PHOTO COURTESY SANDY GILLIS/OC FOODIE TOUR
Tourgoers enjoy food and drinks at Boxcar40 in Pittsville during the soft opening of the Chauffeured Vineyard Foodie Tour on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Jan. 2, 2020) For Sandy Gillis, creator of the OC Foodie Tour, the soft opening of the Historic Berlin Foodie Tour that took place last month was a success.

“Everyone raved about how delicious everything was and how much they enjoyed it,” she said.

Gillis said the inaugural Historic Berlin Foodie Tour was be used as a way to promote tourism. She added that several representatives from Worcester County, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and the Berlin Welcome Center attended the Dec. 10 event.

Gillis said the tour stopped at several restaurants in downtown Berlin to sample tasting portions, including Rayne’s Reef Soda Fountain & Grill, Baked Dessert Cafe, Gilbert’s Provisions, and the Atlantic Hotel.

“Each restaurant served their signature dish, things that they’re famous for, or things that their chef’s do best,” Gillis said.

Gillis also said that they didn’t leave hungry. She said that many of the tour’s attendees couldn’t finish their sampler at the Baked Dessert Cafe.

“They actually took theirs to go,” Gillis said. “[Owner] Robin [Tomaselli] actually made a peach dumpling and they all took it in a box.”

Gillis also said that she was inspired by these types of tours while on her travels and wanted to do them in Ocean City and Worcester County.

“I always knew from the beginning I wanted to add it to Berlin,” Gillis said.

Gillis said she hopes guests will dis- cover more information about the town’s history and claim to fame, as “Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting” were filmed in Berlin.

“I want it to be a great experience for visitors of Ocean City and Berlin,” Gillis said. “I want them to learn a lot about our town and some of our tradi- tions and a lot about the families that started here.”

Once the Historic Berlin and Chauffeured Vineyard Foodie tours officially start in mid-May, Gillis said

she plans to have the Historic Berlin Foodie Tour and Chauffeured Vineyard Foodie Tour once a week through the holiday season.

“Berlin has got that wonderful small town charm, and I mean everyone from Ocean City loves Berlin, and it’s only less than eight miles away from Ocean City, so it’s a great little afternoon thing for people to [do] when they’re in Ocean City one afternoon when they’ve had enough sun,” Gillis said.

Patrons also took advantage of another tour that was recently added to OC Foodie Tour’s repertoire: the Chauffeured Vineyard Foodie Tour that took place on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Gillis said the culinary adventurers met at the Ocean Downs Casino on Racetrack Road. The group traveled to Boxcar40 in Pittsville and Windmill Creek Vineyard & Winery in Berlin. They capped off the tour by returning to the casino and eating at Poseidon’s Pub.

Gillis said all of the excursions are capped at 12 people because “we want to keep it small, intimate and personal.”

Gillis also said that gift certificates are available on the company’s website. To purchase tickets and get more information about the tours, visit ocfoodietour.com.