Meet
Robert
Robert has been cooking, teaching, and writing professionally about food and culture for over 30+ years. He has worked as a food editor/critic, restaurant designer, hotel operator, and chef. He launched his first restaurant pop-up as a high school junior and began traveling the world in search of flavor by 19. As a food writer, he was nominated as World’s Best Food Journalist and has won numerous global accolades as a correspondent for Travel+Leisure, Gourmet, and Slow Food, among many other of the world's biggest outlets. As an Oxford-trained scholar, he has lectured at food conferences and taught on four continents. As a food consultant, he has worked with generational talents like Michelin 3-star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Sydney’s top toque Neil Perry, and Top Chef winner Harold Dieterle, and James Beard Award-winner Zak Pelaccio. As a culinary and operations director, he has developed 50+ restaurants and luxury hotels in the US, UK, and Asia, including some of the world’s top brands (W Bangkok and Seoul, Fullerton Bay Singapore, Corinthia UK). He believes that food has a unique ability to connect people, transcend culture, and create lasting memories. He is so excited to share his passion and hopes his Montreal food tour can bring a few dollops (or more) of joy into your life!
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
Food Tour:
(1-30 guests)
This small-group, non-private, Montreal food culture tour is a deeper gastronomic adventure than others. First, it has been curated by a Michelin star-trained chef and award-winning food and travel journalist. Second, you will eat from a selection of artisan producers, butchers, cheese mongers, and industry sources that can't easily be found on Google. Third, it highlights the cuisines, home cooking, and street foods of Montreal’s diverse immigrant communities - Italian, North African, French, Asian, and Quebecois. all within the vibrant setting of North America’s largest daily farmers’ market. Fourth, the tour frames the cultural and local history that give the dishes you will taste dimension. Finally, your Montreal food tour includes tastes of 9-10 local foods. Wear walking shoes and loose pants and get ready to immerse yourself in the food, culture and culinary traditions of Montreal! If you choose the optional alcohol add-on, your host offers 1-2 glasses of sommelier-chosen wine, craft cider or beer.
Notes:
1. Drinks, any needed transport, and alcohol (unless added as a paid option) are not included.
2. Robert will be your guide on most days, but on days that he is sick or not available, an equally wonderful guide and partner personally trained by Robert will be your guide.
3. Children 5 and above are charged the same as adults.
Languages spoken:
English, French
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
The food tour with Chef Rob was excellent, I would highly recommend. We always do food tours and this tour more than lived up to our expectations. We visited the Jean Talon market, this was so interesting seeing it through Chef Rob’s eyes.
Especially loved how Chef Rob, embraced all the different nationalities in Montreal and explained how this has influenced food culture in the city. Chef Robs passion for food and the interwoven cultures of Montreal, but his knowledge is extensive and generously shared with anyone seeking to learn.
Fascinating tour thanks Chef Rob
Alan & Helen Henderson
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Alan & Helen Henderson
August 24, 2026
If you are looking to learn a thing or two about cooking, Chef Rob is the man to meet. He covers the basics clearly (helpful for me) while also sharing finer points that more experienced cooks (like my wife) can appreciate. He is direct without being unkind, and generous with his time. The food itself was fantastic. After the class, he went out of his way to secure us (on extremely short notice) a table at an excellent restaurant and put together a first-rate itinerary for the next day. I recommend Chef Rob to anyone passing through that is looking for a unique experience.
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matt
August 23, 2026
It IS really an experience to have if you are ready to discover the real food experience: cooking, sauces, Michelin stars, asian cooking... and: if you REALLY want to eat great food made by a connoisseur, that's the place (local food, great ecologic values...). The Chef is very routined at explaining you the real thing and, in a more intimate way: in letting you taste the outcome... Great experience. Really worth it.
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elke
April 11, 2026
I highly recommend booking a private dinner with Michelin trained Chef Rob. We joined his supper club of 12 people, located on a back street behind a paint peeling blue steel door with a security lock, up 3 flights of seedy service entrance stairs where you think you're being led to have your kidneys removed - it adds to the air of adventure of rooting out some of the best food in Montreal. "Knock loudly when you arrive." You hear the laughter behind an apartment door, aromas wafting into the hallway, and know you've reached the right spot- opening to a warm and welcoming scene of chatter and smiling faces of new friends. Chef Robs incredible wealth of knowledge about food, wine, and culture weaves between the 5 courses effortlessly. You're in his kitchen, at his table set for 12 and conversing with 10 strangers. Casual and comfortable, shoes off and coats tossed on the couch, yet the food remarkable and plated meticulously, his 30 years of travel and training highlighted as you travel with him through food and wine to Thailand, Persian, Korea and other areas of the world where he has spent months or years at a time immersing himself with street cooks. Truly an experience not to be missed.
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Jennifer
March 23, 2026
We loved it!! I will recommend it to clients coming to Montreal for sure and can't wait to use Traveling Spoon again.
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Wendy, Signature travel advisor
February 25, 2026
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