World's Longest Lunch

What happens when you throw 1000 people together, along some very well presented tables, that run the length of one of Melbourne's main thoroughfares? The World's Longest Lunch .. one of a series of longest lunches to happen across Victoria to kick of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

And what a lunch it was. I am not sure how many of these I have now attended, but I can recall getting home from at least 4 of them at some stage that could easily be described as a long time after lunch.

Under the knowing hand of Tony Tan, one of the Creative Directors of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, I can safely say that this was the best food I had consumed at one of these events. A celebration of all things cultural, Chinese and Melbourne, tables were decked out along the front of the National Gallery of Victoria and the Arts Centre forecourt.

With Peter Rowland managing the catering for 1000 hungry mouths,a mixed entree that included soft shell crab with black beans, four seasons dumpling and chilli spiced duck salad was terrifically presented and pleasing to the gob. Exceptional company at the table and a series of new best friends to enjoy the food with made the experience even better. Wines from Scotchmans Hill on the Bellarine Peninsula suffered a little in the glorious sunshine that shone over the event for the day.

A main course of lamb cooked in a master stock was deftly handled and tasted terrific. Again, with 1000 hungry folk, the possibility of cocking this up was higher than usual but happily, it was excellent. Harder to execute was a dessert - terracotta teapots held some dry ice with a stunning coconut sorbet on top, all arriving to the table without melting, alongside mango brulee with lychees,
poached peach and raspberry coulis and sesame tuile. Poached is a loose term in reference to the peach but apart from that, another difficult dish pulled off well.

Parades of Chinese themed entertainment with dragons, parasols and martial arts displays lent some theatre to the lunch.

My news best friends and I ended up in the National Gallery after lunch perusing the Mueck exhibition, and strangely, more wine, martinis and a sumptuous dinner at La Luna in Carlton closed out the day.

Looking forward to next years gathering where no doubt there will be more new best friends made and another reason to take lunch to dinner as we celebrate all that is good in Melbourne in March at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.