Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Encyclopedia
Launched in 1993, the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is one of Victoria’s hallmark events. Each March the festival celebrates Melbourne
and Victoria’s vibrant food and wine culture. 2012 will celebrate the 20th year anniversary of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival and will be held over 2– 21 March 2012.
Operating on a not-for-profit basis, the festival’s charter is to promote the quality produce, talent and lifestyle of Melbourne
and Victoria
, and to reinforce Melbourne as the food and wine capital of Australia. Since its beginnings with a small program of events, the festival has grown to become known for iconic events including Langham Melbourne MasterClass, World’s Longest Lunch and Cellar Door at Southgate.
The festival is managed by a board of management and is supported by a small team who are responsible for the coordination of its iconic events, in close collaboration with Victoria’s food and wine industry.
In an unprecedented 20 days, the 2 – 21 March 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary celebrations for the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. The 20 day-long feast will look back on the achievements of the past and enjoy the abundant food and wine Melbourne offers two decades on.
Celebrity food critic Matt Preston
was previously the festival’s sole creative director, the 2009 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival being his last.
The Festival was bookended by two hallmark events:
2011 International talent included: Nigella Lawson (UK), Elena Arzak (Spain), Roy Choi(USA), Margaret Xu (Hong Kong), Pedra Miguel Schiaffino (Peru), Atul Kochhar (UK), Rachel Allen (Ireland), Telmo Rodriguez (Spain), Zakary Pelaccio (USA), Jean-Guillaume Prats (France), Chris Salans (Indonesia), Warren Gibson (NZ), Thorsten Schmidt (Denmark), Anna Hansen (UK), Brett Crittenden (UK), Bompas & Parr (UK), Angela Hartnett (UK), Alexa Johnston (NZ), Hisako Ogita (Japan)
2011 Australian talent included: Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer, Will Studd, Gabriel Gaté, George Calombaris, Mary Calombaris, Ben Shewry, Philippe Mouchel, Anna Gare, Jude Blereau, Paris Cutler, Cath Claringbold, Rosa Mitchell, Anthony Ross, Sally Wise, Alla Wolf–Tasker, Adrian Richardson
(Momofuku
, New York), Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana
, Modena, Italy) and Claude Bosi (Hibiscus, London), and winemaker Gaia Gaja (Angelo Gaja’s daughter).
Beyond Langham Melbourne MasterClass, the festival has announced that its hallmark World’s Longest Lunch will celebrate Melbourne’s Chinese heritage and the return of Heat Beads® Hawkers’ Market to Queen Victoria Market
, featuring tasting plates from a dozen top Asian restaurants. Simultaneous to the World’s Longest Lunch in Melbourne, the community of Marysville
will host one of 19 Regional World’s Longest Lunches one year on from the Black Saturday bushfires. The event forms part of the festival’s program of more than 70 regional events.
The festival will also grow and install an urban food-producing garden – ‘Metlink Edible Garden’ – in Melbourne’s City Square, exploring the food city dwellers can grow in their suburban backyards and the produce strengths of Victoria’s regional ‘backyard’.
’s Heston Blumenthal
(3 stars), The French Laundry’s Thomas Keller
(7 stars) and Noma
’s Rene Redzepi
(2 stars), as well as world-class winemakers such as the Rhone Valley’s Michel Chapoutier and Champagne’s Sophie and Pierre Larmandier.
On Melbourne Food and Wine Festival:
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Victoria’s vibrant food and wine culture. 2012 will celebrate the 20th year anniversary of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival and will be held over 2– 21 March 2012.
Operating on a not-for-profit basis, the festival’s charter is to promote the quality produce, talent and lifestyle of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, and to reinforce Melbourne as the food and wine capital of Australia. Since its beginnings with a small program of events, the festival has grown to become known for iconic events including Langham Melbourne MasterClass, World’s Longest Lunch and Cellar Door at Southgate.
The festival is managed by a board of management and is supported by a small team who are responsible for the coordination of its iconic events, in close collaboration with Victoria’s food and wine industry.
20th Anniversary Celebrations 2012
Entering its 20th year, the Festival’s prestigious reputation attracts the world’s biggest culinary and wine personalities to its door to participate in a program that also showcases Victoria’s own celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, sommeliers, producers and artisans.In an unprecedented 20 days, the 2 – 21 March 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary celebrations for the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. The 20 day-long feast will look back on the achievements of the past and enjoy the abundant food and wine Melbourne offers two decades on.
