There’s something new on the local landscape — Rhody Food Tours featuring the Immigrant Cuisines of Providence.

Mike Ritz, formerly of the Genesis Center, hosts the new venture. First up are classes and visits to four immigrant-owned restaurants. Meet the chefs and owners. Learn the history and ingredients of each culture. Then eat authentic Japanese, Mexican, Bolivian and Indian cuisines. A fifth class at CAV wraps up this exploration of immigrant cuisines with a meal and talk with chef Branden Lewis, the culinary instructor at The Genesis Center, who will present one of his students, a soon-to-be-graduate who is currently working at CAV.

Ritz developed his knowledge of multicultural cuisine while working for an international language school in Mexico City in the early ’90s. For the past three years he operated Food For Thought, a food and wine pairing event to benefit the Genesis Center. He is a former Arabic and Spanish linguist.

All classes are set for Saturdays at noon. They include: Sept. 26, El Rancho Grande (Mexican Cuisine from Puebla & Oaxaca); Oct. 17, Ebisu (Japanese Cuisine that’s not sushi); Oct. 24, Rasoi (Southern Indian Cuisine); Nov. 7, Los Andes (Bolivian Cuisine); and Nov. 21, CAV with Lewis and an Iraqi refugee (addressing eclectic cuisine).

Vegetarians and others with special dietary needs or allergies can be accommodated.

The cost is $50 for each event. Call Ritz at (617) 462-6908 with questions or to reserve.