Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
Description
Charleston's only chef led historic walking tour, cooking demonstration and lunch! Our experience begins with a 90 minute food history walking tour in the historic district, followed by a cooking demonstration, lunch & paired wine tasting at the popular local's spot Bistro a Vin. It's led by Charleston's only South Carolina Chef Ambassador & Palmetto Guild Certified tour guide, Forrest Parker. Leading the teams at some of Charleston's most iconic restaurants, Parker has been called a "visionary who calls upon the culture, history & flavor traditions of South Carolina to create heritage-infused experiences." Parker was recognized by then Governor Nikki Haley as a S.C. Chef Ambassador in 2016, a capstone for a culinary career that began in 1995. Chef Forrest invites you to take the path less traveled; to see, touch, sip and taste the Undiscovered Charleston!
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Guests must be 21 or older, with the exception of older teenagers accompanying parents
- FOOD ALLERGIES! I regulary cook, handle, prepare and serve meats, shellfish, eggs, dairy, nuts and gluten. That said, if you require reasonable accommodation of any food allergies, aversions or special diets: most common special diets etc. can be accommodated, provided I'm aware in advance. Vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, dairy allergies, nut allergies & celiacs are all welcome, provided I'm aware in advance. I'm not a restaurant and if I'm not aware in advance I will not be prepared. If you are requesting reasonable accommodation, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO MESSAGE ME DIRECTLY.
Reviews(983)
Great historical tour! Mr. Parker makes it fun with his dad jokes as well! His knowledge of cooking is amazing. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves greatfood.
This was easily the best activity we did during our visit to Charleston. Chef Forrest gives a great walking tour of the city with plenty of history and wit along the way. Lunch was simply amazing - the best meal we had in Charleston. Chef prepares the meal and flights of drinks and explains the history of the cuisine and ingredients. Highly recommended - we will do this again next time we visit!
Hey Jason! Thank you so much for the kind words. I’ve always believed the best way to experience Charleston is through its history and its table, so I’m thrilled our chef-led food tour and cooking class became the highlight of your visit. It was a pleasure sharing the city’s stories, flavors, and traditions with you. Looking forward to welcoming you and your family back the next time you’re in the Lowcountry for another great meal and a few more hidden gems. Kind regards, Chef
My mom, sisters, and I throughly enjoyed our time with Chef Forrest Parker (aka Gump). After a very informative and engaging walk about town, where we learned about the history, culture, food, and architecture that make Charleston what it is, we arrived at Bistro A Vin. We then dined on a feast prepared by Chef Gump (gazpacho, shrimp and grits, berries and cream), sipped on some wines chosen by the cafe owner, and chatted about Chef Gump’s culinary journey. It was a truly incredible day and well worth the money!
Thank you! I’m so glad your family had such a memorable time exploring history and savoring that classic shrimp and grits with me. From the historic stroll to the wine-paired lunch at Le Bistro by Azur, this is the ultimate **Charleston food tour and cooking class** experience. Want to join Chef's table? **Book directly on the Undiscovered Charleston website** to guarantee the **best value** and secure your **preferred seating**! Taste Charleston History!
We had a fabulous time strolling the streets with Chef and then watching him prepare a 3 course meal along with the wine pairing. This was hands down our favorite part of the trip and would recommend it to anyone.
Thank you! I’m thrilled your Undiscovered Charleston food tour and cooking class was your trip highlight. Hope to have you back to hang out again soon! To enjoy my Chef's history walk, 3-course meal, and wine pairing, book directly through the Undiscovered Charleston website for the best value and preferred seating!
Both the historical tour and the food were phenomenal! Portion sizes are large. I never wanted this experience to end. Chef was engaging throughout, we had the best conversation!
Thanks, Nicole- Same Girl! lol I’m so glad the conversation and the history made the time fly by—I enjoy the "best conversation" just as much as the cooking! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the portions; I always want to make sure you leave my table completely satisfied. For those ready for a phenomenal deep dive into the Holy City, book direct at Undiscovered Charleston for widest availability and preferred seating. Taste the history of Undiscovered Charleston! — Chef Forrest Parker
Very informative and enjoyable and food was delicious. Wasn’t too much walking, nice history about Charleston and would definitely recommend.
