The food tourism community is growing, and we have been making friends all over the world. Check out our recent posts about Barcelona, Dublin, The Netherlands; and stateside we have Austin, San Francisco, and Palm Springs.
It’s not only fun to see how other companies celebrate their local food, but it’s also fulfilling to be able to support one another in our journey of entrepreneurship. Recently we had the opportunity to visit our friends at Vallarta Food Tours when we passed through on a cruise. It was the perfect way to explore the town during our limited timeframe!
Our guide was Bernardo, a fun-loving guy who made eating tacos look like an Olympic sport. He greeted our group in a city square from which we launched our journey. Our tour was made up of Americans, Canadians, and an English couple.
Here were our tastes from the tour:
A delicious and flavor-packing pork taco wrapped in a fried corn shell and topped with onions, and an array of salsas, if you dare. We ate from a place called Tacos de Birria Chaneay, but their normal itinerary includes Tacos Robles, which was unexpectedly closed the day we took our tour.
These family-owned refreshment stands can be found at various locations throughout the city. We tried all four fresh fruit flavors including mandarin; barley; passion fruit; and lemon, mint and chia seed. They were all wonderful, but passion fruit topped my list. I can see why it’s the preferred drink here (outside of Tequila, of course!).
Next up was a flour tortilla taco stuffed with fried octopus, shrimp, and smoked marlin, the house specialty. At this stop, which was a restaurant called Mariscos Cisneros, we had a reserved table in their breezy and quiet restaurant, a nice contrast to the bustling streets.
Our next stop per our itinerary was Tacos El Cunado, but that must have been closed as well as we instead enjoyed a two-part tasting at our next location, Vallarta Factory. While sitting in their dining room, we enjoyed Mexican sopes with a thick tortilla bottom pilled high with chicken, shredded lettuce, and a sliced tomato.
Also from Vallarta Factory and our first air-conditioned respite from the hot sun, we indulged in the finer things by selecting our favorite chocolate from the cabinet. Options included dark, white, chile, cherry, and more. For me? Passion fruit, again! I guess I was on a roll that day. Bernardo also did an interesting presentation on cacao and the process of making chocolate.
As evidenced by the packed dining room, Mariscos El Guero is obviously a local favorite. We were served disks of mahi mahi ceviche topped with slivers of avocado. They were amazing, especially paired with the cool and energizing hibiscus punch.
We stopped in to see an authentic Mexican candy store to sample of a few of their sweet treats. Our guide passed around a bowl of two types of coconut balls, candied fruit, and fudge. The sign in their shop reads, “The legacy of the past, sweetening the present.”
Gaby’s pulled out all of the stops and served two food courses along with a traditional “Bandera and Sangrita” tequila shot. The shot, which has three components, reflects the Mexican flag: lime juice (green), tequila (white), and orange/tomato juice (red). We enjoyed small bowls of tortilla soup and an enchilada that had green mole on one side and red mole on another. The ambiance was great as we sat on a covered patio.
Rounding out the tour, we visited a tuba drink station on the boardwalk. Tuba, also known as coconut wine, is sweet from coconut cream and crisp from apple vinegar. They add floating walnuts, which is something I can say I haven’t experienced in a drink before! I enjoyed trying something new.
This tour had a fair amount of walking on uneven cobblestone streets, a few crosses over a rickety bridge, and the itinerary seems to fluctuate depending on restaurant availability. There is a variety of authentic Mexican food including several tacos, which were loved by all. Thanks to Vallarta Food Tours for a fun experience!
If you’ve yet to experience a food tour for yourself, we invite you to come along with us as we explore local cuisine in Colorado Springs. Join other food-loving people as your hop from restaurant to restaurant while learning about our local history.
Cheers, Samantha from Your Rocky Mountain Food Tours Team
(So, what’s a food tour, anyway…?)
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