History
The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival commenced in 1993 with a simple program of 12 events. Since its inception it has grown annually, the Festival attracts food and wine experts from across the world, including world-renowned chefs and winemakers, growers, purveyors, authors, food and wine commentators and critics to present alongside some of Australia's best.Celebrity food critic Matt Preston
Matt Preston
Matt Preston is a British-Australian food journalist and restaurant critic. He is best known for his role as a judge on Network Ten's MasterChef Australia and his weekly food column in the Herald Sun 'Taste' supplement...
was previously the festival’s sole creative director, the 2009 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival being his last.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2011
The 19th Melbourne Food and Wine Festival attracted more than 350,000 fun-loving foodies across more than 250 events over 11 delicious days.The Festival was bookended by two hallmark events:
- On the first day almost 4,500 lunching revelers sat down to 26 World’s Longest Lunches held simultaneously across Victoria. The Melbourne lunch saw 10,000 broad beans, 1,800 cherry tomatoes and more than 200kg of veal consumed;
- The last weekend of the Festival saw 2,600-plus food and wine lovers join more than 100 of the globe’s biggest and brightest chefs and wine presenters for Langham Melbourne MasterClass.
2011 International talent included: Nigella Lawson (UK), Elena Arzak (Spain), Roy Choi(USA), Margaret Xu (Hong Kong), Pedra Miguel Schiaffino (Peru), Atul Kochhar (UK), Rachel Allen (Ireland), Telmo Rodriguez (Spain), Zakary Pelaccio (USA), Jean-Guillaume Prats (France), Chris Salans (Indonesia), Warren Gibson (NZ), Thorsten Schmidt (Denmark), Anna Hansen (UK), Brett Crittenden (UK), Bompas & Parr (UK), Angela Hartnett (UK), Alexa Johnston (NZ), Hisako Ogita (Japan)
2011 Australian talent included: Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer, Will Studd, Gabriel Gaté, George Calombaris, Mary Calombaris, Ben Shewry, Philippe Mouchel, Anna Gare, Jude Blereau, Paris Cutler, Cath Claringbold, Rosa Mitchell, Anthony Ross, Sally Wise, Alla Wolf–Tasker, Adrian Richardson
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2010
In 2010, the Langham Melbourne MasterClass line-up includes chefs David ChangDavid Chang
David Chang is a noted Korean-American chef. He is chef/owner of the Momofuku restaurant group, which includes Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, Má Pêche, Milk Bar and Momofuku Ko in New York City, the latter for which he was awarded two Michelin stars in 2009, and Momofuku Seiōbo in...
(Momofuku
Momofuku (restaurants)
Momofuku is a group of award-winning restaurants owned by chef David Chang. The restaurants are: Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, Má Pêche, Momofuku Ko, Milk Bar and Momofuku Seiōbo...
, New York), Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana
Osteria Francescana
Osteria Francescana is a two Michelin star restaurant owned and run by chef Massimo Bottura in Modena, Italy.The restaurant was voted 4th best in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2011....
, Modena, Italy) and Claude Bosi (Hibiscus, London), and winemaker Gaia Gaja (Angelo Gaja’s daughter).
Beyond Langham Melbourne MasterClass, the festival has announced that its hallmark World’s Longest Lunch will celebrate Melbourne’s Chinese heritage and the return of Heat Beads® Hawkers’ Market to Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market
The Queen Victoria Market is a major landmark in Melbourne, Australia, and at around seven hectares is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. The Market is significant to Melbourne's culture and heritage and has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register...
, featuring tasting plates from a dozen top Asian restaurants. Simultaneous to the World’s Longest Lunch in Melbourne, the community of Marysville
Marysville, Victoria
Marysville is a small town, 34 kilometres north-east of Healesville, in the Shire of Murrindindi in Victoria, Australia. The town, which previously had a population of around 500 people, was devastated by the Murrindindi Mill bushfire on 7 February 2009. On 19 February 2009 the official death toll...
will host one of 19 Regional World’s Longest Lunches one year on from the Black Saturday bushfires. The event forms part of the festival’s program of more than 70 regional events.
