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Good Food & Wine Show
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The last weekend in May is where food lovers come together on the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre for the Good Food & Wine Festival.
Vendors from all over the country converge in this annual event to celebrate all things food related and show off their best products.
The festival is jam packed with food from all kinds of vendors, whether it’s sweet or savoury there is something for everyone.
Walking into the centre, it’s almost impossible to know where to start, there is something for every taste bud, and vendors present the very best of their products to eager crowds.
Melbourne fans of the popular confectioners Suga, which sadly closed down a decade ago will be delighted to find Designer Candy, the wholesalers. Having preserved the original recipes, the company now sells at Southgate Market on Sunday for lovers of the delectable boiled sweets.
If cheese is more to your liking then That’s Amore get an honourable mention for their delicious Truffle cheese. The entire selection on is melt in your mouth delicious, but it’s the Truffle Cheese that dances over the taste buds that is their most satisfying offering.
The Cheese Corner is the place to be with all kinds of cheese on offer, from Goats Feta to an award winning BURRATA – decadent mozzarella filled with stracciatella from cheese makers Giorgio’s Artisan Cheese, winners of Gold in this year’s DIAA Awards.
If truffle delights you then the CARPACCIO DI TARTUFO NERO from Assaggia is a real treat. Served only on a cracker the taste is absolutely divine, and a slice of heaven in your mouth. Alternatively TARTUFATA is just as good and their product range is delectable and delicious, a taste of Italy right here in Melbourne.
Making an impact for change Royal Rhino Liqueur donates a portion of sales to Rhino conservation.
Robust Arabica coffee and floral vanilla flavours are blended with fresh dairy cream to create a unique African Liqueur. Beautifully presented in a rhino horn shaped bottle, it’s creamy and smooth.
Small Mouth Distillery has a selection of beautiful gins and vodkas on display. Their premium vodka, gin, and liqueurs are all infused with a special touch of shimmering edible glitter. Fairy Floss Vodka is definitely the pick here and added with just a splash of lemonade it’s the perfect summer drink, glitter and all.
For an extra special experience, the Masterclasses add a new dimension to the event and wine education is tantamount in these master classes.
Tastes of Tasmania offers an introduction to the regional wines of Tasmania, and host Adam talks us through the process of pairing foods with wine.
We start with Russell Suitor Baila con Toro Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2022, paired with Tart of horseradish cured
Tasmanian salmon, Tasmanian pepper-berry, and dill pickled cucumber. The acidity of the salmon is exceptional with the wine.
Moving along to Small Wonder Chardonnay 2022, Grown in Tamar Valley, the pear dances on the palate creating the perfect harmony.
Next up is Spurling Pinot Noir 2024, beautifully paired with Tasmanian Berkshire pork belly rillette with quick pickled Spanish onions and Tasmanian cherry glaze, which melts in the mouth. A lighter flavoured red, it’s perfect with the pork, which has a very light texture.
Lastly the Handpicked Collection Tasmania Pinot Noir 2021 pairs with the Sticky glazed King Island beef short rib. The wine cutting through the fattiness of the meat; cranberries popping on your tongue to delight the senses.
In between Masterclasses, Kirsten Tibballs gives a fantastic presentation over on the Harvey Norman kitchen as she prepares a chocolate mousse that looks divine. No wonder she is the Queen of Chocolate.
The last Masterclass of the day is the sensational ‘ TASTES OF THE SEA & CELLAR‘ an introduction into wines best paired with seafood.
Beginning the class is Gibson Burkes Hill Riesling 2024 paired with the first morsel- a Tasmanian oyster with Tasmanian salmon caviar. Our host Adam suggests a little splash of the wine into the oyster which enhances the flavour.
Victoria’s own Rochford Estate is up next with Rochford Dans les Bois Chardonnay 2021, paired perfectly with a Tart of horseradish cured Tasmanian salmon, Tasmanian pepper berry , and dill pickled cucumber. The salmon and wine are the perfect companions in this pairing.
Next up, Chain of Ponds
The Cachet Pinot Noir 2022
Grown in Adelaide Hills, SA is accompanied by Sesame prawn toast with XO mayonnaise, which is a reintroduction to a dish that hasn’t been on upper class menus for some time, but works surprisingly well.
Lastly, Andrew Thomas DJV Shiraz Pinot Noir 2023 is perfect with the rustic Fish in a lemon myrtle and cider batter with finger-lime aioli and potato pavé, a deconstructed fish and chips offering.
Presenter Adam is both knowledgeable and passionate about each wine that is presented at the Masterclasses, making the experience both enjoyable and educational.
For an experience that is both memorable, decadent and a little luxury, the Masterclasses are an absolute must- do for any food lover.
The Good Food and Wine Festival is a festival that brings together an array of delicious food from all over the country, wine from famous regions such as Margaret River and McClaren Vale all under one roof for a fantastic weekend of indulgence and hospitality. It’s an event that Melbourne foodies look forward to and it’s easy to see why – there really is something for everyone.
The festival heads to Sydney next before making its final stop in Perth.
