OUR STORY
13 YEARS OF FOOD TOURS IN PARIS
Sidewalk Food Tours was founded in New York City in 2011 by Joshua Hirsch with a simple idea: one of the best ways to understand a city is through its food.
We brought Sidewalk Food Tours to Paris in 2013, and for the past 13 years, we’ve been introducing guests to the food, history, streets, and neighborhoods that make the city unlike anywhere else in the world.
Paris was a natural city for us to explore through food. Here, bakeries, markets, cheese shops, cafés, wine, and neighborhood restaurants aren’t simply places to eat—they’re part of everyday life and generations of French tradition.
We want a Sidewalk Food Tour to feel a little like exploring Paris with a local friend who knows where to eat and has some good stories to tell along the way. Between tastings, our local guides share the history, architecture, people, and culture behind the streets and neighborhoods you’re walking through.
We also put a lot of thought—and a lot of eating—into choosing our stops. After 13 years in Paris, we’ve tried plenty of places that haven’t made the cut. Great food matters, but so does the story behind a place, its connection to the neighborhood, the experience our guests have there, and how each tasting fits with the rest of the tour.
Our private Paris food tours are popular with families, friends, celebrations, and other groups who want to experience the city together. Having your own guide makes it easy to eat, explore, and spend time together without having to figure out all the restaurants and logistics yourself.
We also offer corporate team-building food tours in Paris, giving coworkers a chance to get out into the city, eat together, explore the neighborhood, and enjoy an experience together away from the usual meeting room.
Whether you’re joining a public tour, exploring Paris with family and friends, or planning a corporate group experience, our goal is the same: great food, interesting stories, and a memorable way to experience Paris.
After 13 years of leading food tours here, we’re still finding new places, revisiting old favorites, and discovering more reasons to love this city.
We’d love to share our Paris with you.
OUR TOURS
EXPLORE PARIS ONE BITE AT A TIME
MEET THE TEAM
JOSHUA HIRSCH
OWNER
On a six-hour historical tour of Lower Manhattan, Joshua’s stomach began to grumble as the guide pointed out some delicious food spots. It was then that he had an “aha moment.” He decided to include his favorite food places on a history and culture walking tour, so folks wouldn’t be hungry while discovering the city!
He wanted his tours to tell the story of the neighborhood through its food and the people who prepare it. The rest, as they say, is history. Sidewalk Food Tours, a culinary experience company, was born. He has since expanded into ten delectable cities. His goal is to expand to every major U.S. city you travel to, so you can experience its food and culture on a Sidewalk Food Tour.
CHIEU HIRSCH
PARTNER
We are honored to have Chieu Hirsch on our team. She plays an integral part in the company’s overall success. Her family bravely refuged to the U.S. from Vietnam in the 1980s. She brings years of business experience, previously working for Sprint, Principal Financial, Morgan Stanley, and Hartford. In addition to her business acumen, she is extremely passionate about feng shui, astrology, food, and culture. She loves meditation, traveling, and hiking to beautiful mountaintops. Spending quality time with her eight nieces and nephews is what brings her the most joy.
TORY WERGELIS-ISAACSON
Human Resources/MarketingTory is a former math teacher and Philadelphia native with a passion for travel. Having lived overseas in Scotland, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates, he is always on the lookout for his next adventure- and those adventures will always involve trying new foods. His goal is to travel to and eat at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Outside of work, you can usually find him coaching baseball, endlessly scrolling through Netflix, or in pursuit of high-quality BBQ food.
Favorite Cocktail: Bourbon on the rocks
NAOMI DUBOIS
Paris ManagerNaomi has been living in Paris for 20 years and enjoys sharing her knowledge and love for the city of lights. She frequently indulges in 7-course meals cooked by her French mother-in-law and takes pleasure in wearing a beret and walking her poodle with a fresh baguette under the arm…
Favorite restaurant: Le Jules Verne, on the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower.
Favorite Cocktail: She only drinks champagne
MARC CANDES
GuideMarc was born a few steps from the Chateau de Versailles and ever since has been passionate about the history of France.
After spending a few years in Spain, he came back to Paris to study Literature at the Sorbonne University and also became a professional musician and singer.
He will have you travel back in time in the streets of Paris as well as revealing the favorite foodie spots for locals. You’re in good hands!
Favorite Restaurant: Le Bouillon Pigalle
MATHIEU VINCENS
GuideMathieu has been living in Paris for more than ten years. He loves discussing French food and culture with tourists and locals alike. He grew up in a small town about an hour drive from Paris. Mathieu makes it his goal to make sure his guests have the best food tour experience possible.
Favorite Restaurant: Le Chanard