Give the gift of good food with the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Regional World’s Longest Lunches

While the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s celebrated Long Lunch in the city, where a record-breaking 1640 diners will indulge in a menu designed by top chef Antonio Carluccio, sold out in a flash, we certainly wouldn’t sniff at a long lunch in one of Victoria’s peaceful regional locations. Ideally, we’d make a weekend of it, coupling our lunch with long walks in the clear country air, cellar door visits and produce shopping. Sounds pretty good, right? We’ve got our eyes on Daylesford, Red Hill and the Yarra Valley.

Monday Family Dinner

While the idea here is home-cooked meals around a shared table, unless your mum is a wizard cook this might be a little different to what you’d get at home. Bringing together top chefs and their families, including Angie and Dan Hong (Merivale's Ms G’s, El Loco, Mr Wong and Papi Chulo), Kate and Cameron Reid (Lune Croissanterie), Amy and Palisa Chanta (Chat Thai and Boon Cafe) and the Ayubi family (Parwana), this is a unique opportunity to experience what professionals make for those they love when they’re not on the clock.

Fire 2.0

This is a hot ticket in more ways than one. Returning for its second year, Fire is one of MFWF’s best-selling events – in other words, snap up your seats quick smart (or give your loved ones a not-so-subtle nudge to do so for you). Centred about the hearth of the festival’s newly created House of Food and Wine, Fire 2.0 will have you digging into a wood-fired feast from award-winning chefs such as Paul Carmichael of Momofuku Seiōbo and Dave Verheul of Embla.

The World’s 50 Best Masterclasses

The stars aligned for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s 25th anniversary to coincide with the World’s 50 Best being held in Melbourne – and we’re excited to reap the rewards. Eight chefs whose restaurants have featured on this illustrious list will host a series of masterclasses at next year’s MFWF. Would we like the opportunity to get tips and tricks from world-class chefs first-hand? We think you know the answer. Get involved with a class, two-course meal and glass of wine, or elect to watch and learn for a fraction of the price.

A very special lunch at Stonefields

If all of our friends and family could chip in to get us a ticket to this for Christmas, we’d be more than happy. This pinnacle dining experience combines Annie Smithers’ famed farm-to-table cooking with recipes from Stephanie Alexander’s latest cookbook, The Cook’s Table. Local, in-season produce will come together in delicious, creative plates, to be enjoyed alongside matched wines in Paul Bangay’s idyllic, bucolic gardens. 

From Campania with love…

Although we’ve tried, we know we’re unlikely to get those plane tickets to Italy for Christmas. So, heads up family, tickets to a Campania-themed feast could be the perfect alternative. To be held in Melbourne’s famous home of fresh pasta Tipo 00, this special event will showcase a modern five-course menu inspired by the culinary landscape of southern Italy. Power couple Federica Andrisani and Oskar Rossi (ex El Coq, Vue de Monde, Reale, Uliassi), and Tipo 00’s Andreas Papidakis and Alberto Fava will join forces for six sittings on Sunday April 2.

For more fun gift ideas, consider these gorgeous handmade creations.