Seddon chef Ashley Davis is licking his lips at the array of fine dining feasts about to hit the western suburbs.
Cuisines from across the globe will be in the spotlight through 15 special events during the 10-day Eat Drink Westside program (March 31 to April 9), part of the 25th anniversary of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
As Copper Pot’s owner and executive chef, Mr Davis is relishing the chance to add his own touch to the event by taking diners on a gastronomic road trip across Europe, capturing iconic dishes and classic wines of France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
“Quality food has spread into the suburbs and into the regions; it’s not just contained to the city any more,” he said.
A ‘Sunshine boy’ who took London restaurant Hélène Darroze to the coveted Michelin two-star level, Mr Davis is looking forward to taking adventurous diners on a pan-European food adventure studded with special treats all the way.
“We will be putting on the sort of wines that people might only try once in their life,” he said. “It’s about celebrating exciting food and wine right here in the western suburbs.”
Other events bringing the world to the west at the festival include an Ethiopian celebration with drumming; traditional coffee and injera at Konjo; a Balinese celebratory feast at Spice Bazaar Cooking School; The Plough’s ‘Pig, Pots and Pinots’; and an afternoon of local food and drinks at Up in Smoke.
T Cavallaro & Sons will celebrate 60 years of Sicilian baking; Lentil as Anything will host a ‘Hotter Than Anything’ spicy vegan chilli con carne event; and ‘Footscray Fusion’ will be on show at Littlefoot Bar.
Farther afield, events will include a four-course progressive dinner through Sunshine and a produce-driven four-course lunch matched with wines at Shadowfax Winery.
For more details, visit festivalcity.com.au
For bookings, visit melbournefoodandwine.com.au
