Just a few miles east of San Francisco lies what many call the birthplace of California cuisine: Berkeley. On this 3-hour gourmet food tour, your expert guide will take you behind the scenes of the North Shattuck district. At several acclaimed local food spots – including the very first Peet's Coffee & Tea – enjoy tastings of gourmet cheeses, chocolates, gelato, pizza, sandwiches, wine and more. You'll chat with owners and chefs about the city's culinary history and culture, and discover their commitment to sustainability and local, organic food and farming.

This walking tour reveals Berkeley as the unsung powerhouse of American food and modern politics. We begin in the North Shattuck neighborhood (formerly the Gourmet Ghetto), where culinary revolutions happened simultaneously. You'll discover how Alfred Peet birthed specialty coffee, the Cheese Board Collective popularized the French baguette, and Alice Waters pioneered farm-to-table dining at Chez Panisse. The tour features five distinct food stops, including the Cheese Board’s cult-favorite vegetarian pizza and Gregoire's famous potato puffs. Next, we explore the UC Berkeley campus, passing through the world’s densest grove of Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus. We'll admire the towering Campanile and architecture. We'll stand by the Mario Savio Steps and learn how this became the epicenter of the 1964 Free Speech Movement. Finally, we head down Telegraph Avenue and grab a sweet treat as we walk by Rasputin & Amoeba Records before concluding at People's Park, a famous protest site.