Food tours of New Bedford are a thing and you can check them out this summer  -- even if you think you have seen and done all there is to see and do in the city.

Thank Pam Schwartz and her wife Sara Gonzalez.

The pair officially began offering walking culinary tours of downtown New Bedford, complete with tasty treats and history lessons, Memorial Day weekend.

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The idea was born out of a need they saw, according to the story on their website

As a local whose family has been involved in the food industry of New Bedford since the 1960s, Pam brings a perspective to the food scene you won't find anywhere else. Sara, a New Yorker with a love for food and travel, thought she knew about all manner of cuisine from around the world. Little did she know the South Coast held an untold treasure trove of new culinary experiences, from coffee milk to stuffies to pastel de nata and beyond. Pam and Sara enjoyed digging into the growing food scene in New Bedford, but bemoaned the lack of a structured way to learn about the best of the region's delicacies.

After molding the idea, they won first place in the 2021 EforAll pitch contest, then joined the EforAll Business Accelerator to make the tours a reality.

Now, it's a real family affair. In addition to working alongside her wife, Schwartz counts her mother among the tour guides.

I asked Schwartz what made her want to tackle this business.

"Our area really has some great food and history," she said.  "Why not put it all together? And I'm such an extrovert."

What a fun summer activity to do with the family and a great way to learn about our amazing city. As Schwartz puts it on her website: "Our mission is to really highlight the great food that New Bedford has to offer." That mission has led to partnerships with not just restaurants, but also art-based non-profits.

Tours take about three hours, and include stops at some of the best spots downtown. They happen several times a week and can be booked on the New Bedford Food Tours website.

The tours are designed for tourists as well as locals. "Whether you’re born and raised in New Bedford or visiting for the first time, our tour has something for everyone," the website states. "In addition to trying dishes that might not be in your usual rotation, we’ll also be discussing art, culture and history of the area."

The $80 tours cover about a mile of walking.

Be on the lookout. New Bedford Food Tours is looking to expand outside of downtown and also do brunch tours.

This sounds like something I need to get on today. If you have ever been on one of these tours please inbox me. I'd love to hear your experience.

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