From the Galley
I was on a trip to Italy with my wife. We visited several cities (Venice, Rome, Florence) and in each place we decided to take a food tour over going to visit local museums or other touristy things. I chose the food tour because well, I love food! We took these tours and were opened up to the local culture and foods that I would never have even managed to find by a local guide that knew all the stories and tales of the cities we visited.
Aug05
Taste Newburyport recently teamed up with Ghlee Woodworth from the Clipper Heritage Trail to take a joint tour around Newburyport during Yankee Homecoming. Our group met up outside the Brass Lyon in Market Square were 18 joined us for a day of history and food.
Typically I will do the local history as well as food but I thought it would be neat to have local historian Ghlee come out and do that portion while I showed our guests the great treats Newburyport had to offer.
After Ghlee gave our group the early history we moved to Eat Cake where owner Hilary set us up with a delicious cupcake tasting. After we successfully ruined our lunch we moved up to the top of Inn st where Ghlee gave more about the old shops and mills that used to call Newburyport home. After a brief stop and peek inside the Unitarian Church we moved to Grand Trunk for some gourmet meat and cheese tastings.
The owners put on quite the spread for us and the group walked out full after tasting aged cheddar, salami, fresh baguette and Spanish olives.
Ghlee then told us more about the Grand Army Building and we strolled down to Buttermilk Baking for some more edible goodness. Ashley (owner) set us up with three different flavor hand pies: Cherry, apple and peach. Everyone enjoyed the stop thoroughly especially after they got to try Buttermilk’s new caramel spreads!
We then made our way to the Customs House and learned about its role in Newburyports history and then went to a delicious sit down meal at Ten Center. Guests got to choose from Lobster Mac N Cheese or a Burger Slider and Truffle Tater Tots.
After a chance to grab a local beer and dine we moved to the waterfront and learned about Newburyports fishing and ship building industry.
We moved through Oldies market and made our way to the Tannery where guests got to try Olive Oils at Newburyport Olive Oil Company.
Just when they thought they were full we finished up at Chococoa Baking 
Company and guests got to pick from several flavors of gourmet whoopie pies.
All in all it was a great day and a different take on the typical Taste Newburyport Foodie Tour.
Thanks to Ghlee and all our guests for coming out! We hope to run more joint tours this season.
Aug05
Lindt Chocolate Tours with CAFT
I recently had the opportunity to take out the Marketing/Customer Service Group 
from Lindt Chocolates stationed out of New Hampshire. It was a beautiful day and this group of 18 was a blast.
The tour met up at Topside and when I met this cast of characters I went out to introduce myself. Funny enough they did not know what exactly they had lined up for them as their supervisor had set this up in secret! They were thrilled to find out that they had been lined up on a Foodie Tour and we all moved inside for our first taste and get out of the hot summer sun.
Maybe you saw this large group being led down the streets of Gloucester by myself with the giant foodie fork! We stopped off at Cape Ann Olive Oil and everyone got to try out some oils and vinegars. In a surprising move the boss bought everyone a bottle of their choice!
We made our way down to Pavilion Beach and took in the sights then stopped off at the Cape Ann Brew Pub for a local beer and fish/chip plate then it was off to Turtle Alley where these Chocolate Experts got to pick their choice of homemade chocolate turtles.
Great day, great crew!
Apr07
Blackburn first rose to fame in 1883. While he was fishing on the schooner Grace L. 
Fears, a sudden winter storm caught him and a dorymate unprepared while they were in their banks dory, leaving them separated from the schooner. Blackburn began to row for shore, despite the loss of his mittens; he knew his hands would freeze, so he kept them in the hooked position that would allow him to row. He tried to save one hand with a sock and thus worsened his condition by freezing his toes and yet not being able to save his fingers. The crew mate gave up and laid down in the dory and died on the second day. Blackburn carried the body to shore for a proper grave.
Mar28
We are glad to announce the start of Taste Newburyport! Just like it’s namesake this food tour takes place in beautiful Newburyport, MA. While you are in Newburyport at one of the quaint Inns we suggest you try out our tour.
We meet up at historic Market Square where we are introduced to the city and its historic foundings. After that we move through the brick building lined streets on our way to try some of the best food that Newburyport has to offer.
Mar25
Mass Office of Travel and Tourism – Guests from Australia and Newe Zealand
Foodie Spotlight on Taste Gloucester.
Taste Gloucester is our first and one of our finest food tours. It started out early last summer and turned out to be a huge success! So what is Taste Gloucester all about? 
Taste Gloucester is an incredible way to experience America’s oldest working seaport. Of course you have to take a whale watch (we recommend Cape Ann Whale Watch) and see the harbor, but after you see Gloucester by water its time to eat! Our tour meets up on top of Harbor Loop near downtown where we take in the beautiful sights from this grassy knoll that overlooks the working harbor front. From here we learn a bit about the early history of the city and then its off to eat!
Jan19