The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival has unveiled their autumn program. Chefs from around the world, including London, New York and Kyoto, will fly down and collaborate with Melbourne restaurants. The festival will also feature a celeb-inspired sausage sizzle, a celebration of baked goods from Lune, Tarts Anon and other iconic patisseries, a culinary tribute to the food in Studio Ghibli films and more. The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival will run from March 24 to April 2.
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
This festival highlights all of the magnificent food and wine experiences that make Melbourne special. Back for its 31st year, it’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the culinary scene. Expect over 100 delicious events happening across the city, with the festival hub situated in Fed Square.
Feature events at Fed Square
Baker’s Dozen – discover a bustling, open-air market filled with one-off treats from Melbourne’s best bakers. Think tarts, cakes, croissants, canelé and more, with a stacked line-up boasting familiar names like Lune, Baker Bleu, All Are Welcome, To Be Frank, Monforte, Holy Sugar, Bread Club, Tarts Anon, The Flour, Kudo and a special appearance from Totti’s. Entry is free, and will run from 10:30am on Saturday April 1 until Sunday April 2.
Celebrity Sausage – We all love a good sausage sizzle. Can they be done any differently? See familiar names like Chrissie Swan and Virginia Trioli create their dream sausage sizzle, from 10:30am to 4pm on Saturday April 1 and Sunday April 2. Entry is free.
The Festival Bar – this bar is the perfect place to meet up with friends and enjoy a taste of the festival. Expect snacks from modern Middle Eastern sensation Tom Sarafian, beer from Brick Lane Brewing, Starward whiskies, Pizzini wines and fantastic cocktails.
The Convenient Store – returning for 2023, this place is part Japanese convenience store and part Brooklyn bodega. Find a mixture of Victorian food and drink, with sandwiches from Victor Liong and Shannon Martinez, Slurpee-powered cocktails, a 7-Eleven sandwich spread by Tom Sarafian, a 7-Eleven banana bread ice cream from Luther’s Scoops and more. There will also be daily events and a happy hour. It’s open 8am to 8pm, from Friday March 24 to Sunday April 2.
Signature Chef Series highlights
Ikoyi x Vue de Monde – Chef Jeremy Chan made waves with his restaurant Ikoyi in London. One of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, it features British ingredients with sub-Saharan flavours. And now, Chan is coming to Melbourne to put a Victorian spin on his dishes. Enjoy a 10-course tasting menu at 6:30pm on Wednesday March 29 and Thursday March 30. It costs $350 per person.
Gwen x Grace by Curtis Stone Events – this event will feature the flavours of Michelin-starred LA restaurant, Gwen. The event will showcase some handpicked dishes, and unveil Curtis Stone’s new event space, Grace. It’s all happening at 6:30pm on Thursday March 20. It’s $295 per person and includes matched drinks.
Danny Bowien x Smith & Daughters – Bowien’s Mission Chinese Food in San Francisco and New York introduced a new generation of Americans to the fiery flavours of Sichuan cooking. Now, he’s teaming up with plant-based champion Shannon Martinez for a collaborative cooking adventure, packed with ferments, spice and powder. Enjoy four courses with matched drinks at 5:30pm and 8:30pm on Sunday March 26. This costs $180 per person.
Monk x Embla – Yoshihiro Imai is pushing the boundaries of pizza and kaiseki. In his first visit to Australia, he’ll join forces with chef Dave Verheul at Embla to create a meditative and seasonal pizza experience. Enjoy four courses and a drink on arrival for $180 per person. It’ll take place at 7pm on Monday March 27 and Tuesday March 28.
Special Events program highlights
The Heart Inside – dazzle your taste buds and your eyes in this culinary tribute to the food in Studio Ghibli films. Join Stephen Clark and Yosuke Furukawa at 6:30pm on Tuesday March 28. It costs $164 per person.
Florian Eatery x Julia Busuttil Nishimura – say farewell to summer produce with an Italian menu designed by author Julia Busuttil Nishimura and Florian Eatery, with wines by Giorgio De Maria. The meal is $75 per person, and will take place at 5:30pm and 8pm on Saturday March 25.
Cook Desi with Helly Raichura at Enter Via Laundry – Raichura will teach an intimate group out to cook the beloved dishes from Enter Via Laundry, culminating in a six-course feast. This event is $353 per person, and will start at 11am on Saturday March 25.
Maker & Monger Cheese-a-palooza – head to Prahran Market after-dark and enjoy a cheese and wine fuelled evening at Maker & Monger. It’s $102 per person, and will take place at 6:30pm on Thursday March 30.
Crawl and Bite – this favourite festival event is back. The Crawl and Bite tours will take a small group of guests to a handful of great venues, stopping for a bite and a drink at each place. This year, there will be tours across suburbs like Fitzroy, Prahran, Thornbury, South Melbourne and Collingwood.
Westside Wanders – this collaboration between Melbourne’s western region councils and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival shines a light on the west’s culinary gems. The program features different Wanders around areas like Yarraville, Footscray and Sunshine, showcasing incredible local venues.
Tickets for the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival go on sale on February 3 to the general public. The pre-sale will run from January 31 for festival subscribers. Explore their website here.