Destination dining: Boca Raton restaurants worth a roadtrip
With so many great places to eat in Boca Raton, what’s a food reporter to do?
- West Palm Beach Food Tours, founded by Kristl Story, was ranked #4 in USA TODAY’s 10BEST Food Tours.
- The tours offer a curated experience of local restaurants, history, and culture in West Palm Beach.
- Groups are limited to 14 people, and all stops are wheelchair accessible.
When Texas native Kristl Story signed up for a food tour in Austin, a city she had visited frequently, her husband initially pooh-poohed the idea as a waste of time.
A few hours later, they discovered new-to-them restaurants that locals and other insiders loved.
It also inspired her business West Palm Beach Food Tours, which turns 10 this year and recently earned the No. 4 spot on USA TODAY 10BEST Food Tours list.
The contest that is driven by reader votes, had this to say about Story’s operation: “Eat, drink, and discover West Palm Beach like a local with West Palm Beach Food Tours. You’ll be taken off the beaten path to savor delicious bites, meet the chefs, and hear the stories behind the flavors. Along the way, you’ll explore vibrant neighborhoods, admire colorful street art, and soak in the city’s rich history — all while enjoying plenty of food and fun!”
What to know before booking a tour
The company offers a menu of four “off the beaten path” tours, where each independently owned stop is integral to a specific theme, and immerses visitors in West Palm Beach’s history and culture.
Story also sees it as a timesaver because “you can preview five or six restaurants in one day.”
Up to 14 people per outing can sign up, and all stops are wheelchair accessible. For groups, tour themes can be customized.
The original downtown tour remains popular and dives deep into Henry Flagler’s history. The last stop is Ganache Bakery where Food Network-famous pastry chef Jamal Lake does a coconut cutting demonstration and tells the story on how Palm Beach got its name.
“We finish with the best Key Lime pie in town, which also dates back to Henry Flagler.”
Lake also does a Lilly-inspired cookie decorating class for Story’s business.
As a newbie in town, it’s tempting to sign up. And Story said I won’t be alone on the local front — many WPB residents comprise her groups and one has a standing reservation whenever houseguests visit.
Her advice: “Don’t just go out to lunch. Go out to lunch at five different places.”
After trying 50 food tours across the globe, Story said, “I remember history so much better when I’m tasting it.”
To book or learn more, visit westpalmbeachfoodtour.com or call 561-331-1158.
And the USA TODAY 10BEST Food Tours winners are:
- Gourmet Food & Wine Tours in Sonoma, California
- Taste of Thomasville Food Tour in Thomasville, Georgia
- Taste Buzz Food Tours in Las Vegas
- West Palm Beach Food Tours, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Six Taste in Los Angeles
- Bienville Bites Food Tour in Mobile, Alabama
- Columbus Food Adventures in Columbus, Ohio
- ‘Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tours in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Savor Seattle Food Tours in Seattle
- Feet on the Street Tours in Detroit
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