Soak it up! Melbourne Food and Wine Festival highlights

Highlights

Blood is Thicker than Water

It is perhaps Melbourne's most influential restaurant brotherhood: chef brothers Matt (Casa Ciuccio) and Andrew (Cutler and Co.) McConnell are lighting up Gertrude Street in funked-out Fitzroy with a street party between their two closely located restaurants. It will be a blood-inspired moving feast lubricated with drinks from wine importer the Spanish Acquisition to celebrate the ties that bind - and the food.

■ Thursday, March 13, 6.30pm-8.15pm, 8.30pm-10.30pm; $95

Designer Bites

Merging two of Melbourne's greats loves - fashion and food - this unique event allows entry into the minds of three fashion designers at three bars across the city: Richard Nylon at Madame Brussels, Husk at Comme and Alexi Freeman at Self Preservation. Nibble signature dishes with matched drinks while viewing exclusive showings, all the while sharing in the ideas and inspirations from some of the city's hottest fashion talents.

■ Tuesday, March 4, 6pm-8pm; $75

Taste Now

With the National Gallery of Victoria opening its largest ever exhibition exploring Melbourne's art, creativity and artists at Melbourne Now, it seemed fitting to match the city's hottest culinary talents to its cause for an evening of cutting edge art and design set to an array of inspired dishes.

■ Friday, February 28, 6pm-8pm, 8.30pm-10.30pm; Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2, noon-2pm; $75

Underwater

Part eating, part artistry: be led by Argentine chef Mauro Callegari as he presents an incredible underwater odyssey via food and projected light. Sip underwater-inspired cocktails and nibble the fruits of the sea with five courses set to the sound of rolling waves. The multi-sensory feast reminds us that the food we eat can affect each of our five senses.

■ March 12 and 13, 7pm-10.45pm; $85

Eat

The Delicious Pest

Dave Allen is a local diver and seafood exporter on a mission to stop the depletion of our reefs by pests. His answer? Eat them. Join Allen in a sustainable seafood banquet that gives new meaning to the term ''pest control''.

■ March 2 & 9, 2pm-4pm; $90

Willows, Wilderness and Wine

Teage Ezard takes the interest in sustainability up a notch with a vegetarian five-course degustation with matched wines that explores the salvation story of the Caledonia Australis wetlands - from virgin bush to cleared farmland and back again.

■ March 4, 6.30pm-10pm; $170

An Afternoon in Jerez

Get into the rooftop groove at Bomba with traditional Andalucian seafood tapas cooked on the chargrill chased by afternoon sun and a selection of sherry, beer and cava.

■ March 2, 1pm-4pm; $120

Message in a Bottle

This meal takes the idea of ''swimming with the fishes'' to a whole new level. Enjoy a progressive dinner at Melbourne Zoo that includes an underwater dining experience with the seals. Watch a feeding demonstration then join in as the chef prepares gourmet dishes with the seal food.

■ March 13, 6.30pm-10.30pm; $135

The Two Masters - A Cheese and Sake Degustation

Master of Cheese Will Studd and Sake Samurai Andre Bishop will explain why sake and cheese are the perfect match. Held on the anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, $5 from every ticket will be donated to help orphans.

■ Kumo Izakaya, March 11, 7pm-9pm; $105

Hook, Lunch and Sinker

Join the Stokehouse team for an early-bird fishing adventure on Port Phillip Bay, before heading back to the Stokehouse Cafe pop-up with head chef Ollie Gould where he'll cook your catch of the day. The event includes a fishing trip, three-course lunch and drinks.

■ March 2, 6am-3pm; $190

Free/kids

Little Foodies Corner

A Japanese sushi workshop (10.30am-11.30am), a Greek dolmades workshop (noon-1pm) and a Vietnamese rice paper roll workshop for kids at Queensbridge Square in the city. No bookings required. Suggested for children aged from three to 11 years.

■ March 1 & 2; free

Go West H2O

Head to the banks of the Maribyrnong River where MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan will be corralling the most recent contestants at a twilight festival and market celebrating western suburban diversity. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.

■ March 7, 6pm-10pm; free

Crown's Food and Wine Live Site

The Yarra River will form the backdrop for a host of pop-up bars as Crown showcases its waterside restaurants.

■ March 7-10, noon-9pm; free

Bright N Sandy

Take your togs and your appetite to Brighton's Green Point for the feet-in-the-sand food and wine festival, now in its 10th year.

■ March 2, 11am-6pm; $2.50

Yes Chef!

Wander in to the Edmund Pearce Gallery in Swanston Street to feast your eyes on a photographic portrait exhibition that captures the cultural, personal and philosophical influences of some of Australia's top chefs.

■ March 6, 6pm-8pm; free

Lorne's Twilight Bush Picnic

A family night out under the stars by Qdos Art Pond in the hills behind Lorne. Go prepared for live entertainment and an after-dark tour of the Lorne Sculpture Biennale.

■ March 15, 6.30pm-9pm; $120 picnic box for two people

Ice-cream Party

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is pulling out all stops with a series of limited-edition flavours licked among expansive landscaped grounds and orchards in Yarra Glen. Ticket price includes a flight of five ice-cream flavours.

■ March 15, 9am-5pm; $12

Learn

The Immersery

Dive deep in to the water element of this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival presented by Bank of Melbourne at the Immersery. The festival kitchen, bar and rain garden, designed by international design firm Hassell, is a festival centrepiece based on water's three states: solid, liquid and gas. Get liquid with the floating barge that's anchored to Queensbridge Square and is hosting the city's top bartenders; stay solid at the concourse-level open kitchen and eatery, home to dishes created using water-based cooking techniques by an array of stellar chefs; and get into philosophy courtesy of vertical rain gardens from Melbourne Water that let visitors learn how water can be captured, filtered and reused before it re-enters the water cycle.

■ February 28-March 16; free.

Melbourne's Fish Mongrels

Wakey, wakey! It's the early bird who catches the tour of Sanford Australia, where the largest portion of Melbourne's wild-caught seafood first hits the city from its source. Arise early for an inside look, along with information on fisheries management, marine parks and sustainability - coffee included.

■ March 4 and 11, 3am-4.30am; $30.

Water - Coffee's Hidden Taste

It's not just the beans that flavour your morning brew. St Ali head barista Matt Perger will give you an insight into the powerful influence of the ol' H2O on taste with a sampling of coffees made with different types of water. An eye-opener to intrigue the keenest of coffee connoisseurs.

■ March 8, 10am-11.30am; $25

The Martini Masterclass

The boys at the Everleigh are lifting the lid on how to put together that most classic of cocktails, the martini, in a shaken and stirred evening that demonstrates the alchemy surrounding the marriage of gin with a splash of water and a little vermouth.

■ March 4, 7.30pm-10pm; $45

Beneath the Surface

Charcoal Lane's executive chef Greg Hampton explores what lies beneath, including freshwater fish and saltwater crocs, crays and samphire. You're sure to soak up some skills and tricks.

■ March 8, 10am-noon; $85

Budget ($50 or less)

Sunshine Pho Fever

Melbourne's love affair with this classic Vietnamese soup continues at Sao Cafe where exotic (and non-alcoholic) cocktails will be served alongside bowls of pho as local Vietnamese share the stories behind the food and drink of south-east Asia.

■ March 10 to 13, 6.15pm-9pm; $45

Melbourne Beerfest

At Docklands, $20 buys you entry to an all-day amber nectar event including masterclass, tastings, live entertainment, and food and beverage matches.

■ March 1 & 2, noon-10pm; $20

Nha Trang Sea Festival

Join the crew from Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah at their pop-up Vietnamese hawker stalls bedded down on a St Kilda rooftop as Melbourne puts its own spin on Vietnam's renowned Nha Trang Sea Festival.

■ March 2, 11am-7pm; $35

Dancing with the Tides

Snare a taste of Ethiopia and save on the airfare: this evening brings together Ethiopian beats, dance and the intriguing tastes of its spice-hot cuisine presented on traditional share-style platters. Dinner, traditional coffee ceremony and show included.

■ February 28 and March 1, 7 & 8; 7.15pm-9pm; $40

A Trio of Astrological Bites

A three-course lunch, each dish matched with a drink based on the three water signs of the zodiac (Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio) is the headline during an afternoon that offers roving astrologists who'll give readings and spot prizes for water sign attendees.

■ March 1, noon-3pm; $48

Great outdoors

Gone Fishing on Squiffy Island

Grab your waders and the rod and reel for a relaxed few hours casting lines for rainbow trout on Squiffy Island. Kids' entry is free, there's a glass of wine included in the price of the ticket and Sally's Paddock Wines will cook what you catch.

■ March 16, 11am-4pm; $20

Picnic in the Truffle Patch

Uncover the delights of the lesser known summer truffle at this 40-hectare trufferie at Wattle Flat in Victoria's Goldfields region, where participants will hunt, cook and taste truffles before sinking back with a picnic box, tea and coffee (BYO wine).

■ March 16, 11am-2.30pm; $90

Wild Food Walk Along the Maribyrnong

Get a real-time handle on Melbourne's native ingredients with a walking tour along the Maribyrnong River. Explore the plants, wildlife and materials used by (first) indigenous people and (later) early settlers.

■ March 6, 10am-noon; $30

For event details and tickets see melbournefoodandwine.com.au