Fun Activities for Foodies and Friends

If you're passionate about food and cooking, chances are that you surround yourself with people who share the same interests. That probably means that when you get together you're always looking for food inspired activities, adventures, and locations. Here are a few ideas for some downright delicious foodie fun.

Take a cooking class together. It doesn't have to be an culinary school class. Many cooking stores, such as Williams Sonoma, offer weekly classes or demonstrations. You and your friends can learn some new techniques or dishes and sample the finished dishes. Sometimes they offer wine with the samples for a small price.

In some areas specialty food stores offer cooking lessons and demonstrations on a daily or weekly basis. A good example is Charleston Cooks, in Charleston, SC. They offer a huge variety of classes, such as Lowcountry cooking, Italian cuisine, Spanish tapas, Wines of France, and holiday themed classes, to name a few. You can also sign up for a customized class for you and your friends, or holiday or birthday party classes, wine tastings and demonstrations.

Make up your own walking food tour of your town or nearest city. Pick out a few places on the map that you and your friends have either tried and loved or wanted to check out. You could sample food and produce at a Farmer's Market, sample breads at an Artisan bakery, buy an assortment of chocolates at a chocolate shop, sample cheese, bread and wine at a wine shop, and much more.

Host a dinner party with a twist. Have each guest bring two or three mystery ingredients, specifying only if it should be produce, fruit, protein, dairy, a beverage, etc. Then you all have to create a meal out of the ingredients. You'll be surprised how easily it can come together, especially if the ingredients are fresh and seasonal.

Hold a themed cooking contest. Challenge your friends to see who can prepare the best hamburger, chili, pasta, salad, cocktail, etc. Keep a running tally and have everyone pitch in a few dollars for a yearly grand prize, such as a nice juicer or a bamboo cutting board. It doesn't have to be fancy, just fun.

Hopefully you and your friends can have some food friendly fun with these creative ideas. They don't have to cost an arm and a leg, especially if everyone pitches in on the expenses. Create some tasty memories together and add your own personal twists to these activities.