Melbourne is renowned the world over as a food capital with good reason. Whether north, south, east, west, or smack-bang in the middle of town, there's a food tour that traverses both our food history and the delights and delicacies of our varied cuisines.
In Dandenong, a multi-cultural hub brimming with the sights, sounds and flavours of many colourful cultures, you can take a tour of the Afghan Precinct, including the Afghan Bazaar, the Dandenong Market and exotic food stores, while the Little India Tour will have senses sizzling with spices, an Indian lunch, Punjuabi sweets, colourful saris and jewellery. Tours cost $35. Find out more
here.
Souvlaki anyone?
For all things Greek, it simply has to be a
food tour of 'Little Athens', or Oakleigh, its market, coffee, biscuits, pastries, butchers and fishmongers. Oakleigh is the Greek version of Lygon Street, but without the fanfare. It's fun, down-to-earth and a little microcosm of welcoming, warm Greek colour and culture. The tour is $89 and includes lunch. Opa!
Another way to take a bite of the world's most edible city (to pinch a line from Allan Campion,
the Melbourne foodie and a walking encyclopedia on our city's best food), you can choose from a whole range of fabulous food tours with
Melbourne Food Tours.
I had the pleasure of doing Allan's
Foodies' Bus Tour (available for private group bookings) a while back. It was a truly indulgent experience dotted with fascinating information about our city's food history and hotspots, tastings (including plump, fresh-as-can-be oysters) at our best stores, a lovely lunch in South Yarra, and a glass of bubbles at Books for Cooks while browsing a stunning collection of food and wine books. Now, that's a day that will remain with me forever.
The two main public tours are
The Foodies' Walking Tour of Melbourne and
The Restaurant Walking Tour of Melbourne, while other tours are available for private bookings. Simply delish!