Thanks, Monica! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pace of the walk and found the history as satisfying as the meal. It was a pleasure sharing the stories of Charleston with you. For those looking for the perfect balance of discovery and dining, book direct at Undiscovered Charleston for widest availability and preferred seating. Taste the history of Undiscovered Charleston; it's DELICIOUS! — Chef Forrest Parker
Amazing experience from a local history and food expert. Great blend of history and dining. Recipes too!
Thanks, Andrea! I'm so glad you enjoyed the blend of local history and dining—and I'm thrilled you're taking the recipes home with you! That’s the best way to keep the flavors of Charleston alive in your own kitchen. For those ready to join the experience and get the 'inside scoop' on our city, book direct at Undiscovered Charleston for widest availability and preferred seating. Taste the history of Undiscovered Charleston! — Chef Forrest Parker
This tour was amazing! Forrest is incredibly knowledgeable about the city and very well spoken. He showed us some things that we never would have seen on our own. The food he prepared was absolutely delicious and it was fun watching him work! Highly recommend this tour!!
Thanks, Shari! I’m so glad you enjoyed the "top notch" blend of history and kitchen secrets. It was a pleasure sharing those culinary tips with the group—I always hope guests leave with a little extra inspiration for their own cooking. For those ready to experience the best of the Holy City, book direct at Undiscovered Charleston for widest availability and preferred seating.
This tour is well worth every penny! Chef Parker was knowledgeable about the history of Charleston, articulate and engaging with all of the tour members, as well as personable and willing to share culinary tips and secrets throughout the cooking demonstration. Every moment of this event was top notch!
Thanks, Shari! I’m so glad you enjoyed the "top notch" blend of history and kitchen secrets. It was a pleasure sharing those culinary tips with the group—I always hope guests leave with a little extra inspiration for their own cooking. For those ready to experience the best of the Holy City, book direct at Undiscovered Charleston for widest availability and preferred seating.
We took this tour to celebrate my husband's 70th Birthday. Chef did a great job of finding connections with everyone on the tour and having everyone introduce themselves to the group. Walking pace was relaxed and he made a point of stopping in shady spots with seating if he wanted to tell a story about a particular site. I enjoyed hearing his insights about the food service industry in Charleston. We ended up walking about 2 hours and two older women in the group dropped out the last half hour and missed the meal. I could tell Chef felt badly about that; I believe he phoned or texted them when we reached his restaurant. It was fun to sit at the bar in his restaurant and chat with him while he prepared lunch. He talked about the food preparation, and I picked up a few tips (like using a blender to make whipped cream). The food was elaborate and a bit too rich for me, but that's me. Others thoroughly enjoyed it. He made a soup/salad served together in a bowl which was interesting and different. The two other couples who had lunch with us consumed about 6 bottles of wine during lunch; they were pretty vociferous by the end. I don't drink alcohol at all and my husband drinks very little alcohol; it would have been nice to have iced tea or soft drinks with lunch, not just water. If you don't drink alcohol, or only drink sparingly, beware that a significant portion of the cost for this tour is for wine.
What an absolute joy to celebrate a happy 70th Birthday with your husband! I’m so glad the blender whipped cream trick (with an ENTIRE Tahitian vanilla bean) and the stories along the way added to your celebration. I would have loved to offer you one of my creative non-alcoholic pairings! Because I host this as a pre-planned culinary demonstration—serving three specific 2 oz tasting pours to match the history—I rely on advance notice to have alternatives ready. To ensure every guest has exactly what they need, I always recommend that guests book direct at Undiscovered Charleston. Our direct system requires guests to identify any allergies or aversions (like alcohol, shellfish, pork, or gluten) during checkout so I can prepare the perfect substitutions for you. I also loved that you noticed the 'soup/salad' pairing! It’s a nod to the Spanish settlement of Santa Elena from 1566 on present-day Parris Island, SC and includes a pureed Salmorejo gazpacho, as well as a salad inspired by the 1824 Virginia Housewife cookbook, which presented gazpacho as a salad. It was a pleasure having you both along to explore our delicious Lowcountry history!
