Join an unforgettable cooking experience that changes lives

Learn family recipes and hear stories from our inspiring instructors from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds

Why over 40,000 people have loved our community cooking experiences…

Authentic and unique flavours you won’t find anywhere else

Authentic and unique flavours you won’t find anywhere else. Straight from home kitchens around the world, these are treasured recipes passed down across generations, recipes you won’t find on any menu, shared by those who grew up making them.

Real impact that goes beyond just financial support

Every Free to Feed class creates meaningful impact – providing jobs and training while giving our instructors a platform to share their culture, connect with their new community, and feel truly valued.

Powerful stories that change perspectives

Prepare authentic family recipes while hearing personal stories from our instructors and connecting with other participants – a unique opportunity to share culture, tradition, and meaningful moments around the table.

Featured In

A step by step guide to your experience

  • Together, we’ll learn about your preferences, your tastes, your interests and when you’re available to find the perfect experience for you

  • Attend the class at either our Northcote or Fitzroy North venue with just yourself (and maybe a friend). We’ll take care of the rest.

  • Hear stories from our instructors, your fellow participants as you enjoy the delicious food you’ve prepared

  • You’ll be sent home with a copy of the recipe, stories and a spice pack for you to recreate the dishes from the experience

Total Cost: $165 ($55/hour)

What our guests are saying

  • “This is the second time I have been here. Both times were amazing, but this time was even better. The staff running it were absolutely beautiful. The food we cooked was delicious, nothing like I have ever tasted before, simple ingredients using a range of preparation methods. I cannot wait to come back to Melbourne again to do another one of these classes.”

    Mel (Local Guide)
    5 Star Google Review

  • "Absolutely fantastic food in a lovely venue and with a purpose. I’ve attended few events hosted by Free To Feed and they never disappoint. It is a safe space too, where everyone is welcome and you can learn about diverse cultures, while trying lovely food and supporting a greater cause."

    Astrid Lázaro Cabrejos (Local Guide)
    5 Star Google Review

  • “A free to feed cooking experience is so unique in every way. It is so special to experience authentic cooking techniques and more importantly hear the stories behind each dish. By far the best hummus and rice I have had. The smoky rice was so unique! Thank you Shadi for sharing your story, recipes and little cooking tips.”

    Athba Albazargan (Local Guide)
    5 Star Google Review

  • "Had a great time participating in a Colombian cooking class at Free to Feed in Northcote, with the very vibrant Verana as our guide & teacher. The evening was a special experience of coming together with others, sharing stories, food and wine, learning about vulnerable journeys to Australia, and exposure to a specific cooking culture (many experiences and cultures to choose from!)"

    Nav Patience (Local Guide)
    5 Star Google Review

  • "We had the most invigorating, fun and wholesome experience in Huda's Palestinian Experience. It goes without saying the food we helped put together was amazing but we also went away feeling full in spirit (as well as our stomachs!) and inspired to spread the joy of food with our communities."

    Melusi Zwangobani (Local Guide)
    5 Star Google Review

Travel the world with our wonderful cooking instructors

It’s more than just a cooking class.

Each year, new faces join Free to Feed’s flagship Empowerment, Communication, and Leadership program. Thanks to the funds raised through our Cooking Experience Classes, we can continue growing these programs, giving refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Australia the chance for paid professional development in communication, leadership, and self-care. Through our classes and events, participants also gain paid opportunities to share their food and stories with the community.

Working alongside our expert team, participants create menus and recipes from their own traditions, which you get to enjoy when you attend an experience. Your participation supports more than just training—it allows each instructor to share a piece of their culture, fostering acceptance and belonging.

So far, Free to Feed has provided over $2,000,000 in wages and over 11,000 hours of paid training. We look forward to welcoming you to enjoy delicious food and amazing stories.

 FAQs

  • Our experiences are priced at $165 for a 3 hour experience ($55/hour) and $110 for concession. This covers the cost of our instructors, hosts, ingredients and space. The remaining funds are distributed back into our programs.

  • Our menus are thoughtfully designed in consultation with our cooking instructors, ensuring they stay true to their cultural roots and story. Due to the shared nature of our cooking experiences, we are unable to accommodate dietary modifications. However, when you take our quiz, we’ll do our best to match you up with the classes that best suit your requirements. If you have any questions about the menus, you can always email our team at hello@freeto.org.

  • Any profits from our events and Community cooking experiences go directly to supporting our beneficiaries and providing them with meaningful employment. If you provide us with more than 14 days notice, we will endeavour to transfer your booking to a date where you can attend. For any cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice, bookings are not refundable and we are not likely to be able to offer to transfer your booking or offer you a credit unless in extenuating circumstances. You are welcome to transfer your ticket to enable someone to attend in your absence.

    Cancellation by us: In the unlikely event that FTF needs to cancel an event or community cooking experience, including where there are not enough participants for an event to proceed, FTF will offer you a choice to reschedule at the earliest possible time or alternatively offer you a choice of a credit or refund.

    Cancellation by us due to circumstances beyond our control: we hope that you will understand and be able to work with us to transfer your booking to a new date or accept any alternative offer of credit that we make.

Free to Feed is a social enterprise creating empowering employment opportunities for people seeking asylum and refugees through the creation of shared food experiences.

We give gratitude to Elders, past and present, for their spirit, strength and wisdom, as sovereign custodians of the world’s longest continuous culture. It is an honour to live on their Country, as a community of visitors and migrants both old and new. We pledge our support towards truth telling, opening our hearts and minds to listening, learning and connecting – in solidarity with First Nation Peoples here in Australia and around the world.

 Free to Feed, Cooking Experiences 539 High Street, Northcote | Events Space 205 - 211 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North, Melbourne,VIC

 205 - 211 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North, VIC

© All images and content © 2023 Free to Feed