Embrace Adelaide’s quirkiness on this foodie walking tour. Sample locally-made products like fritz meat and sweet treats in Adelaide Central Market, then explore Rundle Mall to learn about the city’s shopping history.
South Australia is home to a famous wine region, but this Adelaide food tour also reveals countryside culinary delights like cider and baked goods. Stroll through local businesses that passionately support good food, from East End Providore’s breakfasts to Pressed Juice’s refreshing concoctions.
Taste the ‘F Factor’
Get a taste of Adelaide’s fun foods on this walking tour. Sample dishes ranging from sliced fritz (a local snack) to Balfour’s frog cake (named for its resemblance to the creature), and learn about their history. You’ll also discover the Adelaide Central Market, and meet artisan food producers who showcase their products in the marketplace.
The city of Adelaide is known for its delicious food, and there are culinary tours available to suit every palate. Enjoy a guided tasting of the food on offer in the Adelaide Central Market with this tour. With a small group of like-minded travelers, you’ll explore the many boutique shops, markets and food stalls, sampling the goods along the way.
Embrace the ‘ModOz’ trend of mixing Australian ingredients with international techniques and traditions on this gourmet tour of Adelaide. With a focus on fresh and seasonal produce, you’ll learn about the region’s innovative cuisine while exploring the Central Market. Then, dine on a multi-course dinner that features the most popular local foods.
Take a tour of the Barossa Valley without the stress of planning your own self-drive journey on this full-day winery and countryside culinary experience from Adelaide. Visit big and small wineries, sample gin and beer from boutique breweries and adventurous distilleries, and enjoy a platter lunch at a local restaurant.
The best part of this experience? It includes all transportation, eliminating the need to rent a car. This is a great option for visitors who want to experience the local food scene but don’t have the time or energy to plan a self-drive adventure. This tour also stops in Hahndorf, a charming historic township with Germanic architecture.
Explore the Adelaide Central Market
In the midst of bustling Adelaide Central Market is where foodies flock to indulge in their culinary desires. Whether it’s a sliver of salami from the Mettwurst Shop, a crumb of English Stilton from the Smelly Cheese Shop or a tub of blueberry yoghurt from the Yoghurt Shop – this market has everything a gourmet can imagine.
Dating back to 1869, the Adelaide Central Market is one of the largest undercover markets in Australia and has become a Mecca for multicultural cuisines and fresh produce. The market attracts locals doing their weekly shopping and curious tourists alike, drawing over eight million people annually. With over 80 traders, the market offers a vast selection of fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, seasonal produce, cheeses, bakery, smallgoods and several cafes and eateries.
Throughout the year, there is always something going on at the Market. From cooking demonstrations by guest chefs to artisan producers offering samples of their wares, there is sure to be something new and exciting for you to taste.
The market also has a variety of restaurants and cafes, many of which have been in operation for decades. For example, Lucia’s Pizza & Spaghetti Bar is an Adelaide icon and has been run by the same family for over 60 years. They use local tomatoes to make their traditional pasta sauces which are served with freshly made pasta and a sprinkling of parmesan. Afterwards, grab a coffee from The Grind @ Central. They serve fair-trade organic coffee and sell their own reusable Nespresso capsules. They’re a popular stop on many tours of the Market. Their blends are roasted and blended on-site and the team will happily give you tips on how to brew your own coffee at home.
Discover ‘FruChocs’ & ‘Frog Cakes’
The city’s culinary ambitions are on full display on this whirlwind tour. It takes in Gouger St, a foodie wonderland, the Adelaide Central Market, and the city centre before winding up at Haigh’s chocolate factory. The tour is a great way to sample some of the local cuisines and learn about the history of the city’s iconic foods.
From the popular snack of sliced fritz to the sweet dessert of frog cakes (their namesake derived from their resemblance to a frog) and everything in between, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to local snacks on this 90-minute tour. You’ll be treated to delicious samples at every stop and a goodie bag jam-packed with more treats to take home.
You’ll also get to know the history of one of Adelaide’s best-loved chocolatiers, Haigh’s. This fourth-generation family-owned business has been serving up Australia’s finest chocolate since 1915 and they’re especially famous for their FruChocs. They’re soft, chewy apricot and peach centres dipped in rich, silky chocolate. The Adelaide store features the original machinery used in the production of these delicious treats and you can even buy a box to bring back home.
You’ll have time to linger at a few stops too, whether it be to savour the scrumptious breakfasts at East End Providore or indulge in a frothy cup of Pressed Juice crafted from lemon, activated coconut charcoal and cayenne pepper. At the end of the tour you’ll be well and truly sated with a provided bakery lunch too. This is the perfect way to experience some of the most popular dishes on offer in the South Australian capital. The tour is led by a knowledgeable guide and can be tailored to suit your specific tastes and interests.
Taste Australia’s finest chocolate
For chocolate lovers, a visit to Australia is not complete without sampling some of its finest gourmet confections. Whether it’s a classic dark block or an Easter bilby, you’ll find many Australian chocolate makers who take pride in their craft.
One of the most popular is Sydney-based chocolatier, Hey Tiger. Its founder, Mirte Van der Lugt, aims to make ethical and sustainable chocolate by paying cacao farmers well above the world price for their beans. Her classic dark blocks feature a smooth, creamy texture, while her shiraz and pinot noir varieties are fruity-sweet alternatives boosted with wine-soaked currants.
Another chocolate tour leader, Melbourne-based Monsieur Truffle is known for its artisanal blends and unique flavour combinations. Its chocolate bar range includes caramel specks, Piedmont hazelnuts and crushed coffee beans, as well as the oh-so-delicious White Chocolate with Native Peach.
Haigh’s Chocolate is among Australia’s oldest and most celebrated chocolate brands, with the company founded in 1915 by Alfred E. Haigh. The company’s advertising conveyed themes of love, desire and seduction, a notion that still permeates the brand today.
Other Aussie chocolate producers are also making a difference, such as Canberra-based Jasper & Myrtle. The company sources its cacao from farmers in Papua New Guinea, and it’s crafted into a wide variety of treats including candied walnuts, leatherwood honey and truffle. Its ‘Miracle of the Cocoa Bean’ chocolate is a must-try.
Venture into the Barossa Valley on a full-day hop-on hop-off winery tour from Adelaide. Enjoy wine tasting at both big and small wineries, plus countryside culinary delights such as cider and baked goods. Then spend time at historic Hahndorf, where you can shop, stroll and dine at your leisure.
Learn the story of Haigh’s
The story of Haigh’s Chocolate is a rich one. The family-run business started in 1915 and is now a well-known name in Australia. The company’s founder, Alfred Earnest Haigh, opened the first store on King William Street in Adelaide city. The company has since grown, with stores in Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney. But even with the expansion, the brand has stayed true to its origins and still has a very family-run feel to it.
The company has always played an active role in the community. They have supported many local groups and organisations such as the Flinders Medical Centre, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Variety – the Children’s Charity, and the University of Adelaide. They have also embraced their heritage and supported the conservation of native animals such as bilbies, helping them to survive in the wild.
Recently, the company has launched a new single origin range, which uses cocoa beans from Vanuatu, Peru, and Ecuador. This is aimed at discerning chocolate lovers who enjoy the unique flavour of each region’s cocoa beans. Unlike many of the other large-scale chocolate manufacturers in the country, Haigh’s only sells their products through their own stores. This is a huge part of their charm, as they have never lost sight of what made them special in the first place.
If you’re an aspiring foodie or simply looking for an experience that is both fun and delicious, this is definitely the tour for you. So get ready to eat your way around Adelaide and taste some of Australia’s finest chocolate. You won’t regret it!