Taste Your Way Around Catalina Island – Catalina Food Tours

Which is the best way to get to know your destination?  How to you quickly plunge into the local culture when you travel?  For us food is the answer to both questions! Discover Catalina Islands in Southern California with the Catalina Food Tours experts. It is a delicious way to explore the island while you restaurant hop to the best Flavors and Sips.  All this, paired to learning history and fun details about Avalon.   3 hours and 6 stops later, you will have a local bestie plus like we say in Spanish “una barriga llena y corazon contento” – full belly and a happy heart. You definitively want to taste your way around Catalina Island

We were invited to Discover Catalina Island and enjoyed  Catalina Food Tour as part of our media trip.

Discover Catalina Island Flavors

Getting to Catalina Islands marks the beginning of the adventure aboard the modern and comfortable Catalina Express ferry.  Less than a beautiful hour trip you arrive to Avalon.  Immediately, the Mediterranean looking beautiful island will set you on cloud nine for an unforgettable vacation. But, the flavors the island offers go beyond Mediterranean flare.  How do you choose the right restaurant?  What is the best way to indulge your foodie self (beginner or not)? How To Taste Your Way Around Catalina Island? Easy, the answer is the Catalina Food Tours.  Well, it is a bit more than that because you will be truly joining a Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour.

Cool mom tip: make sure you upgrade your Catalina Express ticket to include the Commodore lounge enjoy special privileges. The upgrade includes early boarding, larger seats, a complimentary drink, and a snack.

Catalina Food Tour

Catalina Island is truly idyllic, and dare I say, you will fall in love at first sight.   As small as it is, it offers plenty and you don’t want to go wrong. Wondering How To Taste Your Way Around Catalina Island? Worry no more.  Your starting point (after making your Catalina Food Tour reservation) is on Crescent street – main street.  Then, you get to relax and leave the decision making to a local who wants you to experience the most popular dishes from the best restaurants in Avalon. You will walk around town at a leisurely pace with ample opportunity to ask questions and take in the culture and beauty of it all.  Beware, this tour indulges all of your senses.  Not just your taste buds. The portions you get are small but don’t be fooled, you will be well feed and full by the time it is all done.

Catalina Island fun fact: it has its own font! To see samples of it, visit the post office to see vintage posters that use it.

Cultural Walking 

Once we met Jane everything was in place and ready to go.    I have to say she was not only in-tuned with our needs (shade, park bench or extra napkins)  She is a local that loves showcasing her city.  She pointed out cultural, architectural and historical sites, educated us on how Catalina got to be what it is today and even suggested great photography spots that were on point.  Of course, she also took us to 6 delicious restaurants. Jane had on had nostalgic images of the city for us to compare sights.  She even took us to the post office and shared fun facts about Catalina.

Catalina Island fun fact: The Chicago Cubs trained on Catalina Island from 1921 to 1951.

Food Tasting

Get ready,  it will be difficult for you to choose a favorite one at the end.   All of your food preferences and restrictions are factored in beforehand so you don’t miss a beat during the easy and chill walking tour.  That does mean you don’t have to worry about allergies, or having to request non-alcoholic drinks if needed. Keep in mind that some restaurants might be closed for holidays, for example. Nevertheless, you are sure to have the best eating exploration on the island! Oh, and yes, unite fellow sweet-tooths, dessert has stops too!

These were our 6 stops:

Steve’s Steakhouse

Clam chowder soup (not pictured),  Polynesian steak,  coconut shrimp

Lloyd’s of Avalon Confectionery

Caramel apple a la mode and inhouse made taffy.

Bluewater Grill

Clam chowder, wine, shrimp in chimichurri-like sauce

Coyote Joe’s

John Daly drink, potato taco. 

Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co

Dark chocolate pistachio bark,  Strawberry hibiscus tea

Maggie’s Blue Rose

 3 cheese quesadilla,  Grilled Achiote Marinated Skirt Steak, coconut margarita.

Catalina Island fun fact: The Casino in Catalina Island is not for gambling.  It is a place to get together and enjoy dances, the movies or admire art deco architecture.

I did declare the Blue Water Grill clam chowder the best in town and the dar chocolate pistachio bar at Catalina Coffe & Cookie Co fuera de concurso (beyond amazing).

Catalina Island is For Foodies

We were full after our tour, but because it was our last day we did not want to leave without trying one more restaurant.  We went to The Lobster Trap.  It was not on our tour, but Jane did recommend it.  As a matter of fact, we ran into the owner and took photos with his fresh catch of lobsters and crabs when the tour ran into him.  Jane did tell him we would come later that evening to see him. Catalina Food Tours go beyond your 3 hours together.  They are happy to give recommendations to further eat your way in town. The tour makes for great laughs and unforgettable moments cherish always!

Catalina Island fun fact: 80% of the island is a natural conservancy park where Bison roam free!

I was surprised at how much there is to do and taste in the island.  You definitively should Plan a Weekend in Catalina and include the Catalina  Food Tours.  When you do, make sure you raise your glass or plate as you gaze out into the water from an ocean-front restaurant and think of me.

Now tell me, which would have been your favorite dish from what we tasted on our tour?  Have you taken a food tour before?

For more amazing California destinations read about these 6 unique ones

Privacy -Disclosure