Romance and Glamour, Migrants and Mavericks - Explore the history of Italian food on a walk around Melbourne with 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 and celebrated 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 Italian restaurants.

• Gain a fresh perspective on both Italian food and Italian culture in this city with many myths busted and mysteries uncovered.

• Taste your history with a delicious biscotto 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, antipasto and a relaxed debriefing at one of Carlton’s historic cafés.
  

All the details:

Time: 2pm - 5.00pm (the walk finishes at 4.30pm, then we retreat to the cafe for wine and antipasto)
Please arrive 5 minutes early
Walk length: 3 kilometres
Terrain: Generally flat
Meeting place: Between the Royal Exhibition Building entrance on the side facing Victoria Street and the Hochgurtel Fountain, Carlton 
Cost: $115 (+ booking fee). It includes:

• Coffee

• A special treat from Australia's first Italian cookbook

• A glass of wine and generous antipasto

Numbers are capped at 12 participants
We are happy to accommodate any dietary requirements. Please let us know when booking.

About Dr Tania Cammarano

Hi, I'm Dr Tania Cammarano. I'm a storyteller, journalist and proud daughter of Italian migrants. I'm also Australia's leading Italian food historian.

With a PhD in history focused on Italian food, as well as years of experience teaching gastronomy at William Angliss Institute and the University of Adelaide, I bring an academic's insight and a journalist’s flair to my walking tours.

I've been published and featured in The Age, SBS Food, and The Wall Street Journal, amongst others, and I've even consulted for ABC TVs Further Back in Time for Dinner. I've presented my research at conferences in both Australia and Italy.

I'm passionate about helping Australians understand the real history of Italian food - the parts you definitely won’t find online (especially on ChatGPT)! Join me on my tour and discover it for yourself!