There’s nothing worse than being on the road and picking the wrong restaurants. Average to bad food is simply a waste of good dollars, time and visitor impressions as to what a tourist destination can offer. Some of the best places may be new & emerging, and not on the “buzz” radar of foodies who share their reviews.

Food tours to the rescue! Culinary tours are all the rage–and with good reason. From Ventura to Los Angeles, San Diego to San Francisco, food tour guides have made it their mission to introduce you to the interesting tastes and quality dishes ranging from beverages, appetizers and entrees to desserts in whirlwind city tours of restaurants, cafes and chefs’ kitchens. As an investment, food tours allow you to sample from a variety of places for the price you may spend at just one. After pleasing your palate with sensations, you’re well equipped to begin exploring on your own.

Here are some great food tours offered in California:

• Ventura: Ventura Food Tours are guided walking tours, lasting between three and four hours. Each tour stops at approximately six different locations, where guests will enjoy tastings of some of Ventura County's best food finds. Walk through different parts of the county meeting chefs, entrepreneurs, and learn about the history of Ventura, California. Tasting tours are intimate and informal, giving you a behind the scenes look into some of our gourmet food producers and culinary purveyors – chocolates, tacos, baked goods, local wine, and gourmet treats are just the beginning. Offered most Saturdays and Sundays in Downtown Ventura and Downtown Ojai at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m., tours last approximately 3.5 hours. Cost: Tickets cost $59 per person, or $49 per person if you have two or more. For more info: Call 805-295-TOUR (8687), email info@venturafoodtours.com, or visit venturafoodtours.com
• San Francisco: Grace Ann Walden (former food critic with San Francisco Chronicle) offers a variety of taste tours. North Beach tour. Call: (415) 302-5898 or email: gaw@sbcglobal.net
• San Diego: Bites, Booze & Brothels is one of the themed tours of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, once a redlight district of the city and now a trendy dining and entertainment district. Call: (619) 233-8687 or email: info@sodiegotours.com
• Los Angeles: Melting Pot Food Tours offers a variety of flavors. One of their most popular is the Latin Food Tour offered most Saturdays: www.zerve.com/MeltingPot/LatinLA