Marilyn Goler knows a thing or two about food, and she's more than willing to share her knowledge. In fact, it's what she does for a living.
Goler cut her teeth in the food industry working in research and development - she was introduced to Chattanooga while helping to develop the Krystal Sunriser for the Chattanooga based restaurant. After spending 25 years as a restaurant consultant, she returned to the city and became a tour guide for local food tour company Eat Sip Walk.
The East Brainerd resident purchased the business in January, and continues to eat, sip and walk her way through the Scenic City as a tour guide.
Eat Sip Walk currently offers food tours downtown and on the Southside. The walking tours range from two to three hours and include four to five different eateries, with the total walking distance averaging about 1 mile. Upon registration, tour participants are given the location of the first restaurant on the tour, but the other stops remain a mystery.
On a recent Saturday, stops on the Southside tour consisted of Feed Co., Conga Latin Food, Alex Thai Food & Noodle Bistro, Bleu Fox Cheese Shop and The Hot Chocolatier. At each stop, participants are given a food sample and drink, such as guacamole and sangria from Conga, and a cheese s'more and craft beer from Bleu Fox.
Between bites and while walking from eatery to eatery, Goler shares interesting pieces of Chattanooga history as well as information about the local food culture and neighborhood.
The Southside tour is held most Saturdays starting at 3 p.m., and the downtown tour is held most Thursdays beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Goler said she would like to add more tours in other Chattanooga neighborhoods, as well as promote the tours to locals more. Tourists are always interested in checking out the city's growing food scene, and she feels many area residents would enjoy finding new spots outside their comfort zones that could become future favorites.
Sometime this fall, she plans to launch a tour featuring stops on both sides of the Walnut Street Bridge.
In addition to its regular scheduled tours, Eat Sip Walk also organizes custom private tours for events such as birthdays and bachelor or bachelorette parties.
For more information or to sign up for a tour, visit eatsipwalk.com, call 708-5328 or email eatsipwalk@gmail.com.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.