If food is your love language, but you're looking for a way to shake things up, why not add an educational component to your day? Fairfax County and Northern Virginia's food scene is diverse, delicious, and decadent - there are restaurants showcasing cuisines from all over the globe. But make your trip to Northern Virginia even more special by taking a food tour or culinary class at one of these area purveyors. 

Here are a few Food Tours and Cooking Classes you'll want to make sure to check out on your visit to Fairfax County.

 

Food Tours

Virginialicious - Tour Annandale's Korean Food Scene

Virginialicious Food Tour - Annandale - Tours

A local woman-owned company has started exclusive food tours of Annandale's Korean food scene, diving deeper into the food, culture, and community that has made Annandale one of the best Korean food destinations in the country. Mina Kim was born and raised in Busan, South Korea, but looks at Annandale as a home away from home. She started Virginialicious as a way to bring people together through a shared love of food and a passion for the diverse flavors of the region. Helping connect under-the-radar Annandale restaurants to the wider community, Mina has curated a food tour dedicated to showcasing traditional Korean specialties at 4-6 restaurants in the area. Besides fueling yourself with delicious food, dig deeper into Korean cuisine, meet some of the local restaurateurs in the neighborhood, and learn how Annandale became known as Koreatown. Book your tour here!

 

River Sea Chocolate Factory & Cafe - Tour the Area's Craft Chocolate Factory

Chocolate facility tour

On the sweeter side, River Sea Chocolate Factory & Cafe offers tasting flights and tours to explore the world of craft chocolate. One of their Chocolate Jedi Knights will guide you through the tasting notes of five bars created from bean to bar at the Fairfax County factory. This flight includes five pieces of heavenly delights, and you'll get the chance to tour the factory to learn about each machine and how each one helps craft this delicious chocolate.

 

Cooking Experiences

100 Bowls of Soup - Learn to Make a Comforting Soup Bowl

Soup making classCourtesy 100 Bowls of Soup / Facebook

If you are looking for a cozy yet tasty soup, 100 Bowls of Soup has every soup you can imagine made from sustainably sourced ingredients. The masters behind the soup are sharing their love and passion through various cooking classes to spread their knowledge of ingredients and simple techniques for creating comforting meals. Ever wondered how to prepare a flavorful bowl of pho? Discover the history, differences, and techniques used in making classic Vietnamese Beef Pho from scratch. Or tackle three cuisines in one go at their Three Curries Many Meals Cooking Class as Chef Kim will demonstrate how to make an Indian, Thai, and Japanese curry. Keep track of the various classes on their website, as new ones are added frequently.

 

River Sea Chocolate Factory & Cafe - Make Your Own Craft Chocolate Bar

River-Sea Chocolate Factory - Unique Chocolate Bars

Sign up for your very own chocolate bar-making class at River-Sea Chocolate Factory and personalize your chocolate bar with rose petals, strawberries, or extra sprinkles! Are you a milk chocolate person or a dark chocolate person? The chocolate gurus won't judge, as you get to choose your base and then your toppings. As the bars are perfected in the fridge, take a look around the chocolate factory and see how chocolate is made. Once your bars are ready, package them up as a tasty souvenir to take home or enjoy each bite on the journey back!

 

Sur La Table - Choose From a Variety of Classes

Couple making fresh pastaCourtesy Sur la Table's Facebook

Sur La Table, at Tysons Galleria, offers cooking classes that cater to any needs. Open to beginners who can only make cereal to experts aiming to create Michelin-star-worthy dishes, this Chef-led experience takes place in a kitchen made specifically for teaching everything from the fundamentals to the most complicated recipes. All of the equipment and ingredients are at your disposal as you follow along with your Chef-instructor through each step. Choose from a variety of classes such as Italian Pasta Workshop, Date Night: Dim Sum Delicacies, Culinary Skills 101, and more.

Bonus: There are multiple options for kids’ cooking classes to get little ones excited about crafting their own dishes.

 

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse - Let the Kids Make Their Own Pizza

Davios Kids Pizza Making - Kids Menu - RestonCourtesy Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse

Northern Italian steaks, veal chops, handmade pasta creations, and pizza decorating for kids! Every Sunday and Monday evening, kids can channel their inner chef and create their very own masterpieces in pizza form at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse. Educational, yet tasty! Every tiny chef gets a personalized Davio’s apron & Chef hat to wear as they roll out their fresh pizza dough and top their pizza with gooey mozzarella cheese and flavorful pepperoni.

 

Wine Tours, Self-Guided Tours, and More

The Winery at Bull Run - Tours - Wine

Looking for even more tour options? Fairfax County's two wineries offer production and historical tours to learn about the art of winemaking. Check out some of the tour details here at The Winery at Bull Run and Paradise Springs Winery.

For even more self-guided walking tours, historic home tours, and other ideas, check out the full list here.

 

Whether you prefer self-guided adventures or historical explorations, the possibilities are endless. From tracing the footsteps of our founding fathers, sampling award-winning wines, or admiring stunning artworks, there are a variety of tours for all personas in Fairfax County!