Baw Baw Shire on the Menu for Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Published on 17 January 2019

The picturesque town of Jindivick is set to host an exciting new event organised by the internationally acclaimed Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) this coming March.

Known as The Village Feast, the event will bring to life the tiny town of Jindivick, turning it into a culinary destination for the weekend showcasing the best of Gippsland produce.

On Saturday 16 March, MFWF will create a series of pop up restaurants in a village style environment right in the heart of Jindivick. Eager eaters also may nip by Lardner Park for a taste of what’s to come as it hosts a Regional World’s Longest Lunch event as part of the Festival on Friday 15 March.

At The Village Feast, Melbourne based restaurants, cafes and bars will merge with local food and wine providers to deliver a range of culinary delights. Playing to a Victorian theme there will be a butcher, baker and ice-cream maker, a green grocer, milk bar, Chinese restaurant and a local pub, all showcasing the strengths of Gippsland produce.

Festival goers dropping by Jindivick will be greeted by a variety of menu items featuring stunning local produce cooked up by culinary stars such as Matt Moran and Alejandro Saravia (Farmer’s Daughters, Gippsland and Pastuso, Melbourne).

To accompany the food services, live music will keep the party going into the evening and kids will be entertained with fairground fun and hands on activities. A selection of local producers will also be onsite, so festivalgoers can take a little of Gippsland home with them.

For visitors that wish to stay the night, there will be a series of luxury glamping tents on the Gippsland Jersey farm available for booking.

MFWF plays a key role in developing the reputation and brand of Victoria’s food and wine industry, which includes visiting chefs sharing their experience of our state’s rich stocks of food, wine, produce and people. Previous chefs taking part in the festival include Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Heston Blumenthal.

The Village Feast at Jindivick is proudly presented in partnership with Baw Baw Shire Council, MFWF, Latrobe Valley Authority, Destination Gippsland, Visit Victoria, Wines of Gippsland and the Jindivick community.

For more information about The Village Feast visit www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/program/the-village-feast

“On behalf of my colleagues and communities in Baw Baw Shire, we can’t wait to welcome guests to this region so they can discover what we have always known – that we’re home to Victoria’s finest food and wine as well as world-class destinations, events and communities!”

“What an exciting opportunity this will be for Baw Baw Shire and for other Gippsland-based food and wine providers to showcase the sheer range and quality of offerings this rich agricultural region has to offer!”

“We all have memories of our favourite food stops on long drives through the country, and The Village Feast will be the most delicious walk down memory lane. The tiny town of Jindivick will be transformed into a one-off food destination that’s never been seen before – it’s a very exciting first for the Festival.”

“This is the perfect excuse to explore Gippsland, kicking off with the Regional World’s Longest Lunch on Friday followed by glamping on a local dairy farm and all the magic of The Village Feast!”

Images: The picturesque town of Jindivick is set to host MFWF's "The Village Feast".