Wine and Dine at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2019

Wine and Dine at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2019

Over the last few decades, Melbourne's gastronomic scene has matured into what is undoubtedly one of the most impressive found anywhere in the world. But the seemingly endless variety of back-alley restaurants, rooftop eateries and bohemian bars become something genuinely special during the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Across a massive program that offers everything from innovative fine dining experiences, one-off cooking collaborations and a host of internationally acclaimed chefs flying in from all around the globe, this is one event that'll satisfy even the most discerning of foodies.

While the festival turns 27-years old this year, it doesn't show any signs of running out of steam as more than 250 events fill the calendar from March 8 to March 24. Having recently launched to much fanfare, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival didn't hesitate in getting things underway in spectacular style. The opening showcase saw the iconic Malthouse Theatre brought to life by The House of Food and Wine, a three-day party that offered visitors a rich variety of dining sessions, culinary workshops and lively evening cocktails parties.

Spanning the entirety of Melbourne CBD, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2019 includes many of the city's most luxurious restaurants and chic spots for a drink. And the Crawl 'n' Bite series is helping you try as many as possible with a curated selection of culinary journeys that see attendees welcomed into three distinct restaurants – one after another. Presented as a kind of food-lovers pub-crawl, this year features a range of tours that explore Melbourne's most famous gastronomic neighbourhoods. For instance, if you're a fan of fresh seafood than the Land & Sea tour will offer you a unique chance to enjoy a meal and a drink at each of Iki-Jime, MoVida Aqui, and Palermo – three of Melbourne's best. Meanwhile, the Laneway Crawl 2.0 outing leads you through a range of trendy back-alleys and dimly-lit side streets where you'll discover amazing Spanish, Asian and Peruvian cuisine at Pastuso, Lucy Liu, and MoVida Next Door.

The 2019 program hasn't forgotten the importance of regional Victoria's farmers and producers as 40 events highlight the delicious cuisine from communities such as Echuca, Acheron and the lush alpine regions. For those looking for something truly unique, go the extra mile and take a drive to The Village Feast, a lively day-long affair that sees the tightknit dairy town of Jindivick become immersed in a world of great food and drink. Held Saturday March 30, this community of just 500 people in the picturesque West Gippsland hills will host crowds of visitors from near and far as Jindivick's main drag becomes a bustling hub of activity. Located just one hour's drive from Melbourne, you'll quickly find yourself soaking in the fresh country air as you struggle to decide which part of town to explore next. Across 15 specially created food experiences, one of the most popular places to try will surely be at the only restaurant in town, Jindi Caf. Celebrity chef Matt Moran will join owner Sue Goodwin as the duo present hungry visitors with their take on the hearty Australian meal. Meanwhile, chef Alejandro Saravia of Melbourne restaurant Pastuso will cook up a rich menu based around Gippsland's famous beef, while the Loch Brewery & Distillery teams up with the brains behind Melbourne bar Bad Frankie and create an inventive selection of Australian-inspired tipples.

It wouldn't be the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival without also delving deep into the wonderful multicultural communities that have given Melbourne such an internationally renowned food culture. Whether it's Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern or virtually any type of Asian cuisine, you can be sure that you'll find it somewhere in Melbourne. On March 24, the Dandenong World Fare sees the marketplace become overrun with food trucks, stalls and fresh goods from local restaurants, while vegans can head to Footscray's Konjo Cafe for their African cuisine fix at the Ethiopian Vegan Feasts. However, if Thai cuisine is more your taste, then you can't miss Long Chim’s Full Moon Festival, which takes over the Crown Riverwalk with three extravagant days of tasty Thai street food from Friday March 22 to Sunday March 24.

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is one of the best opportunities you'll have all year to discover the incredible range of flavours that Melbourne and its surrounding areas have to offer. No matter what you enjoy, you're bound to find a flavour that warms your soul, while there's also plenty of dietary and budget friendly events to explore. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is always a hit on the city's cultural calendar and any genuine lover of food shouldn't miss the 2019 edition.

Staying with Fraser Place Melbourne puts you firmly within the heart of Melbourne CBD. From here, exploring all the culinary delights on offer at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is as simple as leaving your front door and hitting the bustling streets.