Holiday Gift Idea: City Food Tours with GraceAnn Walden

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Tartine Bakery, a stop on Walden's foodie tour of the Mission.

​'Tis the season, but if making or buying something edible for your foodie friends has you rolling your eyes, think about hitting the road instead. Bay Area food writer GraceAnn Walden has been giving local food tours for eons (20 years), with jaunts in Chinatown, North Beach, and now, the Mission. Each tour costs $80 and includes ample eating time and insider peeks (details here). Walden promises doses of history and culture with each tour -- her food knowledge comes from years of experience in the know (the former Chronicle staff writer used to pen Inside Scoop), and she's sassy and funny. At the very least, consider signing up for her Walden's work-in-progress newsletter: E-mail gaw@sbcglobal.net.