Melting Pot Tours “Old Pasadena” Gift Day

(Gerry Furth-Sides) The fun food and culture-rich “Old Pasadena Food Walking Tour” feels like minutes even though it covers over two miles and two hours of walking and food tastings. That’s because of the careful planning and expertise of Tour guide and Melting Pot Tours owner, the exuberant Jodi Flowers. By the end of the tour new friends are made, both local and out-of-towners alike and tummies filled.

This expertly curated food tour features some of Pasadena’s independently owned restaurants, many family-run and in business for decades. All that is required to bring are comfortable walking shoes and water. Our tour included:

• Tea Tasting at Chado Tea Room to start off the tour
• Regional Mexican Cuisine at Tortas Mexico
• Sweets at Mignon Chocolate
• Cupcakes at the DOT shop
• Indian cuisine at Tibet Nepal House
• We Olive Oil and Wine Bar
• Amara Chocolate and Coffee for South American savories, sweets and specialty hot chocolate and coffee – and to linger before leaving

Woven into food tasting sit-downs are stops at historic and architectural. Here visitors from Minnesota (left), who were joined by their local family and Washington, DC (right) join Jodi.

One of the most surprising parts of the Old Pasadena’ tours are restaurants with spiffy, standard store fronts and also private, back “alley” dining areas. Tortas Mexico fits the bill perfectly.

This family-owned business is known for its authentic Mexican food with recipes from the owner’s hometown, San Juan Yuicuita, a small pueblo in the Nochixtlán district in the state of Oaxaca, renowned for its extraordinary cuisine.

Steps away from Tortas Mexico is Mignon chocolate with fascinating ethnic ingredients blended into the refined chocolates. On our tour, Faloodah (rose water) refined chocolates was offered.

Who would have thought that this passage way led to a remarkable alley! The interior courtyard was a gathering place for artists in the company a century ago when it was created.

Serving the authentic Himalayan cuisine of Nepal, Tibet and India since 2001, Tibet Nepal House offered familiar, popular dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala, naan, saag paneer and samosas. The warm welcome and satisfying food kept us at table for a while!

At “dots” cupcake shop, the presentations and the takeaway boxes are as charming as the cupcakes are delicious in unusual and classic flavors. We savored one when we got home!

The passion and elevated quality of We Olive‘s classic store and top tasting events with sublime local products didn’t surprise us on the Old Town Pasadena Melting Pot Tour. We already met these dedicated, passionate local olive oil and wine supporters at Masters of Taste.

Our last stop was at Amara Chocolate and Coffee, a wildly popular Venezuelan café specializing in espresso and coffee (roasted by Jones Coffee), arepas, cachapas and Spanish churros. Amara Chocolate and Coffee’s breakfast, brunch, lunch, and desserts are appealing as a snack or combined to make up any main meal. Even with the SRO outside in a tented area, tour guests lingered, reluctant to go!

“Old Pasadena Food Walking Tours” are offered Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 am – 2:00 pm. Book online; call +1 (323) 664-4472; or email info@meltingpottours.com.

“Dinner is ready!” Guests can order food to be picked up after the tour rom one of the friendly tour eateries. Bringing an ice chest with a cooling element for transportation is recommended.

Convenient public parking structures near the meeting location have surprisingly low fees, generally free for the first 90-minutes, then $3 for each additional hour, $9 daily maximum. We love Pasadena for these structures!

The Metro Gold Line‘s Memorial Park Station is a block from the meeting location — guests who ride the Metro to the tour receive a $5 discount. 

Melting Pot Food Tours offers four other signature tours: East LA Latin Flavor Tour; Pasta Pasta Pasta Tour in Old Pasadena and the Maritime Long Beach Tour (East Village Long Beach Tour); Original Farmers Market Tour