Butter & Egg Road

Choosing where to eat (or what to do) in any major North American city can be daunting. Since sampling the local food is such a big part of the experience, how do you find the best culinary discoveries? Follow the Butter & Egg Road.

Thanks to Ivy Ackerman and her (mostly) foodie-focused event collective, Butter & Egg Road, insider experiences are no longer elusive—or lonely. Dining and cultural excursions are curated to complement independent travel plans, and each weekend program revolves around a city neighborhood, festival, or culinary phenomenon. By luring curious travelers to the table, Ackerman provides opportunities to connect with engaging locals in a casual, authentic manner.

I have some of my own experience with the events; I’ve wined and dined in Williamsburg during the New York City Marathon, chowed down in Chicago‘s various districts, enriched my intel on Roncesvalles, as well as celebrated all that is organic at Toronto’s Evergreen Brick Works. This most recent “Market by Night” program kicked off with guests getting up close and personal withEvergreen Farmers’ Market vendors. An education in sustainable agriculture was followed by a farm-to-table dinner at Café Belong, hosted by Chef Brad Long.

Needless to say, Ackerman’s ability to procure the best of the best (and swing the impossible reservation) will suit the savvy foodie or culture vulture just fine. Whether choosing to sign up for a local membership, or going all access (fees ensure member rates for any program in any city), chefs and other notables will always be serving up insight from the inside.

Next up: Late-night China Town in Toronto (June 16); NYC’s Chelsea & The High Line (June 21-22); Montreal’s Mile End (August 3-4). Chicago and Miami are also on the 2012 calendar.

Sara Graham has had the travel bug from birth—she was born and raised in Bermuda, after all. Once she had earned a business degree specializing in tourism, Sara realized she much preferred staying in hotels to working in them. One day she’ll open a luxe boutique hotel; for now, you can find her traveling the world at thetravelpresse.com.