So you’ve probably been wondering, “What is Fork & Walk Tours and where have they been all my life?” Well, Fork & Walk Tours isn’t just another food tour company with an insanely attractive logo. No, no. We are a food tour company made for foodies by foodies – and we believe this is what really sets us apart from the competition. Our team of experienced foodie tour guides are truly passionate about good food and want our guests to savour and enjoy every mouthful of their Fork & Walk experience.
Our origin story began in Berlin when our very own culinary wizard and CEO, Dov Selby, decided to follow his gut and merge his love of food with his love of travel to create his dream food tour company. Fork & Walk Tours Berlin was born in 2016 and quickly became recognized globally as one of the best culinary tour operators on the market today.
Following our success in Berlin, it seemed only natural that Fork & Walk needed to expand to Germany’s most famous culinary city -Munich. Munich is the birthplace of authentic German and Bavarian cuisine, the home of Oktoberfest and the capital of German beer. The mission of Fork & Walk Tours Munich is to bring the local approach that has made us famous as we tell the story of this historic Bavarian city through its gastronomical goodies.
Like no other food tour in town, we shake up the ordinary by serving up piping hot portions of both the traditional and fusion dishes beloved by locals. Whether you want to munch on Munich, savour Salzburg, partake of a pint (or three!), or customize your very own culinary creation with a private guide, we are here to host you!
Our local foodie guides are ready to serve you a slice of Bavarian history and culture with a side of sweet mustard. While tasting, socializing, and laughing together, we are ready to show you how to eat like the locals eat and beer like the locals beer.
We hope you packed your stretchy pants!
Tell us about your background?
I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia with family ties to Poland, Ukraine and the UK. My days as a youngster were in tied to the Melbourne Jewish community and many festive family gatherings, which i where i started to develop my love of food, watching both my grandmothers weave their cookery magic in the kitchen. Especially those weekly Friday night gathering with wafting smells of fresh challah, chicken noodle soup and Babka.
After achieving a Bachelor in Business Management and Tourism, i started my first career as a Business Travel Consultant in-which i spent my next 13 years between Melbourne, London and Berlin. But the ever-growing dream of starting a new age food tour company in Berlin eventually found its way out. Now all those years of cooking, travelling, eating and watching endless amounts of cooking shows since they began in the 2000s are being hurtled into the Fork & Walk culture.
Now it has been 14 years in this colourful city, with two beautiful kids, the love of my life and many great friends and experiences.
How did you spawn a love for food?
Definitely my Bubba’s and Nanna’s cooking, namely the much debated and loved chicken soup. One Grandma from Poland, the other from the UK and both with different styles and tastes of what we call ”Jewish Penicillin”. I was also the youngest in a family of 3 and a very slow eater, so finding a way to enjoy my food and not lose out was always at the front of my mind.
However i think the big turning point was the cooking show revolution of the early 2000s. I just could not stop watching. And from there my cooking skills improved ten fold.
After travelling the world for a second time, i landed in Berlin and never left. The city is electric and the food scene was on the verge of a boom. I saw so much potential and growth in the following years and with no food tour company in Berlin really representing the past, present and future of Berlin food, this was my calling.
Why Berlin and How long have you been here and which Kiez do you live in (talk about your journey here) ?
Berlin. Good question. Well, i just landed here, with no intention of staying. Without any intention of even travelling to Germany. But here i am and i couldn’t have made a better decision. The experiences are endless and ever-growing. I live currently in Weißensee, translated as White Lake. It is close to central areas of Berlin but still suburban, with of course a nice little lake. But i lived nearly everywhere in this city. And as each neighbourhood is unique to itself, Berlin is such a wonderful city to explore.
What made you fall in love with Berlin?
The freedom, the creativity, the openness of the people, the culture, the trust the government puts in the people (mostly), the non-money-centric way of living, the great food, peoples environmental goals and organic options. It is a forward thinking city that is still so young in its development due to its war set-backs.
How do you feel Berlin has developed since?
Since i moved in 2006 it has definitely progressed. Areas which were rundown have turned into multi-cultural neighbourhoods with speak-easy’s, laid back coffee bars and fantastic locally run restaurants. While the food-scene has enjoyed its biggest rise to European fame, with a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, revamped fusion German cuisine, an ever-growing barista-scene, along with star-studded line of local breweries, independant ice-cream shops and the revival of Berlin bread culture. But this is only one-side of the revamped Berlin.
Your favourite German word?
One of the funniest words i have come across stems from my Australian background mixed with having kids in Germany. The word ‘Bagger’ which refers to a front loader. In Australia we would use the term ‘Bugga’ to voice our disappointment, but in a funny way. The German and English pronunciation are exactly the same. So now imagine a 3-yr old kid standing at the curb-side at 8am on the way to kindergarten screaming ‘Bugga Daddy, Bugga’ over and over. Still makes me laugh!
Berlin being the hub of club-culture, what is your most memorable night experience here?
It involved 3 days, no sleep and a number of dance floors. Just one of those experiences you can only have in Berlin. And one i can say i would never to be able to repeat, simply due to my age and hangover factor. But i am glad i did it then.
Weirdest FKK experience ? (Frei-Körper-Kultur translated as the Free-Mind-Culture refers to swimming totally naked, which Germans and especially East Germans are very well known for at any public swimming spot or sauna)
Ostsee (German East Sea) 2011, we were on a camping holiday and a got chatting with a nice old man camping near-by us. Later on that day we were at the beach (naked of course) and i see him laying near us (I was still getting used to the whole naked thing). He approached me and i had to somehow hold a full political conversation with him and just tried to not remind myself that i was naked. Really interesting experience!
Your current favourite eatery in Berlin?
