Amanda M. Usher | The Valdosta Daily TimesKate Valler, owner of Miss Kate's Deep South Tours, sits in Covington's Dining and Catering, 310 N. Patterson St. Covington's is one of the featured stops on Miss Kate's downtown food tour. 

VALDOSTA — Miss Kate’s Deep South Tours has been selected as one of the world’s best food tours by Chew Philly Food Tours. 

The mention came as a shock to owner Kate Valler who said she had no knowledge she was even being considered for the comprehensive guide.

“It kind of blew us away,” she said. “We were, of course, thrilled with that mention, and I was just like wow.”

Valler said Chew Philly researched her food tour company before adding her to the international list. She said she was extremely surprised after learning about it in an email notification.

She credits the website and ease of booking as the company’s traits that secured her place on the list.

“We have a great value for the tour, and I know putting the website and things together, it was very labor-intensive, labor of love, but again I’m very proud of that,” she said. “I guess we kind of chose everything right. (We’re) very lucky.”

Valler will continue to build her business in 2018 as she will debut her Novel Food Cooking Class 6 p.m., Jan. 18, at the Bistro, 132 N. Ashley St.

The event will be held in a private room, and will spotlight chosen dishes that were inspired by “The Joy Luck Club,” a novel written by Amy Tan. Featured recipes will include egg drop soup, a special rice and dumplings with dipping sauce.

While Bistro chef/owner Charles Wiggins will prepare the soup and rice, the class will receive the opportunity to be hands-on with the dumplings as Valler will personally guide them through the recipe.

“It’s going to be very relaxed and casual, and great for groups or families to come and participate in and I enjoy it,” Valler said. “And I think lots of people would love to participate in (this), too.”

There are 12 spots available, and the fee is $50 per person. Guests will leave with all the recipes, as well as, fortune cookies.

Valler said guests do not have to be versed in the novel to attend the event, and the casual and relaxed class is open to all.

The partnership with the Bistro will continue through March, according to Valler, and will proceed with Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” Feb. 22.

Miss Kate’s first wine tour will begin tentatively in April and will only be available to members of Moody Air Force Base due to transportation concerns.

The five-hour tour is set to be a quarterly event and will consist of seven to nine tastings at Horse Creek Winery where people will learn about winemaking and have a gourmet lunch.

Before traveling to Horse Creek, guests will have coffee and pastries at a local restaurant.

Valler is currently in negotiations with a carriage company and hopes to extend the wine tour to the general public sometime in spring.

She’s also working on something special for Valentine’s Day and is planning next year’s 12 Days of Christmas.

Miss Kate’s highlights various Downtown Valdosta eateries by leading walking tours that afford people the opportunity to sample dishes from the restaurants.

Tours last three hours and begin and end on the steps of the old courthouse building on North Patterson Street.

Day tours begin at 10:45 a.m. and evening tours begin at 5:15 p.m., and are only offered on Fridays and Saturdays.

Tickets are $40 without beer or wine pairings and $50 with pairings. Miss Kate’s offers military discounts at 10 percent.

To purchase tickets or learn more about all of Miss Kate’s events, visit misskatestours.com. 

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.