NEW BEDFORD — Since launching, New Bedford Food Tour has been reintroducing the restaurant scene to locals (and tourists) with their selections of some of downtown's most delicious secrets.

"We still can't believe how many people don't know what New Bedford really has to offer — even people who have lived her for years," said Sara Gonzalez, who works with her wife, Pamela Shwartz, owner of the food tour.

First discussed at a table at Izzy's in April, the tour is now a reality for the foodie duo. The tour has already shared some of the city's tastiest treats and restaurants of note to over 50 groups since launching at the end of June.

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"People have been really enthusiastic who have come on the tour," said Gonzalez. "And the restaurants have been just as excited to partner with on this."

On Sept. 29, Jim and Susan Okolita of Middleboro were on one of the afternoon food tours led by Shwartz. Jim Okolita was celebrating his 66th birthday.

"We've come to New Bedford... but we've never really been to New Bedford," he said. "That why we were interested — we really haven't sat down or really gone into the area and it's in our backyard."

Gonzalez said that has been the major goal of the food tour — to reintroduce locals and nearby residents to the city and what it has to offer people.

"We have a certain narrative that we wanted to sort of tell of the city and of the city's culture," she added.

Who and what is on the food tour?

During the Thursday afternoon tour, guests enjoyed food from The Baker, Izzy's Restaurant, Pour Farm Tavern and People's Pressed as well as an exhibit at the Star Store and a peek inside The Drawing Room.

Along the way, about a mile on foot, Shwartz sprinkled in history on the city and stories behind some of the buildings.

Some highlights include The Baker's linguica cheese roll, which is an all-butter soft roll dough wrapped around local Amaral's linguica and American cheese in a pinwheel style.

"I have never had a cheese roll like this in my life," said Jim Okolita.

The Okolitas also got to try a Cachupa Rafugado at Izzy's, which is a slow cooked stew of corn, collard greens, cabbage, beans, sweet potato, eggs and linguica.

At Pour Farm Tavern, the candied bacon appetizer, which is what it sounds like — thick cut smoked bacon, sugar coated, candied and served on a stick.

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"This is really good," Susan Okolita said. "Just wow."

Gonzalez noted that there are also a few other versions of the tour, depending on weekdays or weekends, featuring a few other places.

"You can come to a few of them and get a different experience each time," she said.

Sharing new places with everyone

"This is a great idea, all the major cities have a food tour and now New Bedford will, too, thanks to them," said Brandon Roderick, owner of The Baker.

"We are only one of two Cape Verdean restaurants here," said Servulo Pires, who works at Izzy's. "We're grateful to be on the tour and shared with people who don't know us."

Owner Izidora Andrade said people have come back for lunch saying they discovered her due to the food tour.

While on the tour, Shwartz ran into a previous guest Alanna Nelson.

"It was a fun activity, everyone had a good time," Nelson said, who is from Marion. "It was a nice way to show off New Bedford."

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She discovered Wings Court on the tour and now frequently visits the area. She has also returned to both Izzy's and The Baker since the tour. "The food is just so good. I had no idea about them," Nelson added.

"This is so great to hear," Shwartz said. "That's what we want to have happen after the tour is over — for people to visit these places again."

Aside from seeing people salivating over the food, Shwartz said her other favorite part of the tour is meeting new people, especially locals who have interesting stories from growing up in the city.

"You see people's faces and they start reminiscing about stuff that they completely forgot about," she said. "That has been just really wonderful and lovely."

Shwartz, who is also a fourth generation New Bedford local, recalls a story of a group of ladies remembering a strip club near The Zieterion theater.

"She said that her father used to sneak her in when she was a kid and she remembered thinking, 'Why do these girls take so long to take their clothes off? I can do it so much faster than them?' It was cute," Shwartz said.

Another group from Switzerland commented that The Baker's pastries measured up to the croissants they get locally.

Shwartz said a woman who leads a food tour in France also came on the tour and commented on how impressed she was by the food in New Bedford overall.

Hoping to expand all over the city

Gonzalez said as they have started to gain momentum with the tours, they have been approached by other restaurants to be part of the experience. However, with two kids of their own, they are hoping to get some additional help soon.

She hopes they can hire more tour guides and work to expand to other parts of New Bedford such as the South and North End.

"The downtown area is great, but there are some great place outside this area, too, that we want to highlight," she said, adding that they want to also offer a "brunch" or "cocktail" tour as well.

For Jim and Susan Okolita, they said they will be back and checking out all the spots again after having an excellent time on the tour.

"It's so great to hear. We want people to come here and recognize all the great food that is right here," Shwartz said.

"New Bedford is really changing, especially the food scene, and we want people to know about it.

"And I think so far it's been working."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford Food Tour a success; organizers plan for expansion