Farmers Market. From Rosebud_03 (flickr).

Ever wondered about the inner workings of some of your favorite restaurants in the Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax or along West Third Street? If you take a walking food tour with Melting Pot Food Tours, owners and guides Lisa and Diane Scalia will give you the low down. And now the ladies have expanded their walking tour business into Old Pasadena.

I took the Farmers Market/West Third Street tour back in October, and I had a great time. I had been to the Farmers Market many times before (and since), but I never knew the stories behind some of the decades-old food stands. Some of the places we visited and sampled from included Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts, Pampas Grill, Littlejohn’s English Toffee House and Mr. Marcel Gourmet Market. With the Farmers Market celebrating its 75th anniversary this year (Taste of Farmers Market is tonight, folks!), this tour would be a great way to get to know this L.A. institution better. From there, we walked over to the boutiques on West Third Street and visited all kinds of places, including Little Next Door (where we had some fantastic macaroons), Joan’s on Third and Chado Tea Room. Cook’s Library used to be on the tour, but since its closing, Kiss My Bundt has taken its place. Infinitely yummier in terms of instant gratification!

And now the Scalia sisters (super nice, by the way!) have taken their unique tour to the streets of Old Pasadena, with stops at Tortas Mexico, Bar Celona, Aux Delices Bakery and Cafe, Bird Pick Tea & Herb, Tibet Nepal House, Tutti Gelati and Mignon Chocolate. If this one is anything like the original version, you’ll leave full of food and new-found knowledge. And through the end of July, the Old Pasadena tour is $39 instead of the usual $49, which includes tastings at 9 eateries (11 on the Farmers Market/West Third tour) and a bottle of water to wash it all down. Lisa and Diane will even give you bus tokens to get you back to you car.

Farmers Market/West Third Street tour runs every Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Old Pasadena tour runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Both tours cost $49, except for Pasadena’s, which is $39 through the end of July (use discount code “Rose709″ when ordering on zerve.com).