The good news: Melbourne Good Food Month is safely continuing.

However, due recent Covid-19 restrictions, there have been some changes to this year’s programme which will no longer see Featured Events taking place.

Good Food Month is committed to supporting the Melbourne dining scene and has worked with some of Melbourne’s best restaurants for Friends of Good Food Month.

This is still a super exciting series, that sees leading Melbourne restaurants are invited to curate and host their unique experiences to best showcase their culinary excellence.

See below for a list of Friends of Good Food Month events which can all be booked through the Melbourne Good Food Month website.

Friends of Good Food Month Events

Regional and metro venues running small capacity events will be supported more than ever this year as part of the umbrella program of events, Friends of Good Food Month, which is an epic series of bespoke dining experiences, as curated by the industry.

Mister Bianco | Sicilian Beachside Dining

Time: 7pm – 10pm
Date: 23 June
Cost: $150

Pull up a seat and feel the sand at your feet (literally) as special guest chef Lorena Corso from Napier Quarter, along with Joe Vargetto, owner and chef at Mister Bianco, share a special degustation menu highlighting well known produce and wines from Sicily. Tickets include six courses with wine.

Mister Bianco | Sagra Cous Cous San Vito Lo Capo, By Lorena Corso

Time: 12pm – 3pm
Date: 27 June
Cost: $125

In a nod to the annual Cous cous Festa held in the beautiful seaside village of San Vito Lo Capo, one of Sicily’s most popular food festivals, Mister Bianco will turn into a beachside paradise for an exclusive lunch event. Feel the sand under your toes and enjoy the tastes of traditionally prepared couscous dishes that feature across a four-course menu.

Kisume | Chablis Wine Dinner

Time: 7 – 10pm
Date: 29 July
Cost: $350

Indulge in a five-course menu that pays homage to the crispness and minerality of Chablis wines, paired perfectly with Kisumé’s seasonal produce. Embrace the experience with wines such as 2018 Domaine Piuze, Terroir Magnum and 2018 Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots, paired perfectly with Red Emperor with Bamboo, Smoked Soy and Marron with Cha-zuke, Sea Urchin and more.

Rosetta Ristorante | Red Wines & Winter Braises: The Mid-Winter Feast

Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Date: 30 June
Cost: $199

Enjoy the comfort of warming winter braises, stews and slow-poached dishes from different regions of Italy, with bold reds and other beverages at Rosetta’s exclusive four-course, mid-winter feast.

Matilda | A Story of Provenance: The Butcher, the Providore & the Chef

Time: 7pm – 10pm
Date: 22 July
Cost: $125

Join Matilda Head Chef, Aleksis Kalnins, long-standing supplier and providore, Mark Foletta and Scott Pickett Group’s in-house butcher for a four-course collaborative dinner celebrating the butcher, the providore and the chef. The exclusive event menu will take you on a journey of provenance from farm to table.

Saké Restaurant & Bar Hamer Hall | Nose-to-Tail Bluefin Tuna Experience

Time: 6pm – 9pm
Date: 17 June
Cost: $169

Watch Saké’s Japanese chefs break down a whole sustainable Bluefin Tuna, as guests enjoy an exclusive five-course menu that showcases a variety of cuts of meat, traditional cooking methods, as well as Saké’s signature super-fusion stamp.

Spice Temple | Spice Solstice Feast

Time: 6pm – 9pm
Date: July
Cost: $149

Spice Temple is dedicating a delicious multi-course menu to the Winter Solstice, or Dōngzhì Festival, including the creation of special dishes, each with the warming fragrances of classic spices and paired with beautiful beverages.

Chancery Lane | Women in Wine with Winemaker Mel Chester

Time: 6pm – 10pm
Date: 11 August
Cost: $175

Join the team at Chancery Lane as they celebrate female winemakers this Good Food Month. Chancery Lane’s Sommelier, Hannah Day, partners with local winemaker Mel Chester of Sutton Grange for a three-course dinner, emceed by influential wine writer Jeni Port. Don’t miss this chance to taste an exclusive menu from Chancery Lane and learn more about locally grown alternative wine varieties by three ‘women in wine’ with a shared passion.

