Montreal Food Tour Review

This is part of a series of interviews with inspiring travelers. Today I’m interviewing Gigi Griffis about her Montreal food tour. See more about traveling with tours here. All photos provided by Gigi.

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Tell us about yourself and your travel experience.

Hey there! My name is Gigi. I’ve been traveling internationally since I was 14. My first trip was to Australia and the main goal was to see a kangaroo (check).

I’ve been hooked ever since, so it makes sense that four years ago (May 2012), I decided to ditch my permanent address and take to the road full-time with my backpack, freelance writing business, and small dog.

I’ve been mostly traveling in Europe since then (Belgium, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Croatia, Slovenia…etc.), but am currently spending four months in Vancouver, Canada.

For a living, I write books, blog posts, websites, and magazine articles. And for fun, I’m a reader, hiker, dancer, cook/foodie, and adventurer. I love trying new things, especially when it comes to food or the outdoors.

Where did you go on your tour and how long was it? How many food stops were there?

We spent the first part of our summer road tripping across Canada from Quebec City to Vancouver, stopping in lots of places along the way, including Montreal, where we booked this food tour with Fitz & Follwell.

The tour was a couple hours and we hit more than six places.

What tour company did you use and why?

This tour was called Flavors of the Main and is run by Fitz & Follwell.

Why did you choose a tour instead of traveling independently?

We only had one day to explore Montreal (our other day there we both had to work), so it made sense to book a tour. That way we get to see and eat more than we would have on our own.

What did you like about the Montreal food tour? What was your favorite part?

The Asian sandwiches were really tasty and I loved the desserts at the end. Our guide was also pretty great—very engaged and interesting.

What did you learn about Montreal from the food tour?

Montreal is actually incredibly diverse, with tons of little ethnic enclaves. I had no idea.

Was there anything you didn’t like about the Montreal food tour?

Yes. The size. It’s so much nicer when food tours are smaller. This tour was over 10 people, I believe, and it was tough to be social with everyone and to keep things moving. It took forever for us to get out of the tea shop since everyone wanted to buy something.

I also do wish the tour had featured more Canadian products and flavors. It’s great that the city is so diverse, but I’ve been to Spain and Germany and tried Spanish and German flavors there. On a Canadian tour, I would love to see more Canadian fare.

What was your favorite food on the Montreal food tour?

The desserts at the end and the Asian sandwiches were the tastiest things we tried.

What inspired you to take this food tour or travel to Montreal?

We stopped in Montreal because it’s been on my bucket list for years and I’d always heard great things.

Would you recommend the Montreal food tour? Would you change anything about it?

It depends what you like. If you’re looking for a diverse experience of the many cuisines imported into Montreal, this tour is for you. You’ll stop for everything from fortune cookies to Jewish deli delights to very Quebec-style poutine.

If you are looking for something that really delves into Canadian specialties, this isn’t the right tour for you.

Do you think this tour would be good for a new traveler? Why or why not?

Food tours are always a good option for newbies. They’ll get you oriented to the place and help you figure out what you like and where to go back for more. Again, it just depends what you want to try.

Bio: Gigi Griffis is a world-traveling entrepreneur and writer with a special love for inspiring stories, new places, and living in the moment. In May 2012, she sold her stuff and took to the road with a growing business and a pint-sized pooch. She’s blogs at gigigriffis.com and has authored 10 unconventional travel guides in the last two years. Check them out on Amazon here.

Gigi received a complementary tour but all opinions are her own.

You might also enjoy:

• Quebec City Food Tour Review
• Vancouver Granville Island Market Food Tour Review
• Washington, DC Food Tour Review
• Or check out all food tour reviews on Travel Made Simple here