NEWBERRY — Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours is expanding to Newberry to offer a menu that includes sampling dishes from downtown restaurants while learning some of the history of the area.

The tours take patrons on a walking tour of Downtown Newberry to five different restaurants where they will eat. Before they go into a restaurant, however, they will learn a bit of history.

Meg Muir, the tour guide for Newberry, has gathered history from all over the county. Her goal is to add color to the history she presents.

“I am trying to get as many stories together as I can, as opposed to just dry facts, like this building was built in this year. So I am trying to gather stories from people,” Muir said.

Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours have partnered with most of the downtown restaurants, and when customers go inside they will be treated to a sample of what that restaurant offers.

The history

Gloria Freeman and Janet Jordan started their food tour business in 2014 after a trip they took to Seattle.

“We are both meeting/event planners, and when we travel together to a city, Janet always looks for a good food tour for us to do. This way we can get a taste and flair for the city, and also get some history of it. Plus it gives you an opportunity to find out what is there so you can go back and eat, which we have done many times,” Freeman said.

Jordan had a meeting in Seattle in 2013, and Freeman went with her. During their trip, Jordan found a food tour of Pike’s Place Market. The tour guide got to talking to Freeman and Jordan and told them they had the personality to do food tours.

“We decided on the way home that we were going to do it,” Jordan said.

Freeman said they first went to the Blue Marlin, what Freeman calls a staple in the Vista. They talked with the owner, who was willing to participate, and after that, many other restaurants got on board. Jordan says they have 10 to 15 partners there now.

“Two Gals” had their first tour in August 2014, and Jordan said it has been successful ever since.

“One Saturday a month we do two public tours. We do an 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. brunch tour, and then we have what we call Sites and Bites and that is 4 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.,” she said.

Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours also offer custom tours, which is what they are offering in Newberry. A custom tour is a group of no less than 10 people that books a private tour.

“We have to get off the ground (in Newberry), and I think a lot of the customers for Newberry are going to be people from Lexington to Chapin. What we want to do first is market to the people who have done our tours in Columbia,” Freeman said. “A lot of them have done our tours, and then brought a church group or supper club back and do a different tour.”

Because the morning tours are different from their afternoon tours, the restaurants are different and the tour guide is different.

Food tours

The tours made their way to Newberry after Muir helped Jordan and Freeman with some Christmas decorating. Muir owned a Christmas store in Columbia, and Jordan asked her to help decorate.

“In 2014 I decorated a tree and some things for them for Vista Lights, so I was down there setting up in the Vista, and I started talking about moving to Newberry,” Muir said. “We stated talking and that is when the idea just started floating out there.”

Muir and her sister went on one of the tours this summer and that is when they solidified the plan.

Near the end of summer, Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours hosted a tour with Newberry officials and other notable Newberrians. Then on Nov. 30 they hosted a tour for the Columbia guides and their spouses.

Freeman said they want to start public tours in February or March, but would first like to get the restaurant partners comfortable with what they are doing and how it flows.

“I have spoken with several people about public tours, people who think ‘I cannot get 10 people together,’ that I think will really be responsive. They may just have one girlfriend, and this is something fun they can do together,” Muir said. “I think the public tours will be successful, because you might get overwhelmed with getting 10 people.”

Custom tours require a minimum of 10 people. Freeman said they max it out at around 20. Custom tours are $35 a person. Public tours are $38 a person. For groups of four to nine the price is $35 a person and for groups of 10 or more the price is $35 a per person.

To learn more about Two Gals and a Fork, visit their website at twogalsfoodtours.com/welcome.html or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/twogalsfoodtours.

The first stop on the tour, Figaro.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_IMAG0022.jpgThe first stop on the tour, Figaro. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

The second stop on the tour, Steven W’s Downtown Bistro.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_IMAG0025.jpgThe second stop on the tour, Steven W’s Downtown Bistro. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

The third stop on the tour, Flying Pie.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_IMAG0027.jpgThe third stop on the tour, Flying Pie. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

The fourth stop on the tour, Half Full Coffee and Wine.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_IMAG0030.jpgThe fourth stop on the tour, Half Full Coffee and Wine. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

The fifth stop on the tour, Figaro Market.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_IMAG0031.jpgThe fifth stop on the tour, Figaro Market. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

Gloria Freeman (left) and Janet Jordan (right) created Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours back in 2014, and are now bringing the tour to Newberry. They stand with Meg Muir (center) who will be responsible for gathering the history of Newberry.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_DSC_0623.jpgGloria Freeman (left) and Janet Jordan (right) created Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours back in 2014, and are now bringing the tour to Newberry. They stand with Meg Muir (center) who will be responsible for gathering the history of Newberry. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

Meg Muir talks about the history of Newberry to some of the Columbia tour guides.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_DSC_0628.jpgMeg Muir talks about the history of Newberry to some of the Columbia tour guides. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer
Two Gals and A Fork blends the two

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @ TheNBOnews.