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A cross country trip while dating led to the creation of Taste of Asbury Food Tours, the new venture by Bonnie and Justin Brown of Wanamassa.

“We went on a cross country four years ago and did a food tour while visiting Seattle,” said Bonnie Brown. “I had never heard of a food tour. We went on it and it was amazing. I had such a good time.”

The couple, who were living on Fifth Avenue in Asbury Park at the time, decided the business model could work well in the city where they had their first date and spent so much of their dating life.

“After the birth of our son, we decided to make it a reality,” Brown said. “This is our first summer.”

Bonnie and Justin Brown are educators in Bayville and Neptune Township school districts, respectively. Bonnie Brown is a Lakewood native and her husband hails from Chesterfield in Burlington County.

“We love Asbury Park and wanted to be a part of a diverse community but we wanted to start a family so we moved to Wanamassa,” Brown said. “We love the way the town is growing and blossoming.”  

In following the entrepreneurial spirit that has taken hold in Asbury Park, the five year long city resident launched Taste of Asbury Food Tours.

The $60 tours typically last between 2.5 to 3 hours and include stops at six to seven city restaurants and shops, with downtown and waterfront options. They include for example in the downtown, Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Purple Glaze donut shop, MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos, Foodlube, Juice Beach and Playa Bowls, Pasta Volo, and Confections of a Rock$tar.

“Not only has everyone been so wonderful but these are really unique venues that highlight some of the best that Asbury has to offer,” Brown said. “Part of our goal is that we want to support the city. This is an opportunity for people visiting Asbury Park to see some of the hidden gems, learn what the town is all about, and get a taste of what the town has to offer.”

At each stop, tour participants sample a venue’s offerings and participate in discussions with owners and chefs. Guides not only show newcomers around the city, they provide added information about Asbury Park and the surrounding areas.

“These are hearty, great portions,” Brown said. “This is our first summer so we are step by step with this, but we know we have something wonderful and fun.”

Taste of Asbury Park Tours has taken off with an array of corporate and group clientele already on their roster.

“We’ve been seeing a lot people reaching out for team building exercises,” Brown said.

And while the tours currently run from 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays and noon to 3 p.m. on weekends, the couple say the scheduling is flexible. Corporate and group tours are typically conducted Wednesday through Friday.

For more on Taste of Asbury Park Food Tours, call 732-567-1190, email tasteofasburyfoodtours@gmail.com, or visit their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.  

[Photos courtesy of the Browns]

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