About Us – “The Miami Pioneer’s of Culinary Tours in the Area”

Our Miami food tasting tours are crafted to be our version of an idyllic food tasting journey.

With so many flavors colliding into one city, Miami is one of the most exciting culinary destinations – And we’re ready to share it with both adventurous and selective eaters everywhere. After a lot of homework (and a lot of eating), we’ve carefully chosen only the best places in the neighborhoods we offer our food tours so you can sample the most savory dishes and learn about the culture behind the food.

“We offer a different perspective on Miami because we are food people, we like to experience other cultures and learn about new places through food, we find comfort in such”

Grace Della, Founder
Ethnic Dining Expert

Hello, my name is Grace Della. A little bit about me; The idea of offering culinary tours came to me almost 10 years ago when I first mentioned it to my mother. My mom loves to cook, loves food and learning about different cultures just as much as I do. About 10 years ago I was at my parent’s home and my mom and I were sitting outside overlooking her 60 different varities of orchids in her lush tropical garden after having a few too many glasses of Malbec wine. I looked inside my mother’s rustic kitchen with copper pans hanging from the ceiling, turn my head back to her and said “Mom, you have a passion for cooking, you love people and teaching is in your blood” (my mother owned and operated a grammar school for 20 years so she knew a thing or two about teaching), “as soon as I get back home I am starting to market cooking classes and culinary tours for you to conduct right here in your beautiful kitchen and picturesque town.”

Today after almost a decade, my mom gives cooking classes of traditional empanadas and culinary tours that are booked solid every week. It was not my idea nor my kick-butt online marketing skills that made my mom successful – it was her. I have seen so much love going my mother’s way in the last decade (people that took her cooking class 5 years ago still sends her holiday cards in the mail!). People just connect with her, and I truly believe it is because she is who she is – and she shares her passion for food and her home with such an open and giving heart.

I remember as a little girl that the happiest times at home were when my mom would cook, family would come around and everyone would share stories around the table. Back to today and Miami Culinary Tours; I came up with the idea of Miami Culinary Tour’s first tour called the Cuban-Inspired Food Tour back when nobody had ever heard of food tours in Miami. Why start with a Cuban-inspired food tour? Because I am endlessly in-love with the Cuban culture, the food, its people and their generous spirit.

I have nearly 10 years of experience in the travel/culinary tourism industry under my belt – and there is nothing that makes me more happy than my cafe Cubano in the morning (and of course my family). Oh, and I also blog heavily about restaurants and ethnic cuisine in Miami. You want to talk to me? You can always email me directly at info @ miamiculinarytours.com

Meet Mirka Harris, Senior Epicurean Guide

I was born in California to Argentine parents and was raised in Miami Beach in a Florida Historical home. I think I qualify for the true meaning of being a “local.” I love to share some of the funny stories about Miami because I lived through them. I spent years in the travel industry and developed a love for travel, culture, food and people. The travel industry has given me invaluable experience and I consider myself the ” the last of the Mohicans” when it comes to customer service. I have traveled extensively and know that true customer service is a lost art. So I provide a service I would expect myself and others appreciate. After 10 years of living in Indiana I am truly back. I loved the Mid-West but Miami is where my heart (and family) is. There is a passion inside me that loves to share what I have experienced and it usually is expressed with a bit of humor. My other passion is my son. He is 6 years old and already loves to cook alongside me. My food passion comes from being brought up in an Argentine/Italian/Spanish home. The history part is a new found passion. I find myself researching the most bizarre historical details but I want to know them all because I want to share them with you! It may be the simplicity of Art Deco Architecture that makes it so special or maybe the interesting history behind it. Either way, Miami Beach is one of the most wonderful places to live in the world – of course, this is just my opinion but I thought you may like to know that I love what I do. Looking forward to seeing you on one of our awesome food tours. Mirka Roch Harris. Want to talk to me? You can always email me directly at info @ miamiculinarytours.com.

