Launch of The Age Good Food Month 2016
Get your tastebuds ready as The Age Good Food Month presented by Citi kicks off beginning of November and continues throughout the month of November with the most exciting program to date, including new one-off events alongside tried-and-true favourites. The World Loves Melbourne attended the launch event at Higher Ground, where we heard from Creative Director Gemima Cody.
This year’s program features more than 100 events, with some of the world’s most respected chefs and local talent bringing you a delicious choice of unforgettable dining experiences, including finger-licking hot chicken parties, banquet feasts and a sneak peek at one of Melbourne’s most highly anticipated bars. One of the best things to do in Melbourne is to embrace such a high quality food program (for a month) with so many bespoke exciting events.
Last year the crowd-favourite Night Noodle Markets attracted over 400,000 people and will return this year with a roster including Melbourne favourites Chin Chin, Wanderbao, Hoy Pinoy and desserts from Gelato Messina and Black Star Pastry x N2 Extreme Gelato. Ok-Nomi will also be joining the stellar stallholder line up while DJs and live music will be on hand to entertain all night long from November 10-27.
The Age Good Food Month Creative Director, Gemima Cody, said: "We've got amazing international talent coming in, with big names such as Fergus Henderson (St John, London), Virgilio Martinez (Central, Lima, #4 on the World's 50 Best list) and May Chow (Little Bao, Hong Kong), but if anything I'm really excited for this year's national talent.”
“We're so privileged that industry legends Jacques Reymond, Anthony Lui, Tansy Good, Stephanie Alexander and Guy Grossi are uniting for a dinner with Yalumba's rare museum wines; and that Duncan Welgemoed of Adelaide's hottest restaurant Africola, and Ben Williamson of Brisbane's Gerard's Bistro will be popping up here too."
November will also see two of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants meet in Melbourne for an unforgettable night of dining (November 24). Virgilio Martinez of Central, Lima is set to join forces with Melbourne’s Attica to create dishes driven by native Peruvian and Australian ingredients. Tickets are $395 per person and include a copy of Martinez’s new cookbook Central.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Southern Sunday Sesh
Sunday, November 6; 12pm ($55)
Good Heavens rooftop bar is throwing a sky-high Southern Sunday sesh, featuring tasty southern-style snacks from Mike Patrick (Fancy Hanks), Duncan Welgemoed (Africola) and Morgan McGlone (Belle’s Hot Chicken).
Gerard’s Bistro pop-up
Tuesday, November 8; 6pm arrival ($150)
Ben Williams, from Gerard’s Bistro in Brisbane, is one of the hottest chefs in the nation. A master of smoke, fire and the culinary heritage of Middle Eastern Cuisine, Ben learned from the cooks and chefs of Bahrain. This special collaboration between Ben and the Movida Aqui team, featuring some of the best Middle Eastern produce available, is going to be one very special meal.
Preview of Longsong
Friday, November 18; 6pm ($60)
Get a sneak peek at one of the biggest openings of 2017: the long-awaited upstairs bar to Melbourne’s mod-Thai hero Longrain. Join David Moyle, the chef who has set Tasmania’s dining scene alight with Franklin in Hobart, as he plates up an exclusive preview of Longsong’s Thai-leaning menu along with cocktails, beers and wines, months before the venue opens to the public.
Young Chefs Lunch
Sunday, November 20; noon – 3pm ($190)
Enjoy a five-course lunch, hosted by Oter, from Victoria’s hottest up-and-coming chefs – Jake Kellie from The Lakeside Mill, Jasper Avent from Carlton’s Town Mouse, Alex Xinis from The Press Club and the 2017 Young Chef of the Year, Jarrod Di Blasi of ezard.
More information on feature events is available below, as well as in the program, and goodfoodmonth.com will be kept up-to-date as new events join.