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Five of a kind: Melbourne food tours

Veda Gilbert

Melbourne laneway scenes from the Hidden Secrets tour.
Melbourne laneway scenes from the Hidden Secrets tour.Supplied

HIDDEN SECRETS

Celebrating its 10th birthday this year, Hidden Secrets will lead you through the world’s most liveable city’s laneways, unveiling the lesser-known delights of Melbourne’s restaurant scene. Elastic-waisted pants are essential for the Progressive Degustation Walking Tour, with tastings offered at three venues, accompanied by wine pairings courtesy of sommeliers.

The Nicholas Building, Suite 2, Level 7, 37 Swanston Street, city, 9663 3358, hiddensecretstours.com

MELBOURNE FOOD EXPERIENCES

Run in partnership with chefs, chocolatiers, bakers and wine experts, former chef and local foodie Allan Campion offers food and wine tours focusing on precincts or specialties. Traipse through Carlton, meet Lygon Street storekeepers and sample their specialties, including freshly made mozzarella and gelati, or opt for the vibrant tastes of Vietnam as you discover Richmond’s Victoria Street with a sweet Vietnamese coffee and overflowing bahn mi.

1800 801 8381, melbournefoodexperiences.com.au

CHOCOHOLICS

A walking tour pitched at those with a sweet tooth, Chocoholics teaches attendees all about chocolate, including tastings. The Chocolate Indulgence Walk includes a visit to Driver Lane’s Cacao Lab, where you can sample French-style handmade goodies, followed by a shot of signature hot chocolate (the chilli is an absolute must). Suitable for chocolate lovers of all ages.

The Little Saigon Market in Footscray.
The Little Saigon Market in Footscray.Bonnie Savage
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Unit 145, 28 Southgate Ave, Southbank, 9686 4655, chocoholictours.com.au

COFFEE

Melbourne is fiercely proud of its coffee culture. This tour involves tastings and cuppings from some of Melbourne’s top coffee spots. The Roasting Walking Tour is led by professional barista trainer and World Barista Competition judge, Maria Paoli, and offers a coffee 101, covering bean origins and the art of roasting, with breakfast included to take the edge off your caffeine buzz.

221 Flinders Street, city, melbournecoffeetours.com.au

FOOTSCRAY

Don’t know your jicama from your yam bean? Fear not. Local resident and food writer Lauren Wambach is on hand to guide you through Footscray’s two markets and their surrounds with the Fresh Food Ramble walking tour. Meet the traders and unearth the best shopping spots, while sampling unusual Asian vegetables, seasonal fruits, handmade dumplings and rush-inducing sugarcane juice. BYO shopping bag.

0438 583 808, laurenwambach.com

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