‘Moonshine’ was originally a slang term for high-proof distilled spirits usually produced illicitly, but Melbourne Moonshine have brought credibility to the drink at their boutique operation in Port Melbourne. Together with Shannon Martinez from Smith + Daughters and Mike Patrick from Fancy Hanks, they hosted the sold-out Dusk Till Dawn, a fabulous boozy vegan BBQ and street alley party as part of the 2018 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
We walked through the in-house distillery admiring the impressive equipment and as we reached the back alley, the night began with a choice of cocktails all showcasing various flavours of Moonshine. Our drink of choice was the Arnie Palmer with hints of iced tea and lemon. Delicious! We also sampled the beer on offer from Barrow Boys. The Good Times ale was the perfect session beer for an autumn evening.
The BBQ was being cooked in front of us by the teams from Smith + Daughters and Fancy Hanks. All vegan and gluten free, we were treated to some delights, and the lack of meat was hardly noticed. We each received a tray full of food and couldn’t wait to tuck in.
Our meal started with a jalapeno pepper stuffed with vegan cheese which was deliciously creamy with a great chilli kick. We had a ‘brisket’ taco which showcased Martinez’s signature ways with mock meat, nachos topped with ‘beef’ chilli and vegan ‘cheese’ but my highlight was the quesadillas which were filled with potato, ‘chorizo’ and more ‘cheese.’ Full of flavour, the meal certainly left us satisfied and ready to enjoy the plentiful drinks on offer.
The Melbourne band The Tarantinos kicked the party on with their trademark style and pizzazz. Their sound filled the back alley, and in true Melbourne style, we sang and danced the night away. Perhaps we weren’t there till dawn, but we were certainly gave it a good crack.
– Moni
Moni loves food. No really, she LOVES food. She spends a lot of time eating, cooking, photographing or writing about food.
The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival runs 16–25 March 2018. Many venues are accessible.
Read The Plus Ones’ guide to the best events.
