Victoria's food festivals unite to celebrate the best in food and wine
Foodies and wine devotees from around the world will again descend on Melbourne for the 2008 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which will run together for the first time with A Taste of Slow from 22 February - 8 March.
Celebrating Victoria's quality produce, wine and culinary talent, the Festival - the largest of its kind anywhere in the world - has an impressive line up of 13 international chef stars, and the best of Australia's local talent.
Expect gastronomic superstars like Michel Roux (UK), Gilles Choukroun (France), Oriol Balaguer (Spain) and Gabrielle Hamilton (US) to pair with Melbourne maestro chefs, including Shannon Bennett (Vue de monde) and George Calombaris (The Press Club), at Langham Melbourne MasterClass.
Spanning five distinct themes - Gastronomy, City's Alive, World's Longest Lunches, Slow Food and Regions Alive - the festival delivers tantalising events for food and wine lovers.
Learn the secrets of famous foodies at Langham Melbourne MasterClass; celebrate our nation's favourite pastime with Australia's top chefs at Connex Sizzle! The Great Aussie BBQ; or join 1,200 other diners at the World's Longest Lunch.
Regional Victoria also bursts with flavoursome long luncheons, African safaris, hot air balloons and numerous other events as part of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
A Taste of Slow, the largest Slow Food event in Australia and the largest held outside of Italy, will have an exciting program of tantalising food and wine umbrella events across Victoria. The event program will feature international speakers, producers from across Australia, bio-dynamic wine tastings, slow food cooking demonstrations and plenty of convivial discussion and debate about the pleasures of the table.
Gippsland Inspired! A Celebration of Food and Wine (23 Feb - 23 March 2008) will also run in conjunction with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Gippsland comes alive with fun events across the region showcasing its outstanding food and wine produce.Incorporating the Inverloch Food and Wine Festival, Harvest of Gippsland, A Palate of Passions Festival, Feast on East and many more, this is taste sensation not to be missed.
For more information about Gippsland Inspired! A Celebration of Food and Wine, visit www.inspiredbygippsland.com.au
For more information about A Taste of Slow, visit www.atasteofslow.com.au
For more information about the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event's program and visiting chefs, visit www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au
Media contact: Ellie Rolland, PR Manager, Melbourne Food and Wine, on 03 9823 6100 or email ellie@foodfest.com.au