Alt-Wien (Old Austria). The wiener Schnitzel there is just phenomenal. Even better than those i had in Austria. But this is an old favourite. So right now i will go with Layla Israeli Restaurant. The perfect all-round experience of amazing atmosphere, open kitchen, great design, fantastic dishes, tasty drinks and great service. But we must also give it up for our own very local ‘Pasta Laden’. Homemade Sicilian pasta, handled with love.
You choose the last question.
Which places I want to visit food-wise?
Korea, Japan, Mexico, Lebanon (although this is impossible), Israel.
Tell us about your background?
I was born and raised on the West coast of Ireland in a small village a stone’s throw away from the
Atlantic Ocean. My favourite toy as a kid was a globe and I was determined to get outside of rural
Ireland and explore the world. I lived in Argentina for six months teaching English and have spent
time back in Ireland but most of my twenties have been spent in Munich.
How did you spawn a love for food?
My mother is an excellent cook and my love for food came from being close to her apron strings. She
makes the best seafood chowder I’ve ever tasted and being the eldest of my siblings I was the sous
chef of the house from about 11 onwards. I love cooking and Tom Kha Gai is the latest dish I feel I
have perfected!
Why Munich and how long have you been here?
I first came to Munich rather by chance, I was in University in Ireland (studying History and
Economics) when a friend of mine told me that he and a few of his buddies were going off to Munich
for the summer to work in a beer garden. I tagged along and the group swelled to about 40 Irish
students at its peak working in the largest beer garden in the world, Chinesischer Turm. It was 2012,
it was warm, there were EM football matches on huge tv screens, everyone had a summer romance,
we worked hard, we partied hard, and I loved it. After going back home to finish my degree I leapt at
the chance to go back to Munich, and I have been here full time since the summer of 2013. I find
myself currently living about a four-minute walk from the Oktoberfest grounds which I have learnt
over the years is the definition of both a blessing and a curse!
What made you fall in love with Munich?
The sunshine, the beer gardens, the summer dresses, the fact that there is a crystal-clear river
flowing through a city of over 1.5m blew, and still blows, my mind. The English Garden, the outdoor
culture of the city, the Alps being nearby and hiking, skiing and Alpine Lake swimming all being
regular activities of mine.
How do you feel Munich has developed since?
Munich has become even richer since I moved here and I feel as though an alternative lifestyle in this
city is becoming harder due to the cost of living here. Munich has become a much more diverse city
and it’s food a lot more international since I have come here, but also the city has lost a certain sense
of freedom as well. When I first went to the Oktoberfest you could stroll onto the grounds from any
direction. Now it is quite different.
Your favourite German word?
Schmarn.
Weirdest FKK experience ? (Frei-Körper-Kultur translated as the Free-Mind-Culture refers to swimming totally naked, which Germans and especially East Germans are very well known for at any public swimming spot or sauna)
That time I saw the man nicknamed locally as the Human Tripod doing his thing was the day my sell-
esteem took a little hit.
Your current favourite eatery in Munich?
For traditional Bavarian fare its hard to beat the Weisse Brauhaus which do the best Weisswurst in
town. For fine dining then anywhere that chef Tohru Nakamura is involved, Salon Rouge being his
latest creation. Imbiss wise nothing beats the Würstlkönig at Goetheplatz.
Which places do I want to visit food wise?
Tell us about your background & Why Munich and how long have you been here?
Born but raised in Munich, I came back for studying 11 years ago.
Munich, being the home of my parents and grandparents was an easy choice due to its great universities and cultural events.
What made you fall in love with Munich?
I didn’t like moving back to Munich too much at the beginning, for me working in the gastronomy, the good food, honest work and of course countless after work beers combined with intense, inspiring conversations reignited my passion for this city.
These days I really enjoy the mixture between the benefits of living in a big city while also being small enough to sometimes walk into old friends by accident.
How do you feel Munich has developed since?
Not too much, Munich has always seen like a pretty constant place to me. If anything a bunch of small shops closed down and some party of town got more prestige and that’s to be expected for such an economical growing city.
Your favourite German word?
Frischluftwatschen
Meaning a fresh air shock is something you suffer when you step outside the door after eight hours in a pub and immediately and against all expectations find yourself in hard real air.
Weirdest FKK experience ? (Frei-Körper-Kultur translated as the Free-Mind-Culture refers to swimming totally naked, which Germans and especially East Germans are very well known for at any public swimming spot or sauna)
I don’t get the question, why would anything related to FKK be weird? 🙂
Your current favourite eatery in Munich?
Gotta be the Café Ruffini.
Which places do I want to visit food wise?
Different regions of Japan and Iceland.
Tell us about your background?
How did you spawn a love for food?
Why Berlin and How long have you been here and which Kiez do you live in (talk about your journey here) ?
What made you fall in love with Berlin?
How do you feel Berlin has developed since?
Your favourite German word?
Berlin being the hub of club-culture, what is your most memorable night experience here?
Weirdest FKK experience ? (Frei-Körper-Kultur translated as the Free-Mind-Culture refers to swimming totally naked, which Germans and especially East Germans are very well known for at any public swimming spot or sauna)
Your current favourite eatery in Berlin?
Which places I want to visit food-wise?
Tell us about your background?
How did you spawn a love for food and beer?
Why Munich and How long have you been here and which area do you live in (talk about your journey here) ?
What made you fall in love with Munich?
How do you feel Munich has developed since?
Your favourite German word?
What is one of your most memorable experiences in Munich? Don’t hold back…
Weirdest FKK experience ? (Frei-Körper-Kultur translated as the Free-Mind-Culture refers to swimming totally naked, which Germans and especially East Germans are very well known for at any public swimming spot or sauna)
Your current favourite eatery or beer hall in Munich?
The most absurd thing to eat in Munich