October 20th, 2023Food and wine fest comes to Ballarat

Over two upcoming weekends in November, Ballarat will be home to the regional edition of the much-loved Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.  

The Ballarat Unlocked program will see some of the region’s best chefs in some of the city’s most historical buildings.  

The festival is all about collaboration and unlocking spaces not commonly used for dining. Starting on 10 November 2023, the festival will showcase eight unique hospitality events.  

City of Ballarat Councillor Samantha McIntosh said Ballarat’s food and wine scene continues to evolve.  

“We have some excellent hospitality offerings, with acclaimed chefs and producers, making Ballarat a great place to be a foodie,” she said.  

The flagship event, the World’s Longest Lunch, will be held outside The Goods Shed Ballarat on Saturday, 11 November. Making its Ballarat debut, the three-hour lunch will seat 150 in the forecourt of the historic bluestone building.  

The lunch will be hosted by Ballarat’s very own MasterChef and toastie extraordinaire Tim Bone and will feature local produce from 1816 Bakehouse, Saltbush Kitchen, Inglenook Dairy, Mushroom Connection, Salt Kitchen Charcuterie and others.  

Award-winning chef Konstantin Putkin will oversee the delicious long lunch and guests will be able to enjoy refreshments from Ballarat’s newest distillery and bar, Itinerant Spirits.  

Local foodies are being invited to get along, continue the festivities, and join Renard’s Gin De Soif, only a short walk away for a cocktail takeover from local producers, such as Red Duck Brewery, Kilderkin Distillery and more. Local live music will set the scene, and canapes will complement the gins.