I find myself researching the most bizarre historical details but I want to know them all because I want to share them with you! It may be the Simplicity of Art deco Architecture that makes it so special or maybe the interesting history behind it. Either way, Miami Beach is one of the most wonderful places to live in the world – of course this is just my opinion but I thought you may like to know that I love what I do. Looking forward to seeing you on one of our awesome food tours. Mirka Roch Harris. Want to talk to me? You can always email me directly at info @ miamiculinarytours.com. Photograph provided by Maegan C. Paniewski

*** Grace Della and Mirka Roch Harris have assisted numerous National and Local Media Outlets and TV Channels such as the Discovery Channel, the Cooking Channel and many others. We are now available on a contract basis to guide you and your production team through Miami’s Culinary Scene. To hire us, please contact us at info @ miamiculinarytours.com

Meet Teresa, Epicurean Guide

I am the archetype of the globalized world we live in today- an Australian with Egyptian and Finnish parents, with a Hawaiian name, currently simmering in the cultural melting pot of South Beach.

From early adolescence, I developed an insatiable yearning for new tastes, experiences and world discovery. I crossed an ocean for the first time at sixteen and soon found opportunities to live in Europe and North America. In these life-changing years I immersed myself in local society and culture, avoiding sheltered tourist excursions. A hunger for intrigue and the unexpected led me to explore outside my serene and isolated home, the never-never land of Australia. I have a heart full of genuine interest in people and in their stories of challenge and growth, not to mention their travel tips and recipes. I am attracted to energetic and positive environments, and the pursuit of knowledge and the exchange of wisdom.

Children intrinsically know what they want, and it was from this diminutive perspective that I embarked on my culinary career. I intently watched my elders cook unscripted generational recipes, and to this day I still feel the same excitement at watching the art of cultural cooking from local master chefs. Food has the power to forge an indescribable bond between a group of friends or strangers, and I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a part in this transcendent process.

Today I have successfully blended myself into the industry that I love. I am a chef, a culinary instructor and a food writer, and each experience brings a new level of insight into my profession.

I grew up to be exactly what I wanted to be.

Meet Natalie Fong, Epicurean Guide

I changed careers two years ago from a Financial Advisor to the wonderful world of Tour Guiding & Tour Directing. I was looking for a new career that was fun for me, but which allowed me to share who I am with those around me. I enjoy meeting new people, and have a love for life and all that it has to offer. My enthusiasm is contagious and I found that it was a very important ingredient in the ‘ recipe’ of Tour Guiding and I had it!

One day, I was reading about tours that offered food tastings and thought…Wow! That sounds perfect for me. I thought…I am loving this new Career of Tour Guiding and…I LOVE FOOD! What could be better! I was intrigued by the whole idea and of course trying some of the exotic and varied culinary fare from these many countries. I signed up for a Tour and I was hooked! The food was amazing, the historical facts and accounts of the Art Deco District were intriguing and the Tour Guide Mirka was captivating! I now wanted to Tour Guide for Miami Culinary Tours.

Did I mention that I love eating? Well, I also love cooking. I am originally from Jamaica and raised in a multicultural environment. Talk about exotic foods… every nationality migrated many years ago to Jamaica and everyone adopted a little bit of everything from each other, including some amazing recipes. It’s funny… when I first came to Florida to go to college, I signed up to be a chef as my major, ended up earning a degree in Hospitality and have come full circle, back to food again.

In guiding many tours in Fort Lauderdale and Alaska, the one thing I found common among all people from the cruise ships was their love of food; Apart from the travels, the food played a major role in how they perceived the success and enjoyment of their vacation! Now here I am with “Foodie Tours” and loving every minute of it!

You will find that I truly enjoy what I do, relating the many stories of yesterday , sharing my memories of South Beach and South Beach today, while we enjoy delicious cuisine and learn about how these recipes are concocted. Come join me as I ‘sink my teeth into’ the world of culinary explosion!

Brenda Benoit, Food Critic, blogger & Professional Photographer

I was born in the city of St. George’s in Grenada and grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. I have been living in Miami for over 20 years and have always had a deep interest in food. I love to cook and eat and to try new restaurants & cuisines. I am especially fascinated with taking pictures of food, as for me it is absolutely necessary to have a record of a memorable meal so that it is never forgotten. I also collect cookbooks and I am in the process of writing one of my own.