The festival will also grow and install an urban food-producing garden – ‘Metlink Edible Garden’ – in Melbourne’s City Square, exploring the food city dwellers can grow in their suburban backyards and the produce strengths of Victoria’s regional ‘backyard’.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2009
In 2009, the Festival hosted international culinary luminaries who numbered 30 Michelin stars among them, including The Fat DuckThe Fat Duck
The Fat Duck is a restaurant run by chef Heston Blumenthal in Bray, Berkshire, England. The restaurant is known for its menu of unusual dishes, created following the principles of molecular gastronomy examples include: "snail porridge", "sardine on toast sorbet", "bacon and egg ice cream", and...
’s Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal
Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...
(3 stars), The French Laundry’s Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997...
(7 stars) and Noma
Noma (restaurant)
Noma is a two Michelin star restaurant run by chef René Redzepi in Copenhagen, Denmark. The name is an acronym of the two Danish words "nordisk" and "mad" , and the restaurant is known for its reinvention and interpretation of the Nordic Cuisine...
’s Rene Redzepi
René Redzepi
René Redzepi is the chef and co-owner of the two-Michelin star restaurant Noma in the Christianshavn neighborhood of Copenhagen, Denmark. His restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2010 San Pellegrino Awards and 2011...
(2 stars), as well as world-class winemakers such as the Rhone Valley’s Michel Chapoutier and Champagne’s Sophie and Pierre Larmandier.
Recognition
The Festival continues to receive both local and international acclaim. Recent domestic award wins include the Melbourne Airport 2008 and 2009 Victorian Tourism Awards in the category of ‘Major Festivals and Events’ and 2008 Melbourne Awards in the category of ‘Community Division – Contribution to Profile’; international award wins include 2008 International Festival and Events Awards Gold for ‘Best Festival Program’.Testimonials
On Melbourne:
"Melbourne reminds me why I do what I do, why I enjoy all this food-related stuff." Chef Heston BlumenthalHeston BlumenthalHeston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...
, The Fat Duck (Bray, UK)
"I’d rather eat in Melbourne than Paris." US chef, author and television personality Anthony BourdainAnthony BourdainAnthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
"Melbourne is the foodiest city in Australia. We are all food-mad, we have the best produce, the best coffee, the best cocktails, the best ethnic eating, and the best home cooks... Every great country has one city that is its foodie heart, its ‘stomach’. In France, it is Lyons, home to the bouchons, women-led bistros. In Italy, it is Bologna, home to pasta, prosciutto, parmigiano. In Australia, it is Melbourne." Jill Dupleix, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Creative Director – Global
On Melbourne Food and Wine Festival:
"The Chicago Tribune named this particular festival as one of the five things you should do before you die." Chef Damien PignoletDamien PignoletDamien Pignolet is an Australian chef based in Sydney.Pignolet was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He is a fourth-generation Australian of French descent. He studied at the William Angliss College of Catering from 1966.-Early years and Adversity:...
, Bistro Moncur (Sydney, Australia)
"For a piece de resistance in a city obsessed with food, little beats the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival." Global travel guide, Frommer’s (who in 2009 published the festival among its 300 Unmissable Events & Festivals Around The World
).
"The Festival is what the Victorian public is all about, food, family fun. It’s my favourite time of year." Chef Shane Delia, Maha Bar & Grill (Melbourne, Australia) and business partner to George CalombarisGeorge CalombarisGeorge Calombaris is an Australian chef and a judge of the Network Ten series MasterChef Australia. Prior to his role on MasterChef, Calombaris regularly appeared on the daytime Ten cooking show Ready Steady Cook. He owns three restaurants in Melbourne and one in Mykonos, Greece...
"Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is a real part of the Victorian community because... it’s inclusive and broad based, offers diversity." Chef Christine Mansfield, Universal (Sydney, Australia)
"Frankly I’ve never seen a festival so genuinely embraced by such a diverse audience. Food has the capacity to engage and link people and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival delivers that sense of engagement in spades – from high end haute cuisine to local events in small rural communities." Chef Alla Wolf-Tasker, Lake House (DaylesfordDaylesford, VictoriaDaylesford is a town located in the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia. It is a former goldmining town about 115 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. At the 2006 census, Daylesford had a population of 3,073...
, Victoria)