About this tour
Hunt through Melbourne's bustling markets with Tonya, a local chef, selecting fresh produce, fish and meats for the day. Back at her home kitchen, you'll prepare three dishes from scratch—think oysters with verjus or slow-roasted ocean trout—then sit down to eat what you've made. Over 5–6 hours, you'll pick up genuine cooking techniques, seasonal shortcuts and the reasoning behind each step. Walk away with written recipes and the confidence to recreate the meal at home.
Highlights
- Browse Melbourne's largest local market with expert eye
- Hand-select ingredients with your chef host Tonya
- Cook three complete dishes from scratch in her kitchen
- Learn practical prep techniques and seasonal cooking logic
- Eat lunch together; enjoy local wine included
- Take home typed recipes and tips folder
What to expect
You'll start at one of Melbourne's major markets, moving through stalls of fish, meat, vegetables, herbs and dairy with Tonya guiding you toward quality and value. She'll explain what's in season and why certain ingredients work together. After shopping, you drive to her apartment for the hands-on cooking session. Tonya walks you through the menu, then you work side-by-side preparing three dishes—no standing and watching. You'll handle knife work, sauces, timing and plating. Once everything's cooked, you sit down together to eat what you've made, with local wine poured. The pace is unhurried and friendly.
Good to know
Seasonal menus mean dishes vary throughout the year. Dietary needs—vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb, allergies—must be flagged at booking so Tonya can adjust. This is a private experience, not a group class. Hotel transport isn't included; public transport is nearby. Small children in prams are welcome.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.