Farmer’s Daughters | Gippsland Truffle Degustation

Time: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Date: 19 June
Cost: $250pp

Indulge in a fine, five-course lunch celebrating Gippsland-sourced truffles, seasonal produce and premium wines at Farmer’s Daughters. Executive Chef, Alejandro Saravia and Head Chef, David Boyle are set to create a menu that highlights the restaurant’s philosophy of sourcing and serving seasonal ingredients from the Gippsland region, and cooking over wood and charcoal in a campfire kitchen.

Citrico | Omakase

Time: 7pm – 10pm
Date: 24 June
Cost: $110

Citrico will celebrate Nikkei cuisine at this special Good Food Month event, where the art, techniques, style and flavours of Japan meet Peruvian foods. Citrico’s Omakase will feature a ten-course tasting menu, inclusive of some of the finest quality seafood, fish and meats sourced by Head Chef, Dave Allison.

Poodle Bar & Bistro | Rocco’s Returns

Time: 6pm – 10pm
Date: 22 June
Cost: $69

Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca returns to take over Poodle Bar and Bistro for one night only this Good Food Month. Think Italian home-style cooking, meatball subs and an exciting list of natural and classic Italian wines. This event will be an all-out Italian celebration with an Italian DJ who’ll hit the decks to get the festa feels flowing.

Ten Minutes by Tractor | Making Waves

Time: 11:45am – 4pm or 6:30pm – 10pm
Date: 25 June
Cost: from $190

$190 for 6 course tasting menu or $300 with matching wines Join the team from Ten Minutes by Tractor as they explore some of Victoria’s traditional and most famous wines, up against some wonderful varieties and styles showing Victoria is also on the bleeding edge of wine innovation. Each of these exciting and iconic wines will be paired with a six-course tasting menu featuring the best produce the Mornington Peninsula has to offer.

Hemingways | Prosecco vs Sparkling Sake Luncheon

Time: 1pm – 4pm
Date: 26 June
Cost: $129

Everyone loves a glass of bubbles, but do you know much about the incredible flavour profiles of Prosecco and Sparkling Sake? Join the Queens of Fizz, Prosecco Queen Melissa Brauer and Sake Specialist Melissa Mills, for a five-course luncheon at Hemingway’s Wine Room where guests will taste their way through Italy and Japan.

Rob Dolan Wines | The Pairing Method: Food and Wine Down to the Element

Time: 11am – 2:30pm
Date: 19 June
Cost: $160

Join Master of Wine Meg Brodtmann and hatted Chef Tyson Bertoncello to take your food pairing to the next level. After sparkling on arrival, you’ll kick off the session with a tasting by Meg, renowned as one of Australia’s top wine judges and all-round legend. Once you’re a pro at tasting wine, you’ll start exploring different ingredients, aided by Tyson of two-hat restaurant O.MY. That’s right – the king of the kitchen will take your pairings to create the perfect match for the wine right in front of your eyes.

David’s | Pinot with Shanghai Pork & Roast Duck

Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Date: 23 & 30 June
Cost: $50 or $78 with matched wines

Enjoy a five-course dinner celebrating Shanghai-style duck and pork dishes including tea-smoked duck leg, braised pork belly with mini fried sweet buns. Add the special Pinot Noir package to have each dish matched with a half-glass of Pinot Noir – making this the perfect winter dining experience.

Rice Paper Scissors | Tiki Tuesdays

Time: 6pm – 10pm
Date: 22 & 29 June
Cost: $45

Thought Tiki was all about plastic flowers? Think again! Experience a dining event like no other – a restaurant with no plates and edible cocktails, with a fun Tiki twist. Enjoy Rice Paper Scissors’ South East Asian flavours, but this time with no plates or cutlery, using only your hands to enjoy the food. This event will exclusively use local and sustainable suppliers, minimising waste in every way possible, but maximising flavour and of course, fun.

Mamasita | Taco Flight Tuesdays

Time: 5:30pm – 10pm
Date: Tuesdays throughout June
Cost: $45 or $90 with paired wines

For Good Food Month, Mamasita will be rotating a six-course taco flight every Tuesday throughout June. Guests will have the option of pairing each taco with a matched six-course agave flight (wine is also an option) prepared by head Mezcalier. The matches will alternate dependent on the taco courses for that particular day.