I usually don’t go out at night. I am a “natural light” person. However, I have a few favorite restaurants, including ZUMA on Brickell, Downtown Miami, AZUL at the Mandarin Oriental, Sushi Maki in Kendall. If you’re looking for something more off the beaten track it’s all about Zuperpollo Restaurant in Coral Way, Miami. They serve massive steaks at a reasonable price. If you’re looking for ingredients to make your own, Fresh Market in Coconut Grove is probably the best market in town.

I have been a foodie since I was 3 years old (ask my Mother) and truly enjoy the whole experience of eating. For me, opening a door to a restaurant is like embracing the possibility of a new food journey….and I simply love that!

Miami Culinary Tours Partners with the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) to Offer Unique Culinary Experiences

Combining forces to offer both local and visitors an “up close and personal” experience of South Beach’s most iconic properties while savoring the diverse cuisine of the area.

The Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), the non-profit organization in the United States devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the cultural, social, economic, environmental and architectural integrity of the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District will now be offering in addition to their popular Art Deco District Walking Tour, the South Beach Food Tour and the Little Havana Food Tour by Miami Culinary Tours – the Miami pioneer’s of culinary tours in the area. Tickets are on sale now at the newly renovated, state-of-the-art Art Deco Welcome Center located at 1001 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL. MDPL will also be offering both food tours on its website at http://www.mdpl.org.

“It was only the right thing to do for us to approach MDPL as we owe our huge success to them. Their dedicated team works endlessly to preserve the largest collection of Art Deco properties in the world – enabling Miami Culinary Tours to offer an exciting historical, architectural and culinary journey.” says the Miami Culinary Tours’ Marketing Director. “With every ticket purchased through MDPL, you – our fellow foodie – will be helping with the continuous efforts to keep the integrity of a unique historic neighborhood. A portion of your ticket purchased through MDPL will go to support the organization’ efforts. I was recently asked to be part of MDPL’s Marketing and Communications Committee board – it is an honor to be able to be involved with such honorable organization.”

About Miami Culinary Tours

Miami Culinary Tours offers various Miami food tours including the Little Havana Food Tour, the South Beach Food Tour and the soon-to-be launched Miami City Food Tours. Almost unknown until recently, food tours in Miami are steadily conquering the palates of the most adventurous foodies worldwide. It is truly one of Miami’s most unique and delicious experiences. The food tours are conducted by passionate, food-obsessed personalities with vast knowledge of the Art Deco district and the efforts that MDPL continuously does to preserve the magnificent properties in the area. Miami Culinary Tours’ intends to provide attendees with a “one of kind” experience that is enjoyable, interesting and engaging while savoring the local flavor. Some of the incredible restaurants participating craft unique dishes so that participants can taste what is like to be a local in just a few hours.” For more information, visit www.miamiculinarytours.com

About the Miami Design Preservation League:

A non-profit organization that preserves, protects and promotes the Miami Beach Art Deco District. MDPL conducts daily Miami Art Deco Tours at 10:30 am. What they fight for: An advocacy program attempts to influence public policy and public actions in a direction consistent with a group’s mission. MDPL’s advocacy program is guided by its advocates’ aim to act consistently with MDPL’s mission statement: Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the cultural, social, economic, environmental and architectural integrity of the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District and all other areas of the City of Miami Beach where historic preservation is a concern. For more information, visit www.mdpl.org

Miami Culinary Tours is a member of:

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB)

“The Slow Food movement is a defiant determination to preserve unprocessed, time intensive food from being wiped off the culinary map”  - New York Times Magazine.
Visit www.slowfoodmiami.com

The Green Routes website is an easy-to-use tool to help you find one-of-a-kind places to eat, play, shop, sleep, and learn. Use the map to find a destination, or add filters by clicking the categories above. You can also search or highlight selected routes for traveling – visit www.greenroutes.org

Miami Culinary Tours – The Blog

We are a group of bloggers discovering the possibilities, narrating and documenting the flavors of our city – from the local deli around the block to renowned 5 start restaurants, we tell you the intriguing flavors, textures and describe the unique aromas that can only be found in a multi-cultural city like Miami. Meet our  Miami Food Bloggers

Miami Culinary Tours is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel.
Registration No. ST37786