February is all about feasting, Listers! Typically the hottest month in Melbourne, the kitchens around town are heating things up, too, serving up some scorching, sizzling and dang sexy suppers, sweets and… sous vide? Festivals are hitting the scene, celebrating all our favourites from BBQ to ice cream!
Enough time has passed to put aside your New Year’s Resolutions, (if only for a night... or four), so if you’re looking for things to do in Melbourne that involve eating, swilling, digesting, swallowing and/or savouring, then look no further! Here are Melbourne’s best foodie events to book in February!
Seven Deadly Sins at Prix Fixe
Going against the grain of following your New Year’s resolutions, Prix Fixe are offering a much more wicked option. Their Seven Deadly Sins menu provides options from greed to gluttony, to even a tantalising Lust item, featuring ‘Sexual Chocolate’ with caramel parfait glace, deep dark mousse, salted macadamia caramel, popped cherries and flogged cream… Sounds devilishly delicious!
Seven Deadly Sins | Throughout February
Prix Fixe, Melbourne
$49pp for Lunch, $89pp for Dinner
To book, visit here
Gazpacho y Más Pop-Up Bar at Pope Joan
East Brunswick’s Pope Joan is hosting some super Sunday sessions throughout February. Gazpacho y Más will be serving up the very best Sherry, Gazpacho and plenty of sexy Spanish sips. Planning to cool down hot Sundays in Feb, this trendy pop-up bar is also offering a ‘menu del dia’ at $45pp that promises to fill you up (with joy as well as food)! Think chorizo, Berenjenas con Gambas, Ensalada Valenciana and much, much more.
Gazpacho y Más Pop-Up Bar | Sundays throughout February
Pope Joan, East Brunswick
Melbourne Barbecue Festival at Queen Victoria Market
Still looking for things to do in Melbourne this February, foodies? What’s more awesomely Aussie than a festival dedicated to all the delights surrounding the BBQ?! The Melbourne Barbecue Festival is set to fire up the Queen Victoria Market come this month, with some of the country’s favourite American-style BBQ cooks! Get excited for stalls and trucks from Hoy Pinoy, Zapatas, Smokin’ Barry’s, Bluebonnet Barbecue, Silver Creek Smokers, and more! With demonstrations, classes, entertainment and cook-offs, this is an event for BBQ enthusiasts and general meat lovers!
Melbourne Barbecue Festival | Sunday 1st February, 10:00am
Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
IDES Dinner at Persillade
Peter Gunn Jnr., sous chef of Attica has created IDES, a movement celebrating his take on produce, technique and flavour. Exploring the balance between fine and spontaneous food, this first IDES Dinner of the year is sure to be exciting!
IDES Dinner | Monday 2nd February, 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Persillade, East Melbourne
$100pp
To book, visit here
Annie Smithers at Middle Park Hotel
From Trentham’s du Fermier, Annie Smithers visits Middle Park Hotel alongside Chef Stephen Burke to showcase her favourite home-harvested produce. Serving up a delightful four-course dinner, Annie Smithers’ last dinner at the Middle Park Hotel was a sold-out success. Enjoy matched wines by Curly Flat, and explore the surprises of a fantastic homegrown veggie patch!
Annie Smithers Dinner | Tuesday 3rd February, 7:00pm
Middle Park Hotel, Middle Park
$130pp (includes four-courses and matched wines)
To book, please call 9690 1958
Perfect Match: Explore the Yarra Valley at Milk the Cow
Our favourite fantastic fromagerie, Milk the Cow, are again hosting their ever-popular Perfect Match sessions. The new Carlton location is celebrating the great combination of Yarra Valley Dairy cheeses and Kellybrook Winery drops to match. Enjoy the delicacies of the Yarra Valley without the time-consuming road trip!
Perfect Match: Explore the Yarra Valley | Tuesday 3rd February
Milk the Cow, Carlton
$38pp
Lunch with Mat Lindsay at Builders Arms Hotel
Mat Lindsay from Sydney’s Ester is popping into The Bowery Room kitchen at The Builders Arms in Fitzroy, for one day only! This talented chef will be creating a lunch cooked on the courtyard rotisserie, with wines matched by Campbell Burton.
