A​ ​colourful​ ​collision​ ​of​ ​​art,​ ​entertainment​ ​and​ ​food​​ ​will​ ​transform​ ​the​ ​MCG’s​ ​Yarra​ ​Park​ ​from 30​ ​November​ ​to​ ​3​ ​December​ ​2017​ ​as​ ​​Taste​ ​of​ ​Melbourne​ ​in​ ​partnership​ ​with​ ​Electrolux prepares​ ​a​ ​feast​ ​for​ ​all​ ​senses​ ​with​ ​​world-first,​ ​top​ ​secret​ ​collaborations​​ ​from​ ​the​ ​city’s favourite​ ​chefs,​ ​artists​ ​and​ ​musicians.

By​ ​day,​ ​families,​ ​foodies​ ​and​ ​curious​ ​shoppers​ ​will​ ​meander​ ​through​ ​laneways​ ​of​ ​more​ ​than 100​ ​artisan​ ​producers​ ​and​ ​gather​ ​for​ ​gourmet​ ​picnics.​ ​By​ ​night,​ ​the​ ​park’s​ ​canopy​ ​of​ ​trees will​ ​glow​ ​with​ ​glittering​ ​and​ ​neon​ ​lights​ ​as​ ​delicious​ ​dishes​ ​and​ ​drinks​ ​traverse​ ​the​ ​festival. Taste​ ​Festival​ ​Australia​ ​director​ ​Kristy​ ​Austin​ ​said​ ​this​ ​year’s​ ​festival​ ​embraced​ ​Melbourne’s creative​ ​heartbeat​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​good​ ​taste​ ​in​ ​its​ ​many​ ​manifestations.

In​ ​the​ ​festival’s​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​creative​ ​fusions,​ ​top​ ​chefs​ ​will​ ​collaborate​ ​with​ ​graffiti​ ​artists, designers​ ​and​ ​sculptors​ ​in​ ​secret​ ​kitchens​ ​and​ ​studios​ ​around​ ​the​ ​city​ ​to​ ​concoct​ ​unique creations​ ​revealed​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​festival. To​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​visual​ ​feast,​ ​paper​ ​engineer​ ​Benja​ ​Harney​ ​was​ ​commissioned​ ​to encapsulate​ ​Taste​ ​Festivals​ ​in​ ​paper​ ​form,​ ​from​ ​zucchini​ ​flowers​ ​in​ ​a​ ​forest​ ​of​ ​mushrooms and​ ​gold-flaked​ ​meringue​ ​to​ ​glazed​ ​figs,​ ​gooseberries​ ​and​ ​chili-peppered​ ​prawns​ ​–​ ​the ultimate​ ​collision​ ​of​ ​cuisine​ ​and​ ​art.

This​ ​year’s​ ​Estrella​ ​Damm​ ​Bar​ ​will​ ​also​ ​see​ ​genuine​ ​Spanish​ ​imports​ ​flow​ ​on​ ​tap,​ ​offering festival​ ​goers​ ​an​ ​ice-cold​ ​break​ ​in​ ​a​ ​gastro​ ​garden​ ​bar​ ​setting. Five​ ​glamping​ ​tipis​ ​will​ ​welcome​ ​friends​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​back​ ​and​ ​relax​ ​together​ ​while​ ​a​ ​dedicated butler​ ​ferries​ ​refreshments​ ​from​ ​a​ ​private​ ​bar.​ ​For​ ​a​ ​first-class​ ​Taste​ ​experience,​ ​the​ ​new​ ​VIP Luxe​ ​Lounge​ ​and​ ​stylish​ ​corporate​ ​suites​ ​are​ ​also​ ​available​ ​for​ ​group​ ​entertaining. Those​ ​with​ ​an​ ​appetite​ ​for​ ​more​ ​than​ ​tasting​ ​can​ ​discover​ ​edible​ ​education​ ​and​ ​insider​ ​tips from​ ​top​ ​culinary​ ​talent​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Electrolux​ ​Taste​ ​Theatre,​ ​while​ ​some​ ​of​ ​Melbourne’s​ ​top​ ​chefs will​ ​share​ ​insider​ ​tips​ ​in​ ​intimate​ ​masterclasses​ ​at​ ​Electrolux​ ​Chefs’​ ​Secrets,​ ​cooking​ ​a signature​ ​dish​ ​alongside​ ​guests​ ​before​ ​sitting​ ​down​ ​to​ ​enjoy​ ​their​ ​creations​ ​together.​ ​A popular​ ​festival​ ​favourite,​ ​sessions​ ​are​ ​limited​ ​to​ ​16​ ​people​ ​on​ ​a​ ​first​ ​come,​ ​first​ ​served basis.

In​ ​a​ ​protein-rich​ ​session​ ​with​ ​Meat​ ​&​ ​Livestock​ ​Australia​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Cooks’​ ​Corner​,​ ​MLA’s resident​ ​butcher​ ​Doug​ ​Piper​ ​and​ ​corporate​ ​chef​ ​Sam​ ​Bourke​ ​will​ ​demonstrate​ ​nose-to-tail eating,​ ​from​ ​butchery​ ​to​ ​cooking,​ ​as​ ​families​ ​and​ ​home​ ​chefs​ ​gather​ ​on​ ​the​ ​hay​ ​bales​ ​and balance​ ​a​ ​plate​ ​of​ ​lamb​ ​or​ ​beef​ ​on​ ​their​ ​lap.

A​ ​hands-on​ ​baking​ ​class​ ​with​ ​premium​ ​butter​ ​Lurpak​ ​will​ ​invite​ ​festival​ ​goers​ ​and​ ​fledgling patissiers​ ​to​ ​create​ ​danishes​ ​and​ ​shortcrust​ ​pastries​ ​in​ ​the​ ​new​ ​Lurpak​ ​Bakery.

Meanwhile,​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​prefer​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​without​ ​getting​ ​their​ ​hands​ ​dirty,​ ​the​ ​stories​ ​and history​ ​behind​ ​ingredients,​ ​recipes​ ​and​ ​products​ ​handed​ ​down​ ​through​ ​generations​ ​will​ ​be shared​ ​over​ ​Table​ ​Talks​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Smith​ ​Journal,​ ​an​​ ​unexpected​ ​series​ ​of thought-provoking​ ​discussions​ ​providing​ ​rare​ ​insight​ ​into​ ​the​ ​food​ ​industry,​ ​its​ ​people​ ​and their​ ​success​ ​stories.

So Melbourne, get ready a good feast and purchase your tickets now.

When: 30 November ~ 3 December 2017
Where: Yarra​ ​Park​ ​(​MCG),​ ​Wellington​ ​Parade,​ ​East​ ​Melbourne​ ​VIC​ ​3002
More information: Check their website.