Poodle Bar & Bistro | Good Food Month Fridays

Time: 12pm – 3pm
Date: 18 & 25 June
Cost: $45

Poodle Bar & Bistro will be offering an express lunch throughout the month of June, in celebration of Good Food Month, featuring highlights from their delicious bistro menu. Enjoy snacks, your choice of main and a glass of wine or beer and coffee or tea for just $45 per person, with the option to add on dessert.

Vue de monde | Taste of Vue

Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Date: Fridays throughout June
Cost: $165

Vue de monde presents a Taste of Vue for Good Food Month. A thoughtfully curated five-course lunch menu designed to be enjoyed on a Friday lunch break with friends and colleagues alike. Taste of Vue will run each Friday throughout June showcasing a selection of innovative Australian-focused dishes that have become synonymous with Vue de monde.

The Grand Hotel | Italian Yum Cha

Time: 12pm – 3pm
Date: Saturdays & Sundays throughout June
Cost: $40-$80

Head to The Grad Hotel this Good Food Month for an array of Italian classics served Yum Cha style. A dining concept that is tried and tested and loved by many! Steam baskets of arancini, mini serves of ravioli and tortellini, mini pizzas and bomboloni (Italian doughnuts) are just a few of the favourites.

Lunch Events

Rice Paper Scissors | Battle of the Bao: Sucking Pig V Tempura Eggplant

Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm
Date: weekdays throughout June
Cost: $45

Order the lunchtime banquet for two or more Mondays – Fridays throughout June for a free suckling pig bun or tempura eggplant bun per person. Which bun is the most popular? You decide! The winner will be announced at the end of the month.

Rare Hare Wine & Food Store | Let’s do Lunch – The Hare’s Share

Time: 12pm – 5pm
Date: weekdays throughout June
Cost: $45

Savour a selection of delicious dishes and a glass of estate wine followed by tea or coffee, while overlooking the rolling vines at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store this Good Food Month.

Maha | Let’s Do Lunch

Time: 12pm – 3pm
Date: weekdays throughout June
Cost: $45

During the month of June, experience a delectable two-course lunch at Maha with a glass of wine, plus tea and coffee for just $45 per person.

Matilda | Let’s Do Lunch

Time: 12pm – 3pm
Date: Fridays throughout June
Cost: $45

Join the team at Matilda every Friday during June for a special Let’s Do Lunch offer for Good Food Month. Matilda will be serving house dry-aged Milla Farm duck with a glass of Bannockburn pinot noir for just $45 per person – the perfect way to ease into the cooler weather.

Yagiz | Friday Long Lunch

Time: 12pm – 3pm
Date: 18 & 25 June
Cost: $45

Celebrate the end of the working week with Yagiz this Good Food Month. Every Friday during the month of June, enjoy the progressive cuisine at Yagiz with a three-course Turkish lunch and a glass of Turkish wine for just $45 per person.

Noir | Let’s Do Lunch

Time: 12pm – 2pm
Date: daily throughout June
Cost: $45

Noir brings ‘fruits de mer’ to Richmond this Good Food Month. Enjoy a classic lunch packed with fresh seafood and exceptional French wine with your choice of a two-course lunch or a shared seafood platter.

Bar Lourinha | Let’s Do Lunch

Time: 11am – 2pm
Date: daily throughout June
Cost: $45

Join the team at Bar Lourinha for lunch throughout the month of June and enjoy tapas and two raciones with a glass of wine for only $45 per person. A delicious Portuguese and Spanish lunch created by Chef Matt McConnell of Bar Lourinha, the iconic restaurant and bar in it’s fifteenth year of service.

Rockpool Bar & Grill | David Blackmore Wagyu Burger Lunch

Time: All-day
Date: Daily throughout June
Cost: $20

Treat yourself to a mouth-watering David Blackmore Wagyu burger and a beer or glass of wine for just $20 per person this Good Food Month. Available in the bar only. No booking required.

Get the latest from Thrillist Australia delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.