Our Company

Gourmet Walks, LLC

Our founder, Andrea Nadel, has been drawn to food from a young age. She grew up in Maine, planning elaborate dinners as her mother followed her around the kitchen doing the dishes. At Williams College she wrote restaurant reviews, taught a cooking class and studied wine tasting.

But like many a foodie, it was her time abroad in southern France that opened her eyes to the pleasures of fine food and of course, gourmet chocolate. She subsisted on baguettes during the day so that she had enough funds for fine dinners in the evenings, not just in France but throughout Europe.

After college, Andrea worked for many years in marketing and advertising in New York City. She moved to San Francisco with her husband in 2000, where she pursued a Masters degree at Berkeley while exploring San Francisco’s diverse food scene. She always dreamed of running her own business connected to food, and after moving to Mill Valley in 2005, that dream became a reality as Gourmet Walks was born.

Today Andrea is a very busy mother of three young children, but she always has time for chocolate. She regularly serves as a judge or panelist for Taste TV Chocolate events, including the popular San Francisco Chocolate Salon. She writes about chocolate regularly on her blog and has presented on chocolate at Macy’s Cellar and various local hotels. Andrea is a licensed tour guide in San Francisco.

Her favorite chocolate is the Recchiuti force noir truffle.

OUR GUIDES

Meet Brenna
Brenna is a California native who grew up among the vineyards in Napa Valley. When not leading tours, she works for her family’s downtown contemporary art gallery. An aspiring writer, Brenna now lives in a shared artist community in Oakland -- a 19th century converted creamery. Brenna is due to receive her sommelier license shortly, making her a perfect fit for our Wine Tour. Her favorite chocolate bar is Dolfin’s Milk Chocolate with Masala.

Meet Jesica
Like Andrea, Jesica hails from New England but has lived in the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco since 2005. Jesica is a big fan of local, sustainable, low impact food businesses. A woman of many talents, she is also producing an animated children’s television show. Jesica’s favorite chocolate bar is the Vosges Oaxaca.

Meet Avital
Avital Ungar is a recent graduate of UCLA, where she studied both art and French. She is back to her hometown after working in Shanghai in the Chinese contemporary art market. An avid traveler, Avital speaks French and Mandarin and is currently working on a book about a fashion designer. Her love of wine began while studying abroad in Aix en Provence and Paris. Avital’s favorite chocolate is the Vosges Naga milk chocolate truffle and Schoggi's drinking chocolate.

Meet Beth
Beth Graubart has lived in many places, but San Francisco is by far her favorite. A former educator, she has spent the last several years working as a tour guide, showing off the Bay area to visitors from all around the world. When not leading tours, Beth is often traveling herself and can usually be found sampling the local desserts. She is also at work on a mystery novel. Her favorite chocolate bar is Michael Mischer’s Dragon Fruit and Blueberry.

Meet Anita
Anita, a West coast transplant, grew up in New York and went to school in Boston. She has completely embraced the "warmer" weather, the lovely neighborhood eateries and bike riding through the city. When not leading tours, Anita is cooking up feasts with friends and doing yoga. She lives in Duboce Triangle and her favorite chocolate piece is Michael Recchuiti's jasmine tea truffle.

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