World’s best celebrations in Melbourne

Melbourne foodies are invited to share the excitement of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards at the world’s first public countdown and screening of the prestigious event at Federation Square.

Taking place on Wednesday, 5 April, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards countdown and live screening is free and open to everyone. Bringing together several of the city’s well-known attributes, a picnic-themed Federation Square will play host to an evening of entertainment, featuring comedians from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (29 March – 23 April), live music curated by Music Victoria, and dinner options from some of the city’s best food trucks – all serving up Victorian produce.

Melbourne is only the third international city to host The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, following in the footsteps of London and New York. Brought to Australia by Tourism Australia in partnership with Visit Victoria, the week-long events program includes the main gala industry event, ticketed public events, and touring options around regional Victoria for the invited chefs and international food media.

“The world’s culinary elite will descend on Melbourne this April, and with them, an invaluable opportunity to share our stories through our talented chefs, our world-class restaurants, and our unique regional settings.

“With hundreds of foodie events around town and our free The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards live-streaming event at Federation Square – everyone is invited to join in the celebrations, “said Peter Bingeman, Chief Executive Officer, Visit Victoria.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (31 March – 9 April) has also aligned its dates for 2017 to coincide with this prestigious culinary event and is honouring The World’s 50 Best Restaurants chefs from past and present in a series of chef collaboration dinners and MasterClasses.

“We are thrilled to be in our 25^th year and to have the festival coincide with this one-time-only opportunity. Our events continue to get better each year as we continue to attract the elite of the world’s culinary leaders, and with so many home-grown talents and restaurants to showcase – there is something for everyone,” said Natalie O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

To further celebrate this unique culmination of food festivities, Visit Victoria is working with White Night artistic director and executive producer David Atkins, on a week-long program of light projections on Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. The surface of the building will become a canvas celebrating Victoria’s culinary credentials from the city to the country every evening from 31 March – 5 April.

“Melbourne is internationally recognised as Australia’s arts and culture capital. At Arts Centre Melbourne, we pride ourselves on providing visitors with both remarkable cultural and culinary experiences, so it is our pleasure to be a supporter of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards,” Claire Spencer, Arts Centre Melbourne, Chief Executive Officer.

The Federation Square event will begin with food trucks serving up dinner from 5.30pm. Comedians and musicians begin the entertainment at 7pm and the live streaming of the awards begin from 8.30pm.

More information:

http://www.visitvictoria.com/50bestlivesite

http://www.visitvictoria.com/worlds50bestrestaurants

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Rebecca Andrews, Domestic Communications Manager, Visit Victoria

Ph: (03) 9002 2223 Mob: 0428 033 007

Email: rebecca.andrews@visitvictoria.com.au