Every year we look forward to the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. For a glorious fortnight, hundreds of events elevate Melbourne from culinary capital of Australia to — we daresay — the culinary capital of the world. (Yeah, you heard us.)

Port Phillip Mussel Festival – photo courtesy MFWF

Sifting through the MFWF events is a herculean task, but we’ve narrowed it down to the top eight events that you should be pencilling into your diaries immediately.

1. Port Phillip Mussel Festival (Sat. 7 & Sun. 8 March, free): Ruki and I went to this last year, and boy oh boy was it worth it. The South Melbourne Market (which we love) turns into a seafood street festival. Wander around and stuff your face full of paella as you listen to live music — and don’t forget to visit Ruki’s favourite seafood restaurant in all of Melbourne, Claypots.
2. Open Kitchen Weekend (Sat. 28 February & Sun. 1 March, free): Up and down the shores of the Yarra, from Birrarung Marr to South Wharf, there are activities galore for foodies. Southgate has a food fiesta ($15 tasting plates); visit the Polly Woodside  — which we love — and have Pimm’s ($16); or check out the food trucks. It’s all happening as you stroll around.
3. Fromage A Trois Cheese & Cider Festival (Sun. 15 March, $35): One of the best parts of the MFWF are all of the stellar events out of town. Get yourself a friend with a car and hightail it out to Werribee Park for an all-day mashup between two of the best things on earth: cheese and cider. Is there anything better? I doubt it.
4. Global Gathering (Sun. 1 March, free): We love to see an entire street get into it. Over 30 businesses along Bridge Road in Richmond are throwing their doors open for the day. Tasting plates start from $4 (bargain!), and you can do beer tastings, take a dance class, and more. Definitely worth the trip to Richmond for an afternoon.
5. Breakfast Around the Tan (Sun. 15 March, $35):  The only way I’d actually have fun on the Tan, Melbourne’s infamous running path, is if I’m sitting and eating. This event is tailor-made for non-athletes like me, plus it’s family-friendly. Yes, you can finally catch up with that one friend who has a baby without feeling like you’re bothering other brunch-goers.
6. Drunken Dinner (Wed. 11 March, $55-$85): How could I not pick this? I hosted a ‘Dipsomaniac’s Dinner’ for EatWithMe, a social dining site, with the same theme: Eating food that’s made with alcohol. David’s Restaurant will no doubt pull out all the stops, just as David Zhang did at the opening of Zhou Zhou when I went last year. The man knows how to do things.
7. Festival Artisan Bakery & Bar (Fri. 27 February–Wed. 18 March, free): Running the span of the MFWF, the Queensbridge Square location in Southbank sees famous bakers showcasing their wares. Not for the gluten-phobes among us,
8. Eat, Drink, Tea (Sat. 28 February, $50): Apparently I love events where drinks go inside food, because this afternoon high tea at Collins Quarter has a twist: all of the cocktails and canapes have various teas hidden inside them. Larsen & Thompson Teas, to be exact, and one of the founders will be on hand to take you through a tea journey as you nosh.

Global Gathering in Richmond

In a city known for its gourmet atmosphere, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is truly something spectacular. If you do one thing in March, let it be going to one of these many fine events. Eat your hearts out, Melbourne!

-Theresa

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/
27 February to 15 March 2015

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of MFWF for Breakfast Around the Tan, TS Publicity for the Port Phillip Mussel Festival, and Q Strategies for the Festival Artisan Bakery.