Shirley Lum's A Taste of Toronto Offers Foodie Walking and Biking Tours of Toronto

Back in 1993, Torontonian Shirley Lum (pictured), a fourth generation Canadian-Chinese and "unabashed foodie", started operating A Taste of the World, a company that offers walking and biking tours of some of Toronto’s most intriguing and tucked-away treats.

A leading authority on Toronto's first and oldest Chinatown and a member of the Culinary Historians of Ontario, the Swansea Historical Society, the Dickens Fellowship of Toronto and the Women's Culinary Network, Lum’s eclectic passions have led her to offer ghost walks and literary tours, but surely her strolling-and-dining food walks are at the heart of her business. After all, as she reminds her clients, Confucius himself was of the opinion that "a man cannot be too serious about his eating, for food is the force that binds society together." Here’s a taste of her upcoming schedule:

• May 24 and 31: Dragon Boat Festival in Toronto’s Lost First Chinatown + Second Chinatown: Lum explains that "on the 5th day of the 5th moon, dragon boats races are held all over China. On May 28, many Toronto Chinese will be swooning over their mom’s special sweet and savoury glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Guests will love the legend behind this festival, and the hunt for the essential ingredients at an Asian grocery store. The best part will be sampling the various sticky rice dumplings at the hosted dim sum luncheon."
• June 20 to September 12: Multi-Ethnic Summer Bounty in Kensington Market: An exploration of seasonal local and international ingredients like blueberries, peaches and white asparagus. Guests may find out how corn is cooked in Chilean or Jamaican kitchens, nosh on traditional snacks from various cultures, sample artisanal Canadian cheeses and taste handcrafted chocolates.
• July 12 to 19: Lotus Festival in Toronto’s Lost First Chinatown + Second Chinatown: This tour explores the lure and lore of the lotus, including its edible fruits, root and leaves, in the bakery, the herbalist, the grocery store and the dim sum restaurant.

A Taste of the World Foodies Walks last 3.5 hours. The price of $43 includes all food and non-alcoholic drinks. Seniors (65+) and students with ID: $38.50. Children 12 and under: $27.50. Normally, you shouldn't eat breakfast before your tour. Reserve by email or by phone at 416-923-6813 (mention any dietary restrictions at least 48 hours in advance.) Tours tend to be limited to about a dozen people. Private tours can be arranged.