Five of a kind: Good Food Month events
1. NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS
Melbourne's own Asian street-food market sets up in Birrarung Marr for 17 festive nights with an impressive line-up of 50 food stalls and trucks from the likes of Bang Pop, Kong, Shimbashi, Longrain and Ghost Kitchen. With your attention being snapped and pulled in all directions – steam clouds coming off bamboo baskets here; the smell of chilli, lemongrass and ginger there, and that great-looking sausage on a stick a passerby is holding – how do you decide what to taste?
Birrarung Marr; from 5pm, Fri 14 Nov to Sun 30 Nov
2. BANH MI MASTERCLASS
There's a lot going on in a banh mi: the shattering crunch of the crusty roll, the smooth pâté, sweet pickled carrot, chilli hit, porky preparations and bright coriander. Here's a chance to make your own with Ba'get owner Duy Hunh's hands-on, cocktail-fuelled workshops on how to pickle, bake and make their signature lemongrass pork to stuff inside the much-loved sub, which brings together classic elements of French and Vietnamese cuisine.
Ba'get 284–294 La Trobe Street, Melbourne; 6.30–8.30pm, Nov 5, 11, 18 & 25; $35
3. THE ARGUS SPRING COOKING STUDIO AT VALE HILL FARM
The Argus restaurant is running a kind of plate-to-paddock event, taking punters (and plates) to the paddock for lunch. Owners Chris Walden and Wayne Cross will take participants on a tour of the restaurant's fruit-and-veg producing farm. A hands-on workshop preparing Hampshire Downs spring lamb follows, with chef David Willcocks, which is then enjoyed in the great outdoors with matched regional wines.
The Argus, 124 Main Road, Hepburn Springs 03 5348 4199; 9.30am–3pm, Sat 22 Nov; $165 a head
4. NIHON NIGHTS
Japan has a century-old tradition of whisky-making, but Japanese whisky, often described as having a particular clarity of aroma, is just hitting the mainstream, big-time. Join Saké's bar manager John Ross-Jones as he talks you through the tastes and tales of Japanese whisky – including Saké's exclusively imported 12-year-old single malts. Craft beer, sake and umeshu are also covered, and it's all matched with small bites.
Saké Restaurant & Bar, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 03 8687 0775; 7pm, Wed 12 Nov; cost $120 a head
5. ALPACA HEAD TO TAIL
Peruvian restaurant and pisco bar Pastuso has devoted a six-course dinner to alpaca: head to tail. Starting at the top: alpaca ravioli, followed by slow-roasted neck terrine served with sour cherries, hazelnuts and red quinoa sprouts. Moving along to dry-aged strip loin, charcoal-grilled cutlets and slow-braised shoulder with carrot and cumin puree. And at the tail end of proceedings, Peruvian chocolate sponge, white chocolate mousse and coca-leaf custard.
Pastuso, 19 ACDC Lane, Melbourne 03 9662 4556; 6.30-10.30pm, Mon 17 Nov; cost $85 a head, $125 with matched wines
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