Guide: the best of the 2021 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

Last year the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival was cancelled six days before it was due to kick off, courtesy of covid. It was the first time it was limited to hosting online events since it launched in 1994. This month, its creative team and Melburnians are hungrier than ever, with the festival taking on a new, local life.

“We’re running one-year-three festivals in 2021,” says festival creative director Pat Nourse. “We have the March edition, a substantial taster; we have the winter edition, which is the main course and there will be a delicious and substantial sweet finish in the form of a regional festival in the spring.”

Last year, the signature Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch sold out nearly 2000 tickets in less than 20 minutes. Despite 2021 tickets going on sale just three hours before the circuit-breaker lockdown, there’s been a huge appetite for attendance.

“One really encouraging thing was that a lot of MFWF-goers elected to hold onto their tickets to leave their money with the restaurants over 2020. But to give 2021 a bit of sparkle, we’ve added a new event: the World’s Longest Brunch,” says Nourse.

The World’s Longest Brunch sees cafe veteran Nathan Toleman, of the Mulberry Group, and Kate Reid, of Lune Croissanterie, serving three inventive dishes with over a boozy brunch to an elongated table in Treasury Gardens. It’s happening the day before the Longest Lunch in the same spot, headed by chefs Stephanie Alexander, Jacques Reymond and Philippe Mouchel.

Many of the outdoorsy events are inherently COVID-safe, but Nourse is quick to reassure anyone with concerns. Safety has always been of paramount importance to the festival, and COVID is just one more thing to consider. Festival organisers work closely with the state government and the Health Department, and extra details are required for contact tracing when making a booking.

Although the festival is unable to offer a star line-up of international guests this year, it maintains its reputation for showcasing the best of Victoria. Last year’s cancelled events will return in 2021, alongside new offerings that showcase what makes Melbourne still the best dining city in the world, with the regions much deserving of their own celebration later in the year. 

 Last-minute MFWF events

Dandenong World Fare
March 28, free
Explore some of Melbourne’s most culturally diverse flavours at Dandenong Market, with more than 20 street-food stalls representing 15 different ethnicities.

The Best of Italian yum cha
Throughout March, $75
The Grand in Richmond is serving up nine of its greatest Italian yum cha hits from the past six years. Think bamboo baskets of tortellini and suckling pig croquettes.

Kew Progressive Dinner
March 24, $49.40
Kew is bringing progressive dining back across 11 local restaurants. Check the Kew Junction website to see the menu and book your three preferred restaurants. A drink is included at each stop.

Black Star Pastry x Rain Room
March 13, $44-$54

The Rain Room experience is accompanied by two desserts from Sydney patisserie Black Star Pastry, including a rain cake inspired by the smell and taste of rainfall.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival \ March 12-31
melbournefoodandwine.com.au