Macaroni and the City: Uncover Melbourne's pasta history on a walking tour with Australia's leading Italian food historian and finish with a pasta dinner

If you think pasta came to Melbourne in the 1950s with post-World War II Italian migrants, it’s time to think again!

Gain a new perspective on one of the city’s favourite dishes with Australia’s pre-eminent Italian food historian Dr Tania Cammarano. On this walking tour you will:

• 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

• Finish with a special pasta-forward dinner at Il Solito Posto, including five different pasta dishes, antipasto, sides and glass of wine or beer

All the details:
Date: Friday November 7, 2025
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm (dinner is 8.30pm to 10.30pm)
Walk length: Approximately 2.7 kilometres
Terrain: Generally flat, with some small inclines
Meeting place: Flagstaff Gardens, at the Separation Memorial
Cost:  $150 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, bread and a glass of house red/white/beer)