Chew on This Tasty Tours was founded during the pandemic as a way of celebrating and supporting the local food community. With the curated experiences they offer, be it food tours or intimate dinners with celebrated chefs, Chew on This creates meaningful connections between people and places. What sets them apart isn’t the food, fantastic as it is, but the stories. We spoke with Lise Hines, Founder/Culinary Experiences Curator/Storyteller/Community Connector, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Chew On This Tasty Tours creates award-winning culinary experiences throughout British Columbia, from the Fraser Valley to Vancouver and our newest destination, Tofino on Vancouver Island. Drawing on my 25+ years of experience in tourism and design, I’ve built a company that offers intimate, all-inclusive food tours where local restaurants, artisans, and food producers share their stories and specialities. Expect more than an eating tour. Through partnerships with over 70 passionate owners, chefs, bakers, and artisans, we facilitate meaningful connections between guests and the heart of each community, bringing to life the authentic character and culinary heritage of every location we feature.
What made you want to do this work? What problem did you want to solve with the business?
In 2020, during the pandemic, Chew On This Tasty Tours was born out of my desire to support struggling local businesses. Drawing on my tourism industry education and experience as well as my love for local and authentic in my personal travel style, I created risk-free opportunities for small businesses to gain new customers while offering unique experiences for food lovers. I am committed
to local-first values, community-led tourism and cultivating relationship-focused partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
● 75-80% of tour participants are women
● Core age range is 35-65 years old
● Mix of locals and tourists seeking culinary experiences
How does your business make money? How does it work?
The company operates on a straightforward model, compensating partner businesses for all tastings at full retail value and adding a small markup to cover operational costs. This ensures fair compensation for local business partners while keeping tours affordable for guests. All experiences are all-inclusive, covering tastings, drinks, and gratuities. To expand revenue streams, I also leverage my expertise through consulting, education, mentoring, as well as custom and corporate experience design.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
In Vancouver, you can find our experience of a chef-hosted dinner with Chef Vikram Vij at Vij’s Restaurant. Go behind the scenes in his kitchen, meet his team, and enjoy a personalized menu while he shares stories from his culinary journey and celebrity encounters. A rare chance to dine with a master chef.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
“How do you ensure quality experiences across all your tours?”
Our quality assurance starts with carefully vetting each partner business and maintaining intimate group sizes. With a 95% customer satisfaction rate and 85% word-of-mouth referrals, our success is built on consistent excellence. We’ve grown from one tour to eight unique experiences in five years, earning a couple of tourism innovation grants and a TripAdvisor award for our commitment to quality. Our Tofino tour was recognized for its sustainability efforts.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is being a part of creating joy and meaningful connections between people and communities through food. The worst part is managing fluctuating operational costs while maintaining tour affordability.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Lisa Hines
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Another local business we love is Grounds & Greens Café in Fort Langley. This family-owned vegan café is committed to building community and serving delicious plant-based food, all while championing sustainability and kindness. Their dedication to quality and their welcoming atmosphere make them a perfect partner for our culinary tours. In fact, Grounds & Greens Café is a featured stop on our “Indulge in the Village” tour, where guests get to experience their creative, locally inspired dishes as part of the adventure. We’re proud to support a business that shares our values of community, quality, and care for the environment.
