[photo credit: Melting Pot Food Tours]
Route 66 the highway that ran from Chicago through Pasadena before reaching the Pacific turns 100 in 2026, and Melting Pot Food Tours is marking the centennial with a special feature on its Old Pasadena Food Tasting Walking Tour. Three consecutive dates are on the calendar: Friday, June 12; Saturday, June 13; and Sunday, June 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day. The tour weaves through Old Pasadena’s alleys and courtyards, stopping at independently owned ethnic restaurants and specialty shops that most visitors and many locals have never found on their own.
The district those alleys belong to was once orange groves. Indiana Colony settlers began planting there in 1874, and what grew up in their place became one of Pasadena’s most layered neighborhoods added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and now home to artisan chocolates, specialty olive oil, and dishes from around the world, tucked behind the storefronts on Colorado Boulevard. The 2026 tour traces that boulevard with new purpose: Route 66’s historic alignment runs directly along it, and Melting Pot’s guides will highlight touchstones of the highway’s history as part of the walk. Colorado Boulevard is also celebrating its own milestone this year 150 years after its origins at Fair Oaks Avenue in 1876.
The company behind the tour, Melting Pot Food Tours, was founded in summer 2008 by L.A.-native sisters Lisa and Diane Scalia. It describes itself as the original food tour company in southern California. The Old Pasadena route runs approximately 1.25 miles about 5,400 steps and visits roughly five to six stops over the 3.5 hours.
“We are so lucky to have amazing international cuisine around every corner,” Diane Scalia, co-founder of Melting Pot Food Tours, has said. “Foodies visiting LA really deserve to experience these special cafes and restaurants, some of which are hidden gems.”
The tour is rated 9.8 out of 10 on Expedia. Translator services are available in Japanese, Italian, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.
Tours meet near Amara Cafe at 155 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena exact location details are provided upon ticket purchase. Tickets are $119 per adult and $65 per child 13 and under, according to the organizer’s booking listings. Gratuity for the tour guide is not included; 15 to 20 percent is customary. Parking nearby offers 90 minutes free, then $2 per additional hour up to a $6 daily maximum. Reservations: meltingpottours.com or call 323-664-4472.
A century ago, the road that passed through here was paved with the ambitions of travelers heading west. This weekend, it’s paved with olive oil and chocolate.
Melting Pot Food Tasting Walking Tour — Old Pasadena (Fri/Sat/Sun) Dates: Friday June 12, Saturday June 13, Sunday June 14 — 10:30 AM–2:00 PM Meeting Point: Amara Cafe, 55 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105 Cost: $119/adult; $65/child (13 and under) Link: https://www.meltingpottours.com/food-tour-favs/old-pasadena-food-tasting-walking-tour/
