This intimate food tour takes you beyond the boutiques and picture-perfect views of Carmel-by-the-Sea, delving five tastings deep into the village where locals dine. It's a place shaped by its artistic founders, and your local guide will lead you through charming wooden cottages, unnumbered streets and tucked-away galleries, linking each stop to the culinary delights on offer.

You'll bypass the tourist hotspots in favour of eateries selected for their exceptional fare rather than their proximity to the beach. As you journey, your guide will unravel the bohemian history behind Carmel's establishment, the architectural oddities resulting from decades of construction without street addresses and why this coastline remains a haven for working artists.

The tasting experience traces the Central Coast's finest ingredients from ocean to table. You can anticipate a succulent Dungeness crab cake, expertly seasoned, a rock cod sandwich fresh from local waters and spinach gnocchi that pays homage to the town's European heritage. A zesty lemon pistachio cake provides a refreshing finale. Additionally, one dish is reserved as a surprise—a locally inspired treat unveiled only when everyone has assembled.