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As a proud Melburnian, I take it for granted that there’s a veritable smorgasbord of exotic food at my fingertips.
But in a city that’s renowned for its culinary excellence, how many of us really understand the provenance of the array of cultural influences that are reflected in our menus? On a brisk autumn morning, I’m joining Foodie Trails on their Multicultural Food Tour to savour new tastes and learn how early migration to Melbourne shaped what we eat today. I’ll finish the day with a whole new appreciation of our acclaimed nosh — and isn’t that the very best kind of day?
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Melbourne:
10 Top Things to Do in Melbourne, Victoria, 2022 | Melbourne City Guide
Welcome to Top Oz Tours’ YouTube channel! In this episode of our online travel series, we bring you ten fabulous things to do in Melbourne.
I meet tour guide Giovanna and my fellow participants at the Immigration Museum on Flinders Street. Entry to the museum is included in the cost of the tour, and here we get an introduction to how multicultural Melbourne evolved. With just four people in our cosy group, there’s plenty of time to get to know each other as we browse the informative exhibits.
Departing the museum, we duck down unobtrusive Bank Place to see the Mitre Tavern — an anomaly of Tudor architecture nestled between soaring modern office towers. As one of Melbourne’s early buildings, it harks back to the colonial era that preceded decades of immigration from across the globe.
Our next stop is Collins Street and the beautiful Block Arcade to visit the aromatic Gewurzhaus spice merchants. Giovanna gives us a brief overview of where some of the vast array of spices come from, then steps back and allows us to immerse ourselves in this exotic trove of edible treasure.
Laden with our beautifully packaged spice purchases (who could resist?), we move on to one of Melbourne’s most iconic cafes — Brunetti in Flinders Lane. It’s time for a much needed coffee and the first installment of our progressive food tasting. As one of the city’s oldest and best-loved pasticcerias, Brunetti has a very authentic Italian flavour. We sample a generous selection of their famous calzones to sustain us on our short upcoming stroll to Chinatown.
Giovanna takes us on a ‘secret’ route to Chinatown via a nondescript arcade, where we’re treated to a sit down serving of very delicious dumplings and Chinese tea at a tiny café. It’s an unexpected treat and, as is often the case, the more low key the venue, the better the food!
Next we’re guided into a labyrinthine Asian supermarket tucked away in Little Bourke Street. The shelves are stacked with unfamiliar foodstuffs, and in most cases Giovanna is able to fill in the blanks on how they’re used. Situated right in the heart of the city, this store is a wonderful illustration of Melbourne’s cultural diversity.
We make our way towards Flinders Street railway station, where the tour is scheduled to finish. However, Giovanna has a final stop to make, and we get to try arguably Melbourne’s favourite multicultural cuisine — Indian! While the restaurant’s decor and ambience are no nonsense (refer to previous comments about Chinatown), the food samples are spicy, exotic, and out-of-this-world delicious. I have no idea what’s in them, but I know I want more!
Rolling onto a tram to head home, I reflect on four hours well spent. The tour (encompassing just a few city blocks) has provided me a true insight into how Melbourne’s wonderful melting pot of cultures has shaped its amazing food scene. My only issue is that it’s nearly Saturday night and I have no room left for dinner with friends.
The writer travelled as a guest of Foodie Trails. You can book this tour here.
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Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Julietta Henderson is a Melbourne-based travel writer and author. Originally planning to visit London for six months, she ended up staying for ten years and now divides her time between her home in Australia and several months of the year in the UK, Italy, and France. Julietta has travelled extensively through Europe, North America, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Russia, and believes the keys to a great travel experience are an open heart, an open mind, and an open-ended ticket. Her first two novels — The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman and Sincerely, Me — are now available in bookstores.
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