The Australia Times

TASTE OF MELBOURNE – YARRA PARK

Sandeep Rawata Head Chef Piquancy — Sandeep Rawata
Head Chef – Piquancy

What: Taste of Melbourne

When: Thursday 30 November to Sunday 3 December 2017

Where: Yarra Park (MCG), Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Thursday 30 November 5.30pm to 10pm

Friday 1 December 12pm to 4pm

Friday 1 December 5.30pm to 10pm

Saturday 2 December 12pm to 4pm

Saturday 2 December 5.30pm to 10pm

Sunday 3 December 12pm to 5pm

Taste of Melbourne’s full lineup

Taste of Melbourne in partnership with Electrolux starts TODAY! The culinary festival has a full line up including 12 showcase restaurants and 22 top chefs, set to take over the MCG’s Yarra Park from 30 November to 3 December 2017.

Participating chefs and restaurants include: Frank Camorra from iconic Melbourne tapas temple MoVida; George Calombaris from Melbourne Greek favourites The Press Club, Gazi, Hellenic Republic, Jimmy Grants; Robin Wickens from Dunkeld’s jewel The Royal Mail Hotel; and Sandeep Rawata and Janral Singh from St Kilda and Hawthorn’s sleek Indian restaurants Piquancy and Babu Ji.

Hilary Walker - Babu Ji — Hilary Walker – Babu Ji

Nelly Robinson, whose flair and creativity is the driving force behind the amazing nel. and Nathan Sasi, renowned for his nose-to-tail ethos at Moorish Spanish restaurant Mercado, are joining forces to represent Sydney in a battle of the restaurants. On their home turf in the ultimate city cook-off are globe trotting chef Charlie Carrington from the adventurous, multiculturally inspired Atlas Dining and Peter Gunn from Collingwood’s sophisticated multi-course mecca IDES.

In an Australian first, Dan Hunter from Brae, Sam Pinzone and Geoff Lindsay from Dandelion and Raymond Capaldi will create a delicious menu and limited-edition dish with a percentage of proceeds supporting the R U OK? campaign.

And in another first, participating chefs and restaurants – including Michael Smith from Mamasita, George Calombaris and Reuben Davis from The Press Club, Scott Pickett from ESP, Christy Tania from Glacé and Liz Contini from Shadowboxer – will be collaborating with cutting edge visual artists to create signature dishes and artworks in the Creative Collabs initiative.

Scott Pickett - Estelle Lamb Shoulder — Scott Pickett – Estelle
Lamb Shoulder

Completing the impressive chefs’ line-up is Matt Wilkinson from The Pie Shop who will be working with premium Barcelona beer Estrella Damm to create the ultimate gourmet steak and beer pie. The Estrella Damm Bar will also see genuine Spanish imports flow on tap, offering festival goers an ice-cold break in a gastro garden bar setting.

Matt Wilkinson - Pie Shop Photo Credit: Annika Kafcaloudis — Matt Wilkinson – Pie Shop
Photo Credit:
Annika Kafcaloudis

Guests at Taste of Melbourne can also get up close and personal with six of Australia’s star chefs and enjoy the food they present, during 18 intimate Electrolux Chefs’ Secrets masterclasses, including: Nelly Robinson from nel., Scott Pickett from Estelle by Scott Pickett (ESP); Reuben Davis, executive chef at The Press Club; Jo Barrett from Oakridge; Matt McConnell of Bar Lourinhã, and Charlie Carrington from Atlas Dining. A popular festival favourite, sessions are limited to 16 people.