventures will be led by an impressive group including James Beard nominated chef Ben Sukle of Oberlin and Gift Horse. He will lead a September tour to Northern Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.
“I am incredibly excited to join everyone and experience Trieste and its surrounding cities and environs," said Sukle. "All of the nuances of the lifestyles and culture there are behind how I cook and why I love to cook."
Caliaro will lead a fish-to-fork dining adventure in Sicily. Led by Oberlin chef Chris Pfail, the art of making kimchi is on the menu for a South Korea adventure.
Jen Davis leads two trips, one to Austin, Texas, to explore the barbecue and distillery scene and one to New York City to enjoy the city's cocktail scene.
The art of curing ham at a centuries-old business in Spain will be part of a Basque Adventure led by The Eddy's Luke Mersfelder and Britt Simons.
Mexico City and Oaxaca will be explored in a trip led by Joaquin Meza of Dolores. Germany’s Oktoberfest will be celebrated with Brendan Kennedy of Proclamation Ale in Warwick.
Robin Dionne & BJ Mansuetti who operate the RI VegFest and GFree Fests will lead the Gluten-Free and Vegan tour of Italy.
Pizza Marvin's Robert Andreozzi is another James Beard nominated chef and he will be on the Portugal & Galicia Food Adventure.
Only one guide is from outside the Rhode Island culinary restaurant world but she is no stranger to locals. Maria Lawton is the host and guide of "Maria's Portuguese Table" which is presented by WSBE Rhode Island PBS. She will lead an Azores Food Adventure and Portugal Wine & Food Adventure.
Learn more about the trips and dates by visiting clubadventures.com/food-tours.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Club Adventure tours join with RI chefs, restaurateurs for trips