All posts tagged: drink

Interview with Chuck Hahn

Chuck Hahn is a name that any beer lover will recognise. As one of Australia’s highest profile brewers, his products (Hahn Premium and Hahn Ice) are well known and loved by all. We were delighted to spend some time with Chuck Hahn recently at The Swanston Hotel’s Beer Appreciation Evening and managed to ask a few questions about the brewing industry. You’ve been brewing beer now for over 30 years, can you tell us a standout moment in your brewery years? I guess the creation of new innovative beers might be the real standout reason for existence.  Even after ten years at Coors and six years brewing beers in Australia and NZ, the real standout moment was when we created Hahn Premium Lager in 1988, and I finally had my name on the bottle of a very fine pilsner style lager. What do you love about the Melbourne brewer scene? 25 years ago, no choice was available across the Melbourne pubs.  Now many styles of flavoursome lagers and ales are available and most pubs would …

Toko Melbourne

Toko Melbourne opened last month, bringing some of Sydney’s finest dining to Melbourne. The Japanese Izakaya style restaurant/bar is a sleek, contemporary space situated on Greville Street, in amongst other Japanese eateries,  Aka Tombo and Mizu. Having been long-term lovers of Toko Sydney, we couldn’t wait to see if the Melbourne location would compare. Toko Melbourne makes it the fourth venture for restaurant founder Matt Yazbek and the freshness of the space and delicious flavours it delivers reflects this. The restaurant features an open kitchen where you can watch the sushi masters at work, a cocktail bar, outdoor drinking area plus the choice of regular table seating or tradition ground level seating on tatami floor mats. The menu is filled with dishes to share including seafood, skewers on the Robata grill, the fresher flavours of sashimi or tempura dishes. Some of the dishes we tried were the crispy soft-shell crab with wasabi mayonaise; smoked miso king salmon, house pickled ginger; wagyu beef gyoza, white soy mustard, shiso; and the sliced kingfish, yuzu and chives (our favourite …

Johnston St Latin American Festival

Melbourne’s favourite outdoor festival, the Hispanic Fiesta returns to Johnston St this November.  The festival will tranform Johnston St into a Latin American carnival with delicious Latino food stalls, free dance classes, DJ’s and live entertainment all weekend as well as dance showcases by local dance schools and community groups. Inspired by the commemoration of One Thousand years of the Spanish Language, the annual Hispanic Festival is now in it’s 37th year and is guaranteed to be one colourful party. Don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes. When: 21 November – 22 November 2015 Where: Johnston St, Fitzroy Visit the website here. 

What's on in October

What’s on in October

The days have finally started to get longer, the weather warmer and the our social diaries busier. We’ve wrapped up what you can’t miss this October. Melbourne Festival 8th October – 25th October 2015 Celebrating 30 years of arts and culture, the Melbourne Festival returns to our city from 8-25 October. With a program filled with  dance, theatre, music, circus, visual arts, multimedia, outdoor and free events there is something for everyone. Read more here.  Salami Festa 16th October – 18th October 2015 Arguably one of Melbourne’s most unique and delicious food festivals, the Salami Festa returns to Melbourne this October for it’s fourth year. Celebrating the art and tradition of salami making, the best of the best Melbourne salami makers will be competing to have their prized homemade salami judged by leading salami aficionados and punters. Read more here.  Meyers Place Latin Fiesta 11th October 2015 This October, Meyers Place will be transformed into a Latin American street party. The all-ages festival will be filled with the party vibes, showcasing Latin American’s finest food, …

Wine and Cheese Fest

Wine and Cheese Fest

Sweet dreams are made of cheese! Following the great success of the inaugural 2014 event, The Wine and Cheese Fest is returning to Seaworks on 25 October 2015. Indulge in cheese tasting and wine sipping with beautiful sea and city views! This year, there’ll also be grape stomping, live entertainment, jazz bands and DJ’s. When: Sunday October 25th, 2015 Where: Seaworks, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown Visit the website here.

Meyers Place Latin Fiesta

This October, Meyers Place will be transformed into a Latin American street party. The all-ages festival will be filled with the party vibes, showcasing Latin American’s finest food, wine and culture from Meyers Place venues San Telmo, Lily Blacks, Mr Big Stuff, Loop and Loop Roof. And if that’s not enough to get the party started,  there’ll also be live music from Latin American bands  (curated by Mick Williams, PBS Latin connection segment presenter), Carpoeira, and dance lessons of salsa, merengue and samba. When: October 11, 2015 Where Meyers Place Visit the website here. 

Salami Festa: Celebrate your love of the cured meat

Salami like your Nonna makes it! Arguably one of Melbourne’s most unique and delicious food festivals, the Salami Festa returns to Melbourne this October for it’s fourth year. Celebrating the art and tradition of salami making, the best of the best Melbourne salami makers will be competing to have their prized homemade salami judged by leading salami aficionados and punters. With the heat on for salami makers (last year a non-Italian took out the grand prize), we expect the standards this year to be notched up to the next level.  Festa patron Guy Grossi, will be leading the judging panel along with chefs Dom Marzano, Rosa Mitchell (Rosa’s Kitchen), Massimo Scalas (Salumi Australia) Pina Busa (Home Make It) and special guest nonna Rocchina Catoggio. This Festa isn’t just for the Salami makers, but also for lovers of the delicious cured meat. There’ll be a pop-up salami shed hosting salami making demonstrations by Home Make It, a range of workshops, live music, two bocce courts, and stellar Italian food from Saluministi, Ladro and D.O.C – plus …

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest in the Gardens

Oktoberfest in the Gardens returns to Melbourne for it’s fifth year. Embrace the largest Australian Oktoberfest celebrations and taste your way across Europe with a large selection of imported German beer, cider, wine and a range of other beverages. The Festival will take over Birrarung Marr with a a massive beer hall, authentic German food stalls, roving performers, a silent disco plus, beer and more beer. So even though you might not be in Germany celebrating the traditional Oktoberfest, it’s the perfect  way to take part in the Bavarian Festival from afar. We’ll ‘prost’ to that! Our German friends have come to the party for We Know Melbourne readers. While the event is sold out Saturday, use the code FRIDAY BEER will get you discounted tickets to the Friday event! When: Friday, 23 October + Saturday, 24 October Where: Birrarung Marr Visit the website here.  Terms and conditions here. 

Stonybrook Food Truck Fest

Stonybrook Food Truck Fest

This weekend, some of Melbourne’s most popular food trucks will be leaving their usual inner city truck stops and heading Hillside for a special once-only street food opportunity, Food Truck Feast. Iconic Melbourne food trucks including Happy Camper Pizzas, Mr Burger, Dos Diablos and Jakob’s Kitