Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

Melbourne’s biggest event for foodies returns for its 25th year.

1 The Breakfast Club This year’s festival hub – the House of Food and Wine – will host the ultimate boozy brunch event. A line-up of sweet and savoury dishes will be presented by Movida, Magic Mountain Saloon, Tokyo Tina, Mario’s Café, Top Paddock, Higher Ground, Longhorn Saloon and Om Nom. If you need a little pep for the day, Movida will be curating a wine and sherry list, while Romeo Lane will be making cocktails including a special Bloody Mary. the House of Food and Wine, 69 Cruikshank St, Port Melbourne 3207. 10am-2pm. $55. Sun Apr 2.

2 10 Years and Counting: Institutions in the Making

Part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s Crawl and Bite progressive dinners series, 10 Years and Counting will take diners into Bar Lourinhã, Madame Brussels, and Sarti; all of which have reached double digits (which is no mean feat in the hospo industry). Diners will have the option of starting from any of the three venues, so choose the one that works for you because the venues won’t change, just the order. 6.30pm & 8.30pm. $73. Mon Apr 3. 3 Monday Family Dinner The Hong Family Dinners series, hosted by Dan Hong (executive chef of Sydney’s Chinese dining institution Mr Wong) and his mum Angie, is one of the most sought-after dining events in Sydney. Lucky for us, the family dinner event is coming to Melbourne with other famous hospitality families in tow such as siblings Kate and Cameron Reid (Lune Croissanterie), and chefs and partners Matt Stone and Jo Barrett (Oakridge). the House of Food and Wine. 6.30-10.30pm. $125. Mon Apr 3. 4 The Class of ’92 The Class of ’92 celebrates chefs and restaurateurs who have been around since before the very first MFWF. Paul Bocuse, Paul Lynch and Stephanie Alexander’s influence on Australia’s food scene is undeniable – so dishes they prepared in 1992 will be recreated by Taxi Kitchen chef Tony Twitchett and his team. Enjoy these famous dishes with matching wines, including a 1992 vintage drop. taxi Kitchen, Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne 3000. 6.30-10.30pm. $153. Thu Apr 6. 5 Burger Block Party It’ll be a wrap party to remember as Australia’s best burger-makers join forces to flip their patties. Expect Raph Rashid from Melbourne’s famous Beatbox Kitchen, Casey Wall from Rockwell and Sons, Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham from Sydney’s Mary’s Burgers, Simon Kony from Short Order Burger Co in Perth, and Christian Ryan and Sam Chang from Hobart’s the Standard. the House of Food and Wine. 5.30-10pm. $25. Sun Apr 9.

6 Fancy Hank’s and Grown and Gathered Dinner

This dinner collaboration between mini-farm Grown and Gathered and barbecue joint Fancy Hank’s will see a pig that has been ethically raised used in its entirety: cooked in several ways using charcoal and open flame, and served with salads and sides from Grown and Gathered’s cookbook. Natural wines from the farm will be served with the seasonal feast. àfancy Hank’s, 79 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000. 6-10pm. $113. Mon Apr 3. 7 Hoaxed: An April Fools Event George Calombaris will be keeping his April Fools event under wraps until April 1, when the chef turns lunch and dinner at the Press Club into a dining experience like no other. àthe Press Club, 72 Flinders St, Melbourne 3000. Noon, 5.30pm & 8.30pm. $110-$255. Sat Apr 1. 8 Pigs, Pots and Pinot Chef Scott Thomas will be cooking up sustainably and ethically raised Western Plains pigs into dishes that reflect the kitchen team’s backgrounds. Expect piggy parathas, crispy belly, Basque-style croquettes, Italian sausages and more, to be served with Footscray-brewed beers from West City Brewers, and Shadowfax Wines. àthe Plough, 333 Barkly St, Footscray 3011. Noon-4pm. $21-$53. Sat Apr 1.