Our cheap eats guide to Melbourne Food & Wine Fest 2014

With tickets going on sale this week to Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (28 Feb – 16 March 2014) we thought we’d get in with early with some ideas before too many of the events sell out. An early Christmas gift to oneself perhaps? We say yes.

If you’re new to Melbourne then the Festival is an awesome chance to get into venues that normally don’t take bookings and if you’re old to Melbourne then we don’t need to tell you this is the food and wine (and increasingly beer) festival in Australia with over 200 events in the program across Victoria and anything going from Michelin-starred chefs showing off their impressive skills through to 3am tours of wild-caught seafood facilities (if you are so inclined).

Next year’s theme is water so seafood-lovers, mermaids (and mermans) here are our picks of the Festival – and all coming in under $100:

The Immersery: Festival Kitchen, Bar & Raingarden
Perhaps the most ambitious hub space Melbourne has seen yet this three-level temporary space constructed in Queensbrdge square will feature a floating barge bar, open-kitchen eatery and an elevated space accessing the disused rail bridge for the first time ever. Designed by masterminds at HASSELL this promises to be an interesting project. Melbourne’s best cocktail makers and a local collective of chefs will be on hand to craft a clever water-inspired rotating menu including Daniel Wilson (Huxtable/Huxtaburger), Jesse Gerner (Anada/Bomba) and Flo Gerardin (Silo by Joost).

Bar Express
Some of the most inventive watering holes around the city have dreamed up meticulously-crafted drinks inspired by the theme of water. EDV will be serving ‘The Claridge Evolution’ drawing inspiration from water’s three forms. The cocktail will be served on a large chunk of hand carved ice with a flavoured fog and dry ice delievering a bit of drama and served with an Onsen Egg.

Designer Bites
Two of Melbourne’s great loves combine for this event: fashion and food, for one night of exclusive-showings from up and coming designers at some of the finest establishments around town

Nha Trang Yacht Club
Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah give a Melbourne spin on the renowned Nha Trang Sea Festival by hosting a weekend of rooftop pop-up of Vietnamese hawker stalls.

The NYC Dine Without Wine
The Beaufort team bring some Brooklyn style to town for an NYC-inspired evening = evening examining the importance of water to distilling and brewing featuring local and international guests.

Cooking Sustainable Seafood
It’s not that easy to shop for sustainable produce so the culinary experts at William Angliss Institute will give you some top tips on what to look for, and how to prepare and serve a beautiful sustainable seafood feast.

Rickshaw Run
If you’re keen to re-live those thai holidays then this event is for you: Ride a rickshaw through the streets of Footscray, sampling an array of dishes along with the route designed by local food blogger Lauren Wambach so you’re guaranteed to get some great grub!

Crown’s Food and Wine Live Site
Crown bring their culinary skills to the street with this waterside pop-up festival over the long weekend. It’s a great chance to taste samples of what they do the best along the banks of the Yarra.