Lunch with Mat Lindsay | Sunday 8th February, 12:30pm
The Bowery Room at The Builders Arms, Fitzroy
$160pp
To book, please call 9417 700
Shiraz and Syrah Masterclass at Eleven40 Gallery
Eleven40 gallery is exhibiting Milton Wordley’s ‘A Year in the Life of Grange’, based on his successful book, and complementing it with a Shiraz and Syrah Masterclass with Jack Mullard from the Tasting Table! Beginning with a blind tasting of four European and four Australian varieties, this classy evening will be followed by tastings of many wines, grazing platters of fine meats and cheese, and a Masterclass hosted by Mullard exploring the nuances, tastes and techniques behind the wines.
Shiraz and Syrah Masterclass | Sunday 8th February, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Eleven40 Gallery, Malvern
$195pp
To book, visit here
Tapas Y Raciones Riesling Feast at Bar Nacional
Rathdowne Cellars are hosting a dinner, showcasing their favourite Riesling producers. With wines from Crawford River, Georg Breuer, and Heymann-Lowenstein, enjoy tasting some great international flavours, accompanied with Bar Nacional’s modern take on sensational Spanish tapas! We’re thinking charcutería, tapas and of course, raciones!
Tapas Y Raciones Riesling Feast | Tuesday 10th February, 6:45pm - 11:00pm
Bar Nacional, Docklands
$95pp
To book, visit here
Valentine’s Day at The Botanical
Wondering what’s on in Melbourne for V Day, love birds? Treat your loved one to a four-course degustation in the beautiful setting of The Botanical in South Yarra. Matched wines are available to complement a delicious spread, from prawn with cucumber and avocado cream, to chicken with fig and burned cumin goat’s cheese. We don’t think you can get much more gourmet! Spoil your significant foodie other at The Botanical this Valentine’s Day in Melbourne!
Valentine’s Dinner | Saturday 14th February, 6:00pm or 9:00pm
The Botanical, South Yarra
$95pp (+$55 matched wines)
To book, please call 9820 7888
Valentine’s Day at Various Vue Locations
Spreading the love across not only Bistro Vue, but also Jardin Tan, Café Vue at Heide, Lui Bar and the Piggery, the Vue Group (the team behind Vue de Monde) are offering a range of options for loved up Melbournians! From a dainty afternoon tea to a seven-course degustation, pick your foodie feast for your favourite ‘friend’.
Valentines Day by the Vue Group | Saturday 14th February
Je T’aime All Night Long | Bistro Vue, Melbourne
$240pp, Seven-Course Degustation, 6:00pm
$80pp Optional Wine Match
To book, please call 9691 3838
Lovebirds at Lui | Lui Bar, Melbourne
$65pp, Two-Course Lunch, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
$65pp, Afternoon Tea, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
To book, please call 9691 3888
A Vietnamese Love Story | Jardin Tan, South Yarra
$120pp, Six-Course Dinner, 6:00pm
To book, please call 9021 2111
I Heart Heide | Café Vue at Heide, Bulleen
$120pp, Three-Course Dinner, 7:00pm
To book, please call 9852 2346
True Love | Piggery Café, Sherbrook
$140pp, Three-Course Menu and Dessert Buffet, 6:00pm
To book, please call 9691 3888
Iron Chef 2015 in Melbourne
If your Valentine’s Day is looking less loved up, and more looking for action, then here’s something for you! The RACV Melbourne Grand Ballroom is set to host the legendary Iron Chefs Hiroyuki Sakai, Katsuhiko Kobe and the eldest son of Iron Chef Kenichi Chen, Kentaro Chen! If you’re an Iron Chef foodie fan, then get excited for the opportunity to meet these world famous Iron Chefs and enjoy a six-course dinner prepared by them!
Iron Chef 2015 | Saturday 14th February, 5:00pm
RACV Melbourne Grand Ballroom, Melbourne
$380pp
Breakfast with Bollinger by The Champagne Dame at Entrecôte
Join The Champagne Dame for breakfast, and enjoy some delicious Bollinger Champagne. Hosted by Entrecôte in South Yarra, sip on three elegant glasses of bubbly, from cuvee to rosé and La Grande Année, while enjoying a classy breakfast spread.
Breakfast with Bollinger by The Champagne Dame | Sunday 15th February, 9:30am - 11:00am
Entrecôte, South Yarra
$155pp
BBQ Throwdown at Newmarket Hotel
The BBQ Throwdown series have proved awesomely popular with adoring Melbourne BBQ fanatics. How to make it even more popular? Oh, maybe throw in one of Melbourne’s hottest BBQ joints, Kong Korean BBQ! Offering both a lunch and dinner session due to an overwhelming response, hurry and book your spot at the Newmarket vs Kong BBQ Throwdown!
BBQ Throwdown with Kong | Sunday 15th February
Newmarket Hotel, St Kilda
$85pp, Includes Six Dishes, Beer & Wine
Ice Cream Festival at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamerie
If you’re looking for an excuse to go on a road trip, what’s better than a 12-day festival celebrating ice cream! From the 18th of February to the 1st of March, head down to join in the fun at the Yarra Valley’s Ice Cream Festival! Introducing 12 new flavours (one per day), the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is hosting an exploration through traditional and exotic ice-cold creamy goodness! Did we mention you could win a year’s supply of ice cream!?
Ice Cream Festival | Wednesday 18th February - Sunday 1st March, 9:00am - 5:00pm Daily
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, Yarra Glen
Chinese New Year at Ruyi
Ruyi is the go-to place for modern Chinese in Melbourne. Join in the celebrations for the Chinese New Year, by indulging in a delicious dining degustation! Think pork and crab Shao Long Bao, cumin pork ribs and some sweet sago pudding with coconut sauce. Matched wines are optional to really cap off the night!
Chinese New Year Dinner | Thursday 19th February
Ruyi, Melbourne
Aaron Turner at Circa
From trendy Belle’s Hot Chicken, and formerly Loam in regional Victoria, Aaron Turner brings his culinary genius to Circa. Working in collaboration with Ashly Hicks for one night only, enjoy a five-course dinner with Bannockburn Vineyards matched wines. Featuring fresh, local flavours, don’t miss this exciting event at Circa in St Kilda.
Aaron Turner Dinner | Tuesday 24th February
Circa, The Prince, St Kilda
$145pp
To book, please call 9536 1122 or email
Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch at the Fitzroy Gardens
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival brings the eagerly anticipated Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch to Fitzroy Gardens. Join 1,500 other diners in the blossoming surrounds, while you feast on a three-course menu designed by celebrity chefs, Shane Delia and Adriano Zumbo. Check out more of our top picks for MFWF here! https://www.theurbanlist.com/melbourne/a-list/melbourne-food-wine-festival-top-10-picks
Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch | Friday 27th February, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
$155pp
Paint to Plate at The Bendigo Art Gallery
Food and art, can anything scream Melbourne more? We think not. The NGV and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival have collaborated with Bendigo Art Gallery, to present Paint to Plate – a unique opportunity to experience art alongside food. Featuring talks by chefs and curators, get cultured at the Bendigo Art Gallery, Listers!
Paint to Plate | Friday 27th February, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo
$50pp
To book, visit here
Battle of the Chefs at Lamaro’s
South Melbourne’s favourite gastropub, Lamaro’s, is hosting a Masterchef-worthy competition, as their Head and Sous Chef battle it out! Guests can vote on entrées and mains dished up by the contenders, and fill their tummies with prime produce while they’re at it!
Battle of the Chefs | Friday 27th February, 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Lamaro’s, South Melbourne
To book, please call 9690 3737
The Sustainable Hook & Vine Festival at the Torquay Common
Shimmy on down to the seaside before the weather turns, and take part in The Sustainable Hook & Vine Festival! It’s the first sustainable seafood festival in Australia, and what better location than on the beautiful Great Ocean Road? With pop-up restaurants from local kitchens, brew houses and wineries, head down for a foodie picnic, be serenaded by live music and get involved in plenty of family friendly activities.
The Sustainable Hook & Vine Festival | Saturday 28th February, 11:00am
Torquay Common, Torquay
$35 (Adults), $6 (Kids 3-17)
Yes, it’s a shorter month than most, dear February, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting or jam packed full of foodie flavour! Good luck devouring your way through this awesome list of delicious things to do in Melbourne (and eat!).
Image Credit: The House That Lars Built.
