Joe Knight, Owner & Tour Guide
Joe is a Columbia native who is a proud graduate of Hallsville High School and the University of Missouri. Joe’s passion for good food began as a student at Mizzou and expanded exponentially while spending five years in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis food scene gave Joe a new appreciation for a great dining experience. Those experiences have made him want to show off Columbia and all that it has to offer. Joe and his wife Miriam took ownership of CCT in 2023. Miriam and Joe and their kids Silas and Lydia, are passion about central Missouri and love to see it thrive. Joe would love to take you on a tour soon to show off downtown Columbia!
Cody Cox, Tour Guide
Cody is an Iowa native who has lived in central Missouri since 2011. Cody appreciates everything food related; trying new foods, new restaurants and watching or attempting food eating challenges. Not only that, but Cody believes that some of life’s best moments happen over a meal. Cody works in downtown Columbia with Coyote Hill and appreciates all that the area has to offer. Cody enjoys meeting new people and would love to spend an evening as your tour guide!
Jim McNeil, Tour Guide
Jim is a Columbia native who is a proud graduate of Hickman High School and the University of Missouri. Jim’s passion for the hospitality industry was cultivated while obtaining a Hotel and Restaurant Management Degree. After college, he helped open up a restaurant and worked in a local hotel. Those experiences have made Jim more excited to show off his hometown and all that it has to offer. Jim and his wife Tina owned CCT from 2018-2022. They have four beautiful children: Jack, Molly, Morgan and Luke. Jim’s energy is truly contagious and is sure to make you laugh while you have an amazing adventure around downtown Columbia.
Kerri Linder, Founder
Born and raised in Columbia, Kerri Linder is a self-professed foodie and the founder of Columbia Culinary Tours. Kerri has had a lifelong interest in cooking, experimenting with new flavors, and enjoying new dishes at various restaurants throughout her hometown and while traveling. She has watched Columbia’s landscape and food scene evolve into the “small town metropolis” that it is today.
Kerri and her husband, Chad, both graduates of the University of Missouri, chose to raise their four kids in Columbia and have never regretted that decision. After going on culinary tours while traveling, Kerri realized that Columbia restaurants have food that is just as good, if not better, than vacation destination cities known for their restaurants.
Columbia Culinary Tours was created in 2014 out of Kerri’s passion for good food, love of meeting new people, and pride in her hometown. Columbia is a constantly growing city, and the time is right to introduce locals and visitors alike to the amazing flavors offered in its history rich downtown area. Kerri has published a book, Iconic Restaurants of Columbia, Missouri which details the stories and memories wrapped around the food of Columbia’s iconic restaurants.
