The tastes of Texas are far and wide, but the up and coming food scene in San Antonio is something not to be missed. The Alamo City has some of the state’s – and even the country’s – finest chefs taking up residence, taking cuisine from their heritage and putting their own unique personalities into signature dishes that you won’t forget.

With so many famed eateries, though, it’s no surprise that some of these hidden gems…well, remain hidden. You would need a local dining expert to show you the lay of the land, and the chef’s specialties.

Enter: Julia Celeste Rosenthal, aka The Food Chick. A Jersey-girl turned Texan (she got here as soon as she could), Julia is just the sort of gal you’d want to spend some time with over cocktails and vittles. When you take a Food Chick Tour with Julia, you can plan on lots of laughs, divine eats, and anecdotes on the best places you may never have even heard of.

Julia’s tours offer a variety of San Antonio specialties to choose from. You can’t go wrong with staples like Barbeque and Tex-Mex, but you may be tempted by the Hassle-free Happy Hour or the Dulces for the Dulce tours. All tours provide either chauffeured transportation, or a walking tour, so you are able to enjoy your experience without worrying about directions or parking.

I was able to join Julia and the nicest pair of couples on the Progressive Dinner Stroll at the Pearl, and I had just as much fun getting to know my new friends as I did devouring the four courses. Julia handles all the reservations and menu choices ahead of time, so all you’re left to do is eat, drink, and have fun!

For our tour, we hit Cured, Southerleigh (which is featured in the TLM’s Winter issue), NAO, and Boiler House. I won’t divulge too much about the surprise menu items because I couldn’t live with myself if I gave away any secrets (I only do that at the movies). But I will tell you that at each spot you’ll have drinks and deliciousness.

Julia is well-connected in the foodie scene in San Antonio, and because of that, it feels very VIP to dine with her. Every element of our Progressive Stroll could stand alone and shine, from the artfully prepared food, to the house-crafted cocktails and beer, to the conversation and camaraderie; the real treat, though, is the experience Julia provides when it all comes together.

You’ll want to tour with Julia ASAP – plan with your own group or join up with some new foodie fans like I did. And I second Julia’s suggestion to wear stretchy pants. Julia’s openings can be viewed and booked online, as well as full descriptions of each tour. Happy tours!