Joining a small gathering of people in front of the iconic clock tower at the original Farmers Market on the corner of Third and Fairfax, I was introduced to an orthopedic surgeon and his daughter from Newport Beach, a mother and son from New Jersey, a young woman from the high desert, and a stylish public relations woman. We were all there to experience the Melting Pot Tour of the Farmers Market,  one of several walking tours around L.A. We each received a Melting Pot Tours backpack as our hostess and guide, Diane Scalia, previewed the highlights of our walking and dining tour.

Monsieur Marcel’s offers over 200 varieties of imported and domestic cheeses, delicious olives and their famous caviar cheese. (photo by Jill Weinlein)

A history lesson of the area began while strolling to Bob’s Doughnuts for hot Ethiopian Blue Nile coffee and freshly baked donuts. Bob Tusquellas bought the doughnut store 40 years ago. Staff members arrive around 4 a.m. to make the fresh dough. After allowing it to rise for three hours, they churn out 1,000 donuts daily.

While enjoying our sweet treats, Scalia informed us that in the late 1800s, the area was rich with minerals and ideal for farming. The Gilmore family purchased the land for a dairy farm, but struck oil instead- and lots of it!

The Gilmore’s continued to prosper and in 1934 they allowed local farmers to park their trucks on the land to sell produce. They called this area Farmers Market and it became the local meeting spot for families.

Nearby, Patsy D’Amore Pizza has been serving New York style pizza since 1949. Frank Sinatra helped them open the first pizzeria restaurant in Los Angeles. We admired the photos of Sinatra and the owners lining the wall.

Next door, we met butcher Dan from Huntington Meats. Dan has become a bit of a celebrity with his recent debut as an expert on beef and various cuts of meat on Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution television show.

Adjacent at Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market, we explored the chocolate counter, olives from the Mediterranean, freshly baked breads, wines and unique cheeses with over 205 varieties from 15 countries. Caviar cheese is their most popular cheese made and packaged at this location. Topped with caviar, its a secret family recipe of creamed cheese and seasoned with smoked salmon. We sampled it spread on slices of baguette with some olives. Everyone agreed it was heavenly.

Blanche Magee was the original caterer making sandwiches for the farmers as they set up their stands and sold produce to residents in Los Angeles. Magee’s Kitchen was the first restaurant in the market and Magee Nuts is where roasted mixed nuts were invented. They sell around 100,000 pounds of fresh peanut butter every year. As we walked over to the store and sampled the famous peanut butter, Scalia showed us a copy of the thank you letter written and signed by the Beatles in 1964. They wrote, “Thank you for the peanut butter, it was FAB.”

Little John’s English Toffee House has been at the Farmers Market for over 60 years. We sampled buttery English Toffee, while watching Mike the candy master make fresh toffee.

Another highlight of the tour was to learn about Bill Thee’s champagne bottle cake with pink elephants. This was where the magic of frosting and decorating originated and the whimsical cake has become a sensation coast to coast.

We admired the colorful produce at Farm Boy and Farm Fresh while biting into sweet strawberries as we wandered over to Pampas Grill Brazilian Churrascaria.

While sampling cheese rolls and deep-fried yucca sprinkled with Parmesan cheese (better than French fries) and a plate of grilled meats, Scalia showed us how to spilt the cheese roll in half, grab a piece of bacon wrapped chicken, Portuguese sausage or beef and eat it as a slider. Now I understand why there is always a line at Pampas Grill. One can enjoy a terrific meal for around $10 to $12.

As we finished the Farmers Market part of the Melting Pot Tour, I developed a new appreciation for the landmark that has successfully been in the heart of Los Angeles for 76 years. It’s still an ideal meeting spot for families and friends to share a great meal and shop for fresh produce and specialty items.

The Melting Pot Tours, not associated with the Melting Pot restaurants, is offering a special for Mother’s Day. In honor of moms, guests will receive $10 off their order for each two tickets purchased for any May 5 to May 8 tours. Just use promo code MOMS2011 when you book online or by phone. They also offer an Old Pasadena and Latin Spice tour. Go to www.meltingpottours.com or call (800)979-3370.