Lewiston is home to the original "cocktail"; history of WNY alcohol and food on tour

The Lewiston Culinary Tours have been sharing the history of the village of Lewiston for the past 5 years, but this year a new element has been added to the menu. 

A prohibition leg of the walking tour.

“I love having locals on the tour, cause they’re like “well, I’ve been to those restaurants”, said co-owner Alicia Tepaz. 

“And I’m like, ‘well you have no idea the history’ - I love taking locals because they’re always so surprised about where they live.”

Tepaz and her husband Chris do these tours most weekends with groups.

The cost is $59 for a ticket on the prohibition walking tour.
It includes a “happy style” 2.5 hours of eating and drinking through the village. 

“Prohibition - obviously, being so close to Canada, there was a lot of connections there, as well,” said Chris.

The village has a population of just 16,000 but is packed with tons of history.

A presidential assassination attempt.

The first battle of 1812.

A breeding-ground for gangsters hoping to peddle alcohol as prohibition took over the US.

“The best part is the people love the food. And we try to make it something, every spot, is something unique,” said Chris Tepaz. 

“Whether its unique to lewiston, unique to the area or just something you’d never try.“

Alicia says the couple hopes to continue to grow the business…but haven’t found a reason to leave Lewiston just yet.

“It’s always been our ambition to expand into Western New York, but we keep finding great things in Lewiston.” 

The tour will run for just a couple more weeks, and the couple is still offering their original culinary tour, as well.

Gift cards are a great gift if you won’t be able to make it before the end of the walking tour season this year.

Get more information here.

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