Food and Wine Festival returns to Southbank’s doorstep 

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returns for another year, with homegrown and international chefs bringing ten days’ worth of culinary bliss to the city. 

The event begins with the World’s Longest Lunch on March 21, giving hundreds of diners the opportunity to sit on 600-metre-long tables and enjoy a three-course feast created by Melbourne-born chef Curtis Stone. 

Chefs from abroad will also be making the journey to Australia’s culinary capital to bestow festivalgoers with their food wisdom across 200 events. 

Food and Drink Victoria CEO Anthea Loucas Bosha said, “for ten days in March there will be nowhere better in the world to eat and drink.”

I’m looking forward to raising a glass and eating something delicious with all the people who flock to Victoria.

The festival will also include a reimagined World’s Longest Brunch led by author Julia Busuttil Nishimura. As well, the Bakers Dozen will transform Federation Square into pastry heaven for two days by bringing Melbourne’s top bakers together for a celebration of their craft. 

State Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said, “from Melbourne’s iconic dining scene to our regional foodie treasures, this festival continues to show why Victoria is a must-visit destination for food and wine lovers.”

However, the festival is only one of many events that Southbankers have to look forward to in the coming months, all of which will provide a significant boost to Victoria’s economy. 

Cumulatively, the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the NGV will be contributing $39.2 billion to Victoria’s visitor economy.

Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements is excited by the slate of coming events and the economic boost they will provide. 

“In addition to being the culinary capital of Australia, our pipeline of incredible major events means we’re also the sporting and cultural capital, too,” he said. •