Hungry for history? Or just hungry? Either way, those desires can be fulfilled by taking an Old Town Alexandria Tasting and Historical Walking Tour.
The brainchild of Jeff Swedarsky, founder, DC Metro Food
Tours, the Old Town tours offer a wide range of cuisine and special insights
into some of Alexandria's most noteworthy historical attractions as well as its
abundant 18th- and 19th-century architecture. Each tour group is purposely kept
small, approximately eight to 10 people, to allow personal interaction among the
participants and with Swedarsky and his wife Sharone, who serve as
guides.
"We want this tour to be unique and different than the other
tours offered in Old Town. Since there are so many places to eat in Old Town, it
is difficult, for both visitors and residents, to know what to try," Swedarsky
said.
"We want to promote our area's local favorites to a much larger
audience. We want to show everyone some of the special dishes that can be found
in our beloved city," he stated with the verve of a true Alexandria
resident.
Each tour begins at Market Square at 1 p.m. and ends back there
at 4:30 p.m. Tours are designed to appeal to both Alexandria visitors and local
residents, particularly those in the latter category who have recently moved to
the area, according to Swedarsky.
"Tour restaurants were painstakingly
chosen to represent a variety of local flavors that would appeal to a wide
audience. They have regional acclaim as well as a strong local following. They
range from small, casual ‘hole in the wall’ type places to hip, trendy
hangouts," Swedarsky said.
The five tour participants, plus Jeff and
Sharone Swardarsky, this past Saturday dined at Bilbo Baggins Cafe, 208 Queen
St.; Union Street Public House, 121 S. Union St.; and Pita House, 407 Cameron
St. The mini menu selections were made by the Swedarskys from some of their
personal favorites and assembled in a taste titillating array by the
restaurants.
"Living in this area, we get a lot of out-of-town visitors
and we like to take them to our favorite places. That's what originally gave me
the idea for this venture," Swedarsky said.
A NATIVE OF
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Swedarsky holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration
from Purdue University. He and his wife have lived in Alexandria for two years
since he came here as a government employee. Some of his other endeavors include
marketing management and being a new business consultant. "We got this underway
in May. But we've been working on it for about a year," he said.
"They
have this concept in New York. But it's not the same. This is a particularly
great place to do this, with all its history. I took the idea of a food tour and
put my own spin on it. Besides, I love food and I love to cook," he
said.
At each restaurant, tour participants are personally greeted by
either the owner or manager, who explains the history of the restaurant and the
various menu offerings. "It gives it a very personal touch," Swedarsky
said.
That assessment was buttressed by Arlington resident John
Dandeneau. "I wasn't sure what to expect. I've lived around these parts for over
20 years and thought I was very familiar with Old Town Alexandria. We saw this
food tour and thought it'd be fun to try something new," he said.
"By the
end of the tour, I was blown away by how much I didn't know about our local
history, and the food tastings were awesome and incredibly generous. Jeff and
Sharone were wonderful hosts," Dandeneau said.
Rick Joseph, an Alexandria
resident, also found the tour an eye-opening experience. "I have lived here for
the past eight months and had never understood why everyone was so fascinated
with Old Town. Well, I'm here to say this tour put the "Ole" in Old Town for
me," he said.
"It did not only reveal the deep history of the city, but
also it allowed me to see and enjoy some of the diverse restaurants within the
city. It opened not only my eyes but also my taste buds," Joseph said.
"I
can't wait for friends and family to come visiting. Not only do I have somewhere
to take them but also to let them discover the beauty and history of Old Town. I
hope everyone who comes to visit or live here takes the time to learn about
Alexandria's deep history as well as enjoy the richness this city has to offer,"
he said.
IN ADDITION TO visiting an array of Old Town eateries,
the tour includes such historic landmarks as Gadsby's Tavern, The Lyceum, the
Torpedo Factory Art Center, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop Museum, and
Lee-Fendall House. Tour participants get an opportunity to enhance both their
palettes and their knowledge of both Alexandria and American
history.
Culinary experiences cover the gamut from traditional Lebanese
dishes, to globally inspired tapas, to regional comfort cuisine, to Thai
dumplings, to hand made chocolates and truffles, to Old Town's famous
125-year-old recipe for jelly cake, and much more. "Enough food is served over
the course of the tour that most participants will not need dinner," Swedarsky
said.
Priced at $50 per person plus a $2 ticketing fee, it includes all
food and beverages at the various restaurants plus gratuities. Additional
information and frequently asked questions about the tours can be found at
www.dcmetrofoodtours.com. To check availability and buy tickets online go to
Zerve: Old Town Alexandria Tasting and Historical Walking Tour or call Zerve at
