If you're not familiar with Eataly, it's a food hall with room after room of fresh produce, salamis, cheeses, pastas, sweets and more. It can get quite crowded and chaotic. I admit, prior to this tour, the one time I had ventured in I got so overwhelmed that I walked right out again.

The Passport to Eataly: Summer Tours for Kids take place in the morning from 10 to 11am when the store is fairly quiet, and are geared toward children ages 8 to 12. (Usually grown-ups don't tag along but I accompanied my son so I could write this post.) Kids get to see how the foods at Eataly are created and meet the individuals who prepare them. The staff share their pride and passion for their work, and teach the kids the philosophy behind good, artisanal foods along with a little Italian vocabulary. More than a store tour, it's a little dip into Italian culture and food.

My son's favorite part was watching as a chunk of cheese curd was turned into fresh, handmade mozzarella in a matter of moments. We saw each step and learned why a human being can create better mozzarella than a machine. Sampling the product was a testament to that fact—the mozzarella practically melted in our mouths.

My favorite stop was the pasta station where we sampled fresh, handmade ravioli filled with herbs and spring peas that were so delicious, I could barely stand it. We had to use a lot of self-control not to devour the whole platter.

At first I was concerned that $25 for a tour of a store seemed a bit pricey. But considering it included enough food to fill up my son for lunch, a fancy espresso for me and an Italian lesson, it seems like a fair deal for those who love food and culture. (Plus it saved me thousands on airfare to Rome, ha!) I also think it would be a fun way for young visitors in NYC to do something unique this summer.

Passport to Eataly: Summer Tours for Kids are offered on a handful of Saturdays, July 11, August 8 and September 5, from 10 to 11am for children ages 8 to 12. Eataly is located at 200 Fifth Avenue at 23rd Street.

Note: Our experience may differ slightly from the regular tours since we were given a private press tour. I accompanied my son so that I could write about the experience. Usually children go on the hour-long tour in a group and parents are given a voucher to enjoy a free espresso or espresso macchiatto in Eataly's Caffe Lavazza while they wait (which is a nice little touch, I think). If you go on the tour and find your experience differs greatly from what's described here, please comment below so others can benefit from your feedback.

This post originally published in June 2014.