Tours
ITALIAN FOOD HISTORY TOUR OF MELBOURNE
Romance & Glamour, Migrants & Mavericks: Uncover Melbourne’s true Italian food history
With Italian food historian Dr Tania Cammarano
This isn’t a simple tasting tour, it’s a stroll through history, told through the stories and at the places that made Italian food part of Melbourne’s DNA.
On this walking tour you will:
Stroll into the heart of Carlton while Australia's leading Italian food historian Dr Tania Cammarano reveals how Italian cuisine transformed from the food of outsiders to loved by all.
Learn how Renaissance architecture, espresso bar scandals and even figures like Sophia Loren shaped Italian food in Australia.
Meet the migrants and mavericks whose vision and persistence turned Italian food into a multicultural mainstay.
Visit the Museo Italiano to see ephemera from the city's historic restaurants.
Gain a fresh perspective on both Italian food and Italian culture with many myths busted and mysteries uncovered.
Taste your history with a delicious treat from Australia's first Italian cookbook.
Connect with like-minded individuals and share your Italian experiences.
Enjoy coffee along the way, and, at the end, wine, a generous antipasto and a relaxed debriefing at one of Carlton’s historic cafés
ALL THE DETAILS:
Dates: 22 November 2025
21 February 2026
Time: 2pm - 5.00pm (we retreat to the cafe at 4.30pm)
Walk length: 3 km, generally flat terrain
Meeting place: Between the Royal Exhibition Building entrance on the side facing Victoria Street and the Hochgurtel Fountain, Carlton
Cost: $115 (+ booking fee) which includes:
Coffee
A special treat from Australia's first Italian cookbook
A glass of wine and generous antipasto
Numbers are capped at 12 participants
Dietary requirements are happily accommodated
PASTA HISTORY TOUR OF MELBOURNE
Macaroni & The City: Discover Melbourne’s Pasta History
With Italian food historian Dr Tania Cammarano
If you think pasta came to Melbourne in the 1950s with post-World War II Italian migrants, it’s time to think again.
On this walking tour you will:
Stroll through Melbourne's CBD with Australia's leading Italian food historian Dr Tania Cammarano as she untangles the sometimes convoluted but always fascinating story of pasta.
Get up close and personal with pasta recipes in some of Australia’s oldest cookbooks at a secret rare books room.
Hear the stories and meet the cast of characters who have helped make pasta one of our most popular ingredients.
Learn about the earliest pasta makers.
Enjoy a glass of wine at one of the city’s famous Italian bars.
Taste your history with a delicious treat from Australia's first Italian cookbook.
Finish with a special pasta-forward dinner at one of the city's Italian institutions, including a selection of pasta dishes, antipasto, sides and glass of wine or beer.
ALL THE DETAILS:
Date: Contact me
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm (dinner is 8.30pm to 10.30pm)
Walk length: 2.7 km, generally flat, with some small inclines
Meeting place: Flagstaff Gardens, at the Separation Memorial
Cost: $150 (+booking fee) which includes:
A glass of wine/beer half-way through the walk at one of Melbourne's Italian bars
Dinner (antipasto, a selection of five pasta dishes, side salad, roast potatoes, bread and a glass of house red/white/beer)
A special treat from Australia's first Italian cookbook
Numbers are capped at 12 participants
Dietary requirements are happily accommodated
CORPORATE & PRIVATE TOURS
Are you looking for a unique activity for your team that combines learning and conviviality? Or do you have your own group of up to 12 people and you want me all to yourselves?
An experienced and engaging public speaker, I bring the stories and people of Australia's colourful food history to life. I have worked closely with clients including the Co.As.It Museo Italiano and the RACV Club, where I hosted a dinner event based on Australia's first Italian cookbook.
Get in touch and I can develop the right walking tour or food history event for you and your team.
“I first came into contact with Tania after coming across one of her walking tours online, I reached out to plan a similar event for the members of RACV Club - and we connected. Immediately it was obvious that Tania is someone brimming with passion for what she does; from food to history to Italian culture. We went way overtime at our first meeting uncovering shared interests and exploring ideas, committing to our first event together.
Tania has been nothing short of a delight to get to know and work with since our first meeting, and I look forward to working on many more events with her into the future.”