Is food a big part of how you experience a new city? Consider joining a cooking class at Free to Feed. Founded by husband-and-wife team Loretta and Daniel Bolotin, this social enterprise helps those seeking asylum in Melbourne to build a home in the city. It does so through finding work for these individuals while helping them to gain new friendships.

So, how does attending a cooking class help those in need? Here’s what the Free to Feed team has to say:

“Refugees and asylum seekers often have compelling stories to tell but, for a range of reasons, don’t have the opportunity to share these experiences, nor to even connect with many people in their new communities... We believe that teaching plays an important role in providing a voice for this often-marginalised group, and that the intimate space of the kitchen is the best venue for it.”

Currently, Free To Feed hosts cooking classes dedicated to the culinary traditions of Iraq, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Classes are open to everyone, from foodies to first-time cooks. The company promises that it will be a travel experience sans passport, but remember to pack an appetite.

Be warned: classes sell out fast, so book early! Alternatively, enquire about a private class for two, or consider attending one of their pop-up cafe dinners.

To visit other social enterprise cafes and restaurants in Melbourne, bookmark this Broadsheet list.

Looking for Melbourne-made products to bring home as gifts to yourself or others? Queen Victoria Market—home to over 600 small businesses—is where you need to be.

Mind you, it’s no ordinary market, but one with a century-old history. Named after the UK’s famed female ruler, Queen Victoria Market stands on a site that used to be a cemetery back in the early 1800s. Thanks to the flourishing of different trading activities over the years, the area is now buzzing with life.

Officially opened in 1878, Queen Victoria Market is currently the largest market in Australia. If you’re a history buff, you can use the official self-guided history tour to reimagine its past glories when you visit.

You can easily spend half a day browsing the speciality stalls, looking out for handcrafted products, and chatting with stall owners. (And don’t miss the chance to sample fresh produce and street food from all over the world!) But before you put your market haggling skills to work, here’s a tip from TimeOut: don’t do it. Instead, show respect to the artisans for their creative labour, by paying them what they’re worth./p>

If you’re looking for things to do in Melbourne after dark, the Queen Victoria Night Market might be the thing for you. It runs on Wednesdays in the winter months and features over 60 global street food stalls, more than 100 speciality shopping stalls, festival bars, and a rotating line-up of live music and entertainment.

For more places where you can find locally made products, refer to this shopping guide.

Get directions to Queen Victoria Market

For more places and activities to see and do in Melbourne, visit PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport’s Destination Insights guide for inspiration.