Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
Overview
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!
What's Included
- Tea and coffee For those who do not wish to have wine, Charleston sweet tea and filtered water will be available.
- Lunch Chef Forrest will demonstrate how to prepare three of his recipes with heritage Lowcountry ingredients then serve you lunch with carefully curated wine pairings from Bistro a Vin.
- Alcoholic beverages Bistro Au Vin provides wine tasting pours paired with Chef Forrest's recipes. (Additional wine available for purchase on consumption.)
- Each guest will leave with copies of Chef Forrest's recipes.
- Cooking Demonstration by Chef Forrest Parker
- 90-minute walking tour of Charleston's historic district
- Gratuities
Meeting Location
1 Vendue Range
Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Charleston's acclaimed Chef Forrest Parker guides you along an undiscovered path where food and history meet on in historic Charleston, distilling 400 years into a walking tour experience culminating with a cooking demonstration and three course tasting of the iconic flavors of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Chef Forrest leads you on a 90 minute walking tour unlike any other in the city, as the only certified chef tour guide, exploring the complicated history of the Holy City and the culinary influences that shaped Charleston into one of the world's top food destinations. You'll visit the not-to be missed sights, but also the lesser known and understood locations where, for example, an enslaved chef created a recipe that still helps define local menus. The tour concludes at a cozy bistro where you relax while Chef Forrest demonstrates how to prepare the recipes he wrote interpreting definitive Lowcountry classics, and prepared using techniques he mastered over two decades. You'll enjoy a lunch with each of those courses carefully paired with wine, and then take his recipes home with you as our gift to you.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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.
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Guests must be 21 or older, with the exception of older teenagers accompanying parents
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-135016P1
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Average 4.99 out of 5 stars based on 1,008 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
- This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- Tea and coffee. For those who do not wish to have wine, Charleston sweet tea and filtered water will be available.
- Lunch. Chef Forrest will demonstrate how to prepare three of his recipes with heritage Lowcountry ingredients then serve you lunch with carefully curated wine pairings from Bistro a Vin.
- Alcoholic beverages. Bistro Au Vin provides wine tasting pours paired with Chef Forrest's recipes. (Additional wine available for purchase on consumption.).
- Each guest will leave with copies of Chef Forrest's recipes.
- Cooking Demonstration by Chef Forrest Parker.
- 90-minute walking tour of Charleston's historic district.
- Gratuities.
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025The minimum age to participate is 21. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class is as follows:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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.
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Tea and coffeeFor those who do not wish to have wine, Charleston sweet tea and filtered water will be available.
- LunchChef Forrest will demonstrate how to prepare three of his recipes with heritage Lowcountry ingredients then serve you lunch with carefully curated wine pairings from Bistro a Vin.
- Alcoholic beveragesBistro Au Vin provides wine tasting pours paired with Chef Forrest's recipes. (Additional wine available for purchase on consumption.)
- Each guest will leave with copies of Chef Forrest's recipes.
- Cooking Demonstration by Chef Forrest Parker
- 90-minute walking tour of Charleston's historic district
- Gratuities
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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.
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Guests must be 21 or older, with the exception of older teenagers accompanying parents
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers
