The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is on and brings with it 10 days of delicious events. If you’re unsure of what to see and how to tackle the program, or think you’ve missed out by not pre-purchasing tickets, relax – here’s our last minute guide to what’s still on offer.
Opening Weekend
River Graze
A weekend culinary adventure for big and little foodies alike, the Yarra River transforms into a food and wine lovers playground bursting with culinary hot-spots, free entertainment, regional flavours, and – you must use these – water ferries to get you from one spot to another.
4 March, 5pm – 10pm 5 March, 12pm – 9pm 6 March, 12pm – 6pm
Our Picks
Seafood Market at Arbory
Celebrate some of the country’s best seafood at Arbory Bar & Eatery. Build your own seafood tray starting with dry shucked oysters for $2, or sample street food including tacos, yakitori and paella and ‘float the day away’ savouring succulent seafood and sipping from the classic and adventurous drinks list.
The G&T Project
It’s all in the tonic. Or is it all in the gin? Find out at a botanical voyage into the world of gin and tonic that dates back to the 17th century. Tastings and mini-masterclasses showcasing a catalogue of international and local gins will throw you deep into a sophisticated array of botanical herbs and teach you how to make a classic gin and tonic.
Wine Time
City Cellar
Over 100 of the state’s best wineries come together to celebrate all that is fine about Victorian wine on the lush green lawns overlooking the Yarra. Come along for some wine curious fun, with live music, tasting plates from our favourite regional restaurants, and beers too. Highlight wineries include Castagna, Balgownie Estate, Clyde Park, Yabby Lake, Oakridge, Sally’s Paddock, Chambers Rosewood and so many more. Ticket includes wine glass and all tastings.
Friday 5pm – 10pm Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 6pm
Acqua Panna Perfect Match
Food and wine matching…fear not, there’s help on the way. This was one of our favourite events last year and we’re looking forward to just as much this time around.
In what could be the most fun classroom ever, join host Matt Skinner and some of Australia’s hottest chefs with their favourite wine people to share the stories behind their friendships and the methods behind their madness.
The Urban Dairy
In previous years we have had coffee, water and bakeries, this year the Festival Hub is a rich homage to all things dairy. Bring on the cheese and ice-cream. The Urban Dairy is open for 10 days in Queensbridge Square with a daily rotation of events and menus from expert cheese and ice-cream makers from around the globe.
Our picks
Fromage 101
Renowned cheesemonger Anthony Femia will have you speaking like a cheese expert in no time as you taste your way through the six types of cheeses with various examples of each.
Ticket includes a drink on arrival and all cheese tastings.
Wednesday March 9 4pm
Ice Creamery
Our ice creamery will be pumping out frozen treats created by special guests, near and far.
There will be rich, creamy shakes, sundaes drizzled in sticky sauce and don’t forget the MFWF special – the decadent Tim Tam Slam by Big Gay Ice Cream available every day.
Delights galore!
Open 11:00am till late
Front of House All Stars
For one night only, seven of Melbourne’s top restaurateurs and front-of-house managers present favourite dishes from their restaurants with matched wines to raise funds for homeless charity StreetSmart.
Now in its 8th year, this event is a Festival (and Second Helping) favourite, with 100% of proceeds going to fund the work of StreetSmart and projects to help to help people who are homeless.
It’s always a crazy fun evening of top-class hospitality, food, wine and indulgence. We have been to the last 4, or maybe it’s 5, and have loved every laugh, bite, sip and donation.
This year’s event will be held at ezard, hosted by Quentin Ferguson, and MC’d by Erez Gordon. Our 2016 All Stars will be Leanne Altmann (Supernormal); Adam Cash (Union Dining); Simon Denton (Izakaya Den/Kappo); Sam Christie (Longrain); Quenin Ferguson (ezard); Sean Kierce (Ladro) and Ainslie Lubbock (Pei Modern).
If tickets are still available – snap them up!!! It’s an unbeatable night.
Closing weekend
Flemington Grazing Trail
Embrace Melbourne’s love of food and wine, mix it with the magnificence of Flemington’s rose gardens and lush green lawns, then add some spectacular Super Saturday horse racing. You can bet a delicious day of tasting the produce and wines of some of the country’s leading wineries, breweries and providores is in store. Join in for a thoroughly Melbourne experience.
Be inspired by some of Victoria’s leading chefs, including Pastuso’s Alejandro Saravia, Maker & Monger’s Anthony Femia, Royal Mail Hotel’s Robin Wickens, Oakridge’s Matt Stone, former Chef from Pei Modern, Florent Gerardin, plus Phillipa Sibley, who will be doing LIVE cooking demonstrations on stage, pairing up with and profiling local producers from the participating stallholders.
Saturday March 12 11:30am
Cheese Toastie Invitational
Think you know what a cheese toastie is? Think again! Melbourne’s favourite chefs show you what they can do with a sandwich press and cheese from some of Australia’s best artisinal producers.
This will be the final night of the Festival, so we’re opening up the Urban Dairy for everyone to come and help us celebrate one last time at this special event.
Sunday March 13 6:30pm
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