Posts Tagged With: NYC Food Tours

Brooklyn December Tours Almost Sold Out

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Ziggy

IMG_9992 (1)This is not a drill, nor a sales pitch.  Just a friendly heads-up.  Last year during the last few months of the year, I answered so many requests starting with the word “Unfortunately” that my smart phone started completing “Unfortunately” every time I started a sentence.  This year its happening much earlier.  I got plenty of availability between now and then, but the month of December is looking mighty busy already, especially with Brooklyn tours.

At the moment, there are a handful of open dates left.  The rest are mostly sold out Brooklyn tours, holidays (Christmas, Festivus…), and some time off.  There are a handful of mostly weekend walking tours (East Village, Hell’s Kitchen) with availability.  I imagine Dyker Heights Xmas lights is one of the culprits for the December tour spike as I get many queries about it.  A late Thanksgiving means a later Dyker Heights season this year.  Meaning I dont expect a full light show during the first week but I’ll know better when December starts.

Anywho, just want to give some readers the benefit.  Any questions or if you want to book a tour, email me at EatingWithZiggy@gmail.com

IMG_9881

Categories: Brooklyn, New York City | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Tours Update, Schedule, and Thanks!

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Ziggy

IMG_5548Well, its been a heck of a start!  The tours, particularly the Brooklyn tour have evolved nicely.  With so many of you taken or in the process of taking all three tours, I started working on a 4th.  It may take a while to design this one, and I cant quite say where it will be exactly (mainly because I’m not sure myself), but it will be Downtown somewhere.

I’m extremely grateful to the Trip Advisor community, and the wonderful reviews.  I took a chance to do something different without knowing much what to expect.  With so many food tours out there, I wanted to create a “product” that is unique enough and the type of experience I look for when I travel.  But I dont know if I could connect with those few seeking this without the help of the TA community.  So big thanks to TA and everyone who took my tours.

I will also take this opportunity to include a little upcoming schedule due to impending time off.  I know this is all unconventional but nothing about this is.  If none of these dates work for you still send me your dates, and anything after June 4th

Unless specified, Hell’s Kitchen starts at 2, East Village at 11, Brooklyn at 9:00

4/27 – Free
4/28 – East Village, 10:15 am start. 4 spots left
4/29 – Brooklyn 2 spots left
4/30 – Hell’s Kitchen, 10 am Start, 2 spots left
5/1 – Free
5/2 – EV 3 spots left
5/3 – Free
5/5 – HK 2 spots left
5/6 – EV 2 spots left
5/8 – Free
5/9 – HK 4 spots left
5/10 – Free
5/11 – EV 5 spots left
5/12 – EV 10:30 2 spots left, EV 3:00 PM 4 spots left
5/15 – Free
5/16 – Free
5/17 – HK 11:00 2 spots left
5/19 – HK 3:00 2 spots left
5/20 – 6/4  No Tours

As usual, any tour inquiries send to EatingWithZiggy@gmail.com

Tour website:  https://eatingwithziggytours.com/

Categories: New York City | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Chelsea Market Tours

Posted on January 7, 2017 by Ziggy

Chelsea MarketI decided to do Chelsea Market tours through the winter.  I’ve been toying with the idea for a while, but finally decided to do it after the third person asked me.  The last one I toured with yesterday.  I also noticed many people on Trip Advisor are having trouble navigating through the market, and come out very disappointed, which is a money opportunity shame.  While many New Yorkers avoid the market for its craziness (and by craziness I mean you tourist), the foodies out there, and those in the know go out of their way to eat and shop there.  With all our current food halls, courts and markets all over NYC, Chelsea Market is still the most unique one offering the best eats.  And unlike say, Little Italy, its touristy for good reason.  But as with any such market pretty much, there’s value in going with a local

You can very well explore on your own, and I’ve written plenty here to help you out with the many options.  There’s no secret to what I like, but there are a few places not so easy to find (I call one the market speakeasy).  I’ve been to Chelsea Market well over 100 times, to the point that I even know what other tour groups are eating.  These are big groups that can only do it at 10 am or 2 pm.  With smaller groups I can afford a more proper, relaxed walk, and also customize the eats if needed

Who is the tour for:  Foodies, locals, market lovers, models, anyone really.  I’ve taken both locals and visitors to the market before.  If we have time we can also walk on the High Line and I’ll take you to my favorite dessert in Chelsea nearby (outside the market, in addition to dessert in CM).  Worse case scenario you’ll have a chance to meet a fun, energetic, good looking local, and I’ll do my very best to find that individual!

$50 per person for now.  If interested, email me.  Oh and remind me to tell you the story behind the picture below.

img_4976

Categories: Chelsea, New York City | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Case for Private

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Ziggy

meta-chartFull story on the still work in progress hottest, most talked about tour site in town.  As in “Hey, did you hear about Ziggy’s new web site?”  “Yes I did, I heard its still a work in progress”, “Yeah, but it looks so clean and neat”, “Yah?”, “Yah!!”

The Case for Private

 

 

Categories: New York City | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Introducing EWZ Tours

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Ziggy

img_7142-1Some tours developments for ya…

We have a name, a website, and the least attractive attractions on TripAdvisor (meaning the guide, not the experience)

The three tours are shaping up quite nicely.  I’ve made some changes to all three already and quite satisfied with all the routes.  I’m fairly booked for the holiday season, but not so much after January 3rd.  Yes, I’m doing the walking tours throughout the winter

I think the most painful part of this whole process was coming up with the name.  Eating With Ziggy Tours ultimately beat Angry Panda, Touring With Ziggy, and Hungry Penguin.  I was all set on the last one, but no one liked it.  Touring With Ziggy was the natural progression, but then the expectations of Drinking With Ziggy, and Sleeping with Ziggy would follow.  I would have already gotten a review on the last one, and I’m afraid it’s not good

It took about 6 weeks but we are finally on Trip Advisor, and Facebook.  On Instagram which I finally joined in the summer, I’m “EatingWithZiggy”, and on Twitter I’m still good ol’ Ziggy601

In order to get on TA, I had to quickly create a dedicated site which I’m still working on https://eatingwithziggytours.com/

Why East Village

Categories: Brooklyn, East Village, Midtown West, New York City | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

More About the East Village Food Tour

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Ziggy

img_4226To describe East Village is like trying to describe our presidential race.  One of a kind bizarre, full of characters, twists and turns, and an extremely complicated history.  In some ways East Village reminds me of Sicily.  A long history of invasions of different peoples, cultures, and a lot of pain.  Like Sicily, seeing it is like seeing layers of paint.  And watching that paint while munching on an Israeli Bourekas, Philipino Lumpia, or a Xi’an spicy chicken wing is like… “Making watch paint great again!”  Or something like that.

Like the Hell’s Kitchen food tour, no tour will be the same.  We will have a few sit downs in some carefully selected spots that will differ from tour to tour.  Some of them I’ve been enjoying for years, while some discovered recently.  Unlike other food tours where strategic deals are made with the establishments regardless of quality, quality comes first. (oh boy, I’m starting to sound like Crazy Eddy)

img_4469While one may question the validity of Hell’s Kitchen being a hot food neighborhood (historically it hasnt been), you wont hear similar arguments about East Village.  Its arguably the best food neighborhood on the east coast.  Its not only extremely diverse, but well represented in any “Best Of” discussion.  From soup dumplings (Xiaolongbao) to BBQ ribs, to tacos.

We will pass by some important sights that helped shape the neighborhood and really NYC overall.  Plenty of history and photo opportunities

We will follow the Mosaic Trail.

You will hear stories that will bring the area to life.  Stories and events that even most New Yorkers arent aware of.  Some involve celebrities living in the East Village.

img_4396Small, private groups (up to 5 people) will enable you to experience the neighborhood like no large groups can.  I dont even need a microphone nor a pole with a chicken attached to it.  The only chickens you may see will be on skewers.

The timing of the tour 2-6 allows me to introduce you to some of these places and people in a more comfortable, relaxing pace, avoiding the crowds of lunch and dinner.  I try to finish by 6, although sometimes we have some fun and stay a little longer.  If you have a show to catch however, you will not have a problem.

$60 per person (for now)

Meet at 11:00 am at 26 Astor Pl, in front of Chase Bank.  http://tinyurl.com/hv8478g

For any inquiries and availability email EatingWithZiggy@gmail.com
img_4401img_4461img_4222

Categories: East Village, New York City | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

More About the Tours

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Ziggy

img_7125I’m getting a lot of questions about the tours, so want to put this out there.  I started booking tours for this month and well into January, and already have some days full.  But quite a few are still open, and with all the bookings I got so far a schedule is born, well sort of (send me your dates).

About the tours and prices:  These are not budget tours by any stretch.  Compared to what you get at some of the other tours (half a slice of pizza, half a hod dog, half a joke. I know because I took some of these tours), this one is quite gourmet.  In case you havent noticed, I’m a food snob (Ask my wife about her attempt at tacos last night –  I was being super nice).  I take you to some of my favorite places, with little regard to price.  Each place comes with a personality, and a story.  Keep in mind that a proper mid range meal in NYC is around $75 per person.  And some of the tour agencies charge you between $200 (two hours) to $600 (Full day) for a private tour.  I have to keep prices as low as I possibly can, for the time being at least.

img_3935Brooklyn Tour – I pick you up from the hotel (assuming its conveniently located) at 9:00 AM and we travel through Brooklyn like no other tour company does to my knowledge, in a comfortable car.  We hit very diverse, ethnic, and in some cases picturesque neighborhoods like Sunset Park, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Flatbush – Ditmas Park, and historic Prospect Park South.  If we’ll have time we’ll get to Red Hook too.  This is the real Brooklyn.  We’ll walk and explore about 3 or 4 neighborhoods, and eat some wonderful stuff.  Other tours just drive around from one pizza place to another fooling tourists into believing they cant get better in Manhattan.  They certainly can.  I suspect we are back anywhere from 4 to 6 pm depending on how much fun we have and traffic.  During Christmas season we’ll end in Dyker Heights for the lights ($100 per.  2 person minimum for now.  Will work with families).  4 people max.

Hell’s Kitchen Food Tour –  This neighborhood has a very complex and violent history and I know it very well.  We’ll explore the area for about 4 hours, and eat at some of my favorite spots.  Plenty of photo opportunities, and interesting sights on the way with some surprises.  This is a very local experience, and you’ll have a nice understanding of the area.  $60 per.  We meet at 2 pm on the southeast corner of West 48th st and 8th ave (In front of FDNY Engine 54).  5 people max.

East Village Food Tour – Similar to the Hell’s Kitchen tour except that this is an entirely different neighborhood with its own unique history and stories.  It reminds me of Sicily in a sense that the neighborhood went through so much, with a constant flow of invasions of people and cultures.  Oh and only the best food neighborhood on the east coast.  About 4 hours.  $60 per person.  Meet at 11 am, Location TBD.  5 people max.

Hells Kitchen tour via Local Expeditions – Essentially the same as the food tour without most of the food stops.  Its a 2-3 hour area tour with just a couple of food stops.  $40 per.  We meet at 10 am on the southeast corner of West 48th st and 8th ave (In front of FDNY Engine 54).  10 people max.

For any inquiries email EatingWithZiggy@gmail.com

Soon I will have a separate site for the tours, so not to make this a commercial area.  Its still a food blog first.

img_3695img_7134

Categories: New York City | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blog at WordPress.com.