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Food, Things To Do

COMING: VICTORIAN CIDER & PORK FESTIVAL YARRA VALLEY!

We are excited - for the first time ever in Victoria – the Yarra Valley will play host to the inaugural Victorian “2016 Cider and Pork Festival” – celebrating all things pork and apple - by bringing together Melbourne’s best chefs, the finest pork producers, trending food trucks and pork lovers one and all - over the Australia Day Long Weekend January 23-24, 2016.

Set amongst the vines at the picturesque Rochford Wines– only an hour’s drive from Melbourne - the two-day extravagant feast – allows Victorian revellers to sample some of Melbourne’s finest dining fare at 15 different food trucks and pop-up restaurants from the southern dining capital, including - Fancy Hanks, Bluebonnet BBQ, The Rib Joint, Pulled Kitchen and White Guy Cooks Thai - plus a mouth-watering Pig On The Spit.

Meet renowned chefs that have travelled far to create mouth-watering pork dishes at the Victorian Cider & Pork Festival - including Melbourne-born chef Chris Terlikar who has worked in the likes of Michelin Star restaurant PUBLIC and has travelled all over Texas to revolutionise his style of cooking – where he now serves a distinctive barbecue style and U.S inspired food at Bluebonnet in Melbourne’s Lygon Street at the Curtin Hotel.

The humble pig has given us some of the best things in life – bacon, pulled pork, pork belly and crackling, not to mention the pork sausage - and this year the Victorian Cider and Pork Festival will be showcasing more than 60 different and mouth-watering pork dishes from locally sourced produce and leading Melbourne restaurants.

Event goers will have to opportunity to attend a Q&A session with leading cider makers and witness a range of cooking demos by leading Melbourne chefs - and Australasian Barbecue AllianceTV personalities – Jess Pryles from Channel 7’s Aussie BBQ Heroes – Jay Beaumont from Meatstock and BBQ Wars– and Adam Roberts former Deputy Mayor of Port Macquarie – over the two-day festival.  

Australasian Barbecue Alliance - promoting low and slow barbecue within Australia – will be hosting an ABA Sanctioned Barbecue competition at the Cider & Pork festival – where competitors will share in $3,000 in cash and prizes and the winners will be crowned the Victorian Cider & Pork BBQ Grand Champions!

Masterclasses held over both days of the festival will enable visitors to make the most of the cider tastings and learn about varying ranges of ciders from all over the world - including France, Australia and the UK - also demonstrating the endless food pairing capabilities between pork and fine cider.

“Pouring a diverse variety of cider styles from Australian and international regions, you can be sure that our leading local cider andbeer specialists - especially the likes of St Ronan’s, Napoleone Cider and Hargraves Hill – all from the Yarra Valley region -  will find something to tantalize your taste buds with” said event organizer – Damien Newnham.

Ice cold from the tap – enjoy more than 75 international and Australian ciders alongside some of Melbourne’s most delicious food whilst being entertained with live music all day long with two live music stages and a busker stage featuring live bands, acoustics acts, DJs, buskers and roaming entertainment - for what is set to be a truly memorable weekend overlooking the rolling hills of Yarra Valley.

The festival runs from 11am till 7pmeach day with General Admission tickets to the 2016 Cider & Pork Festival are $40.00 per person/per day and Cider & Pork Festival VIP tickets are $175.00 per person/per day. A shuttle bus also available between Lilydale Station and Rochford Wines – for those that want to imbibe and not have to worry about the hassle of driving!

Only an hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD - head to the Yarra Valley this Australia Day Long Weekend to the award-winning and recently renovated winery - Rochford Wines - for the two-day Cider & Pork Festival - where ice cold ciders and delicious food alongside spectacular views of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong ranges will be the ideal way to spend the Australia Day Weekend. 

For more information visit: www.ciderandporkfestival.com.au