Best of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2016
Dandenong Market World Fare
Dandenong Market will host the fifth annual Dandenong World Fare on Sunday 13 March 2016, as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. The Fare will see the market transformed into a pop-up street food bazaar, showcasing the best of the Dandenong region’s multicultural cuisine, cooking classes, and entertainment from 10am until 4pm.
Dandenong World Fare is a free community event, suitable for all ages, and visitation numbers are expected to exceed last year’s figures of 26,000.
Only 30 minute’s drive from the Melbourne CBD, the Fare’s offering will capture the 150-plus nationalities in the City of Greater Dandenong region on a plate, with close to 40 world food traders representing all four corners of the globe including the Caribbean (Boss Man Food - jerk chicken and corn, goat curry), Mexico (Dos Diablos Mobile Cantina – tacos), Cambodia (Flamin’ Lamb Spit – barbecue beef ribs and marinated lamb), Spain (Melbourne Paella Company), Argentina (Señor BBQ – char grilled chorizo, chicken and beef ribs) and Bosnia (Dandy Burek – meat, cheese and spinach fillings).
Visitors will also feast their ears and eyes on live entertainment including performances from flamenco and Brazilian dancers in traditional costume, cooking demonstrations in The Kitchen by Dandenong Market’s resident chef Russell Bald, and children’s activities like face painting, craft workshops, and carnival rides.
Jennifer Hibbs, General Manager of Dandenong Market, says the World Fare is the perfect introduction to the City of Greater Dandenong’s kaleidoscope of food offerings.
“After 30 years of working with market places in Victoria, Dandenong Market World Fare is by far the most diverse showcase of traditional street food vendors and market traders that I’ve seen in Melbourne and the greater Melbourne area.
“What most people don’t realise is just how close Dandenong Market is to the Melbourne CBD, only 30 minutes drive. We’re gradually getting the word out there about how accessible we are to inner-city Melburnians.
“We invite food lovers to pay us a visit during this year’s World Fare and discover the Market’s unique offering. If they do, we assure them it won’t be their last,” Hibbs said.
Event information
What: Dandenong Market World Fare
Date: Sunday 13 March 2016
Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: Market Square, Dandenong Market, Corner Clow and Cleeland Streets, Dandenong
Cost: Free Entry, with tasting plates starting at $1
Parking: Parking is free for the event.
Getting there: Dandenong World Fare will take place on the southern Car Park, directly east of The Bazaar and Market Square. The Southern Car Park can be accessed by walking through the market, or can be entered by foot via King Street or Clow Street.
A free courtesy bus stopping at Dandenong Station and Langhorne Street will be on a loop from 9.45am - 4.15pm.
www.dandenongmarket.com.au/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
May Chow at Huxtaburger Hawthorn
International bao baroness May Chow of Hong Kong’s Little Bao will join forces with Melbourne’s famed burger baron, Daniel Wilson (Huxtaburger, Huxtable) for a night of fast food infamy, where classic techniques will be used to create an anarchic mashup of flavour.
May splices up her Chinese and American heritage into tiny tasty explosions at Little Bao, where her revolutionary creations entice a long line down the street every night.
Since the inception of Huxtaburger on Smith Street, Daniel has opened three additional Huxtaburger stores that have become staples in the Melbourne burger scene.
Where: Huxtaburger Hawthorn, 681 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
When: Tuesday 8 March
Price: $113
Tickets: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Keeping It Northside
An event that brings together much that is special about Northcote, Keeping it Northside unites superstar chefs Scott Pickett of Estelle Bistro and Estelle by Scott Pickett and Rob Kabbord (chef de cuisine at Sydney’s Quay and owner at Merricote in Melbourne).
The pair will treat guests to a six-course degustation with matched wines that showcases the best of local produce and talent.
Date: Tuesday, 8 March
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Estelle Bistro, 243 High Street, Northcote
Price: $153
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/keeping-it-northside-6129
Golden Triangle event featuring Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and Saigon Sally
Embrace Melbourne Food and Wine Festival with the ultimate Asian progressive lunch at Windsor hotspots Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and Saigon Sally.
Guests will begin the lazy, long, Sunday lunch at Hanoi Hannah where they will sample a cocktail and some Vietnamese canapés. Before ambling down Chapel Street to Tokyo Tina for two hawker-style courses and a Japanese inspired beverage. The last dash will be down Duke Street to Saigon Sally, where guests will sample signature desserts and a matched drink. DJs will keeping the vibe alive at each venue throughout the afternoon.
Tickets are priced at $78 per person and there are two sittings available; 12pm and 2pm.
Date: Sunday, 13 March
Time: 12.00pm & 2.00pm
Location: Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina, Saigon Sally
Price: $78
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/the-golden-triangle-6198
A Feast of Great Ideas
Acclaimed chef Scott Pickett unites with The School of Life to present a unique feast that connects us to some of the great ideas of the world. It draws a line between history and food, teaching guests about what some of the great thinkers might have been eating at their times of highest illuminance.
Where in the world did Henry David Thoreau develop his ideas about living in harmony with nature? What was Marcel Proust eating when he visited Gare Du Nord train station for inspiration?
Scott has designed six dishes to reflect this theme, drawing on literature, philosophy, art and psychology.
Date: Monday, 7 March
Time: 7:00pm
Location: ESP, 245 High Street, Northcote
Price: $180
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/keeping-it-northside-6129
How The Boy Became Mister Bianco
Joseph Vargetto will take diners on a walk down memory lane during this nostalgic dinner. It’s an edible journey through time, which begins with Joe as a young Sicilian boy growing up in Australia. The dinner will begin with the classic Sicilian dishes that were typically made by his mother at home, with beautiful ingredients that the family grew themselves.
Later on, the menu will become a little less traditional and include his signatures that are influenced by modern Australian cooking styles and his life in Melbourne. Major events in Joseph's life will be represented in food, with a story to be told with every dish.
Drinks are also included, starting with a cocktail on arrival. Wines will be matched with each course, beginning with classic Italian styles and finishing with some iconic Australian varieties.
Location: 246 High Street, Kew
Time: 6:30pm
Date: Wednesday, 9 March
Price: $133
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/how-the-boy-became-mister-bianco-6125
North vs South Street Food Feud
St Kilda Burger Bar and Jimmy Grants will battle it out over two dates in March to decide whether Melbourne’s North or South serves the most sublime street-food. Swapping kitchen and specialties, STKBB’s Paul Tyas and Luke Croston of Jummy Grants will go head to head, each challenged to prepare their rival’s signature dish. Image: Jessica Williams.
Guests will enjoy one of each dish and a bespoke Barrow Boys Brewery beer for just $25 and have the chance to vote for their favourite. Will Paul’s souvlaki top the tally or will Luke’s Greek-style burger pip it to the post?
Location / date: On 5 March at STKBB, Grosvenor Hotel's drive-thru (10 Brighton Rd, St Kilda East) or 12 March at Jimmy Grants (427 Church St, Richmond)
Time: from midday – 2pm
Price: $25
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/north-vs-south-street-food-feud-6156
Naval and Military Dinner
To celebrate the former life of 7 Alfred Place as a Naval and Military club, Stokehouse City will host a nautical themed, four course meal created by Head Chef, Ollie Hansford.
Housed in what was once a meeting place for naval and military officers, Stokehouse City has taken inspiration from its new home's history to create a sea-meets-city-style event. Each course will be matched with home-grown wines from Port Phillip and Mornington Peninsula, highlighting the local talent and spectacular seasonal produce Victoria is famous for.
As well as promising a feast of innovative flavours with a refreshing nautical twist, the dining experience will take guests back in time, creating dishes inspired by Melbourne dining during the 1920-1950’s.
Date: Wednesday, 9 March
Location: Stokehouse City, 7 Alfred Place, Melbourne
Time: 6.30pm
Price: $178
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/naval-military-dinner-6106
Flemington Grazing Trail
We're going to the preview at Flemington which will be a cracking afternoon with Robin Wickens from the Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld. Literally a trail of some of Melbourne's best wineries, food establishments and breweries with raceday Saturday at Flemington on March 12. Bookings here.
Chad Robertson at Embla
San Franciscan bread authority Chad Robertson (Tartine Bakery) will partner up with the team behind Carlton’s Town Mouse at their new city wine bar, Embla, for a lazy Sunday lunch with each course making use of their wood-fired oven and grill.
Fool Magazine calls Chad a living bread guru. His book, Tartine Bread, has become the bible for new-style bread makers the world over.
Where: Embla, 122 Russell Street, Melbourne
When: Sunday 13 March
Price: $183
Tickets: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
James Squire’s Voyage Down Under
To celebrate James Squire’s voyage to Australia, The Crafty Squire is taking guests on a five-course food journey, following his trek and discovering the flavours from each continent visited.
After an eventful and treacherous journey accompanying the First Fleet, The Crafty Squire’s mischievous namesake was the first to farm hops and pioneered beer brewing in Australia.
The degustation will be expertly matched with ales and ciders by the venue’s resident brew master as he enlightens guests with tales of James Squire’s colourful history and journey from shame to fame.
Using locally sourced produce, Head Chef, Nick Holland, will demonstrate how modern Australian cuisine has been influenced and diversified by journeys such James Squire's.
Date: Saturday 5 & 12 March, Sunday 6 March
Location: The Crafty Squire, 127 Russell Street, Melbourne
Time: 12pm
Price: $95
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/james-squires-voyage-down-under-6128
Regional Longest Lunches including Long Lunch at DalZotto Wines (Sold Out)
Set under 140 year old gums, overlooking working vineyards and the historic tobacco kilns, our lunch will be a true collaboration between local restaurateurs, producers, and winemakers.
Grape Vines & Greener Pastures
Guests will be treated to a luxurious five-course degustation that showcases one of Australia’s best producers, Cape Grim. Some of the expert team will be on hand to explain what makes them industry leaders and to discuss their sustainable farming practises.
Each course will be paired with wines produced by James Halliday’s 2016 Winemaker of the Year, Peter Fraser. These have been sourced from Yangarra Estate Vineyard in McLaren Vale, specialising in the varietals of the Southern Rhone Valley.
Location: Level 2, 146 Flinders Street
Time: 12pm
Date: Saturday, 5 March and Saturday, 12 March
Price: $98
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/grape-vines-greener-pastures-6115
MasterClass Sessions
A highlight is always the fabulous MasterClass sessions with top world chefs! Pretty much sold out.
Fromage A Trois
The World Loves Melbourne went along last year for an indulgent day of cheese and cider at Werribee Park, this year on March 6, also featuring compelling entertainment on the main stage!
Oregon USA: Pinot Paradise
Calling all Pinot Noir lovers! A collection of rare Pinots will be brought to Dutchess for one night only, flown with their makers all the way from Oregon, USA. Oregon’s Willamette Valley has been proven to be one of the world’s best places for making Pinot Noir so this event will be a great insight into the flavours and terroir of the location.
Representatives from Chehalem, Siduri and Adelsheim wineries will be present at the dinner to discuss the benefits and challenges of the region. The wines will be expertly paired with the classic fare of America’s Pacific Northwest by Dutchess head chef, Justin Wise.
Location: Level 2, 146 Flinders Street
Time: 7pm
Date: Monday, 7 March
Price: $98
Bookings: http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/oregon-usa-pinot-paradise-6159