Melbourne to celebrate culinary clout

2015 Bank of Melbourne World's Longest Lunch Photo credit Daniel Mahon

Melbourne becomes a mecca for foodies when the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF, 31 March – 9 April 2017) collides with the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards.

This year’s MFWF (31 March – 9 April 2017) will mark the 25^th anniversary of one of the world’s most reputable food festivals, and in the same week, the city will welcome the world’s culinary elite for the coveted awards celebration.

When this year’s MFWF coincides with the city’s role as host to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants annual awards, Melbourne will be at the heart of a celebration of food and drink on a scale never seen in Australia.

Melbourne will be only the third international city to host the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. Visit Victoria is working closely with Tourism Australia to ensure a program of events that cements the city’s international culinary reputation for the future.

The week-long program includes the main awards gala, to held at Royal Exhibition Buildings (April 5), with pre and post tour options for the world’s best chefs and food media around regional Victoria.

Food lovers will have the opportunity to watch and learn from the best as Melbourne Food and Wine Festival honours The World’s 50 Best Restaurant chefs from the past and present in its ticketed MasterClasses. Names such as Ashley Palmer-Watts from Dinner by Heston, Mexico’s Jorge Vellejo, Wylie Dufresne and Grant Achatz from America as well as Australia’s own David Thompson are selling tickets fast with some sessions sold out.

Dinner collaborations are also on the program with match ups including Vladimir Mukhin from Russia with Victoria’s own Alla Wolf-Tasker at Lake House and Italian powerhouses Carlo Cracco and Guy Grossi cooking together.

Watch this space for further information on how food lovers can celebrate this collision of culinary festivities.