Eat Smart Culinary & Cultural Tours - Custom Curated Tours Since 1998
Joan Peterson has been a pioneer in the field of culinary tourism, launching the groundbreaking and award-winning Eat Smart Culinary Travel Guide series in 1993. Her vision was to help travelers connect more deeply with cultures through their food traditions, offering insights into local ingredients, dining customs, and authentic dishes. Building on the success of the guidebooks, she began leading culinary tours in 1998, taking groups to destinations like Turkey, Morocco, and India, where participants could experience firsthand the flavors and stories behind the cuisine.
Through her work, Peterson helped shape a new way of traveling—one that celebrates food as a gateway to cultural understanding.
Our tours fill up quickly, so if you are interested in any of our tours, please contact us at 608-285-2390, or email [email protected]. If the tour is full, we can add you to the wait list.
Through her work, Peterson helped shape a new way of traveling—one that celebrates food as a gateway to cultural understanding.
Our tours fill up quickly, so if you are interested in any of our tours, please contact us at 608-285-2390, or email [email protected]. If the tour is full, we can add you to the wait list.
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Get to the Heart of a Culture through its Cuisine!
Join us in getting to the heart of the culture through an exploration of its tantalizing cuisine. Sample the infinite variety of regional specialties in their natural setting. Delve into the secrets of local dishes by participating in cooking classes. Also included are talks on culinary topics and visits to bustling markets to learn about the herbs, spices and condiments that are prevalent in regional cookery. We also see the major tourist sights, yet still have time to shop and relax along the way. You’ll come away with a knowledge of the culinary traditions and a deep appreciation of the magnitude of history and culture. Our Culinary and Cultural Tours are perfect for those with special dietary needs. Because we work closely with all of our chefs on our tours, we can easily accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. Do you have limited mobility? We can make special arrangements to accommodate most limited mobility situations. Please ask when inquiring about our tours. Looking for a specific country? We can customize a tour for any group size. Please email us for more information. |
Our 2025 Culinary Tours
2025 Culinary and Cultural Tour to Japan -
April 2 to 16, 2025 - Sold Out 
2025 Culinary and Cultural Tour to Indonesia -
June 19 to 29, 2025 - Sold Out 
Culinary and Cultural Sailing Tour of Corsica and the French Riviera -
With Guest Chef Evan Dannells of Cadre Restaurant, Madison WI October 11 to 19, 2025 - Sold Out Our 2026 Tours
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2026 Eat Smart Culinary and Cultural Cajun and Creole Tour
February 4 to 10, 2026 - Sold Out 
2026 Eat Smart Culinary and Cultural Tour to Kenya, Rwanda, and Zanzibar
September 5 to 18, 2026
2026 Eat Smart Culinary and Cultural Tour to Turkey
October 6 to 17, 2026 - Details Coming Soon Embark on our culinary and cultural journey through Turkey, where every destination tells a delicious story. We begin in Istanbul, the vibrant crossroads of East and West, savoring street food favorites like simit and succulent kebabs amid centuries-old bazaars. Continue to Antalya, where Mediterranean flavors meet stunning seaside views, indulging in fresh seafood and traditional mezes under the sun. In Pamukkale, discover the healing waters and the ancient city of Hierapolis while enjoying farm-to-table regional dishes that capture the essence of Anatolia. Conclude your journey in Göcek, a hidden gem on the Turquoise Coast, and fresh-caught delicacies prepared by local chefs. This immersive tour blends culture, cuisine, and breathtaking scenery for true food lovers. |
Tour Leaders
Joan Peterson is the publisher of the EAT SMART series of guidebooks designed for travelers and cookbook lovers. To date she has written guides to the cuisines of Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Morocco, Sicily, India, Peru, and Norway. She has traveled extensively for many years, and leads culinary tours to Croatia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Norway, Peru, Portugal and Sicily.
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Susan Peterson Chwae began her career in the travel industry in 1997 when she joined the family’s publishing company. Since the inception of the company’s tour business, Susan has worked intimately with destination management companies and tour operators to create luxury culinary and cultural travel experiences. She and her business partner/mother provide tour leader expertise on all of their tours.
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Here's what our travel friends say....
"I have been on several of Joan's tours and highly recommend them. I love learning about the country I'm visiting through it's cuisine and have met wonderful people along the way, from local guides to the people along on the tour, it's a top-notch experience!!"—Leanne, Eat Smart Tours to Morocco, Portugal, Sicily, Turkey and India
"Once again, you have exceeded my expectations as a tour guide and food guru. I had a wonderful trip. Thank you for all the hard work and time you put in to create such a fantastic tour. It was "unbelievable!" I will miss you, until our next trip."--Heather, Eat Smart in Norway Culinary Tour, 2013
"We especially appreciated the help from Susan and Edward in getting Bob up to the sights/food, and the many kindnesses extended by all in light of his limitations. "--Liz, Eat Smart in Sicily Tour, 2018
"I have been on several of Joan's tours and highly recommend them. I love learning about the country I'm visiting through it's cuisine and have met wonderful people along the way, from local guides to the people along on the tour, it's a top-notch experience!!"—Leanne, Eat Smart Tours to Morocco, Portugal, Sicily, Turkey and India
"Once again, you have exceeded my expectations as a tour guide and food guru. I had a wonderful trip. Thank you for all the hard work and time you put in to create such a fantastic tour. It was "unbelievable!" I will miss you, until our next trip."--Heather, Eat Smart in Norway Culinary Tour, 2013
"We especially appreciated the help from Susan and Edward in getting Bob up to the sights/food, and the many kindnesses extended by all in light of his limitations. "--Liz, Eat Smart in Sicily Tour, 2018
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Tour leaders, Joan Peterson and Susan Peterson Chwae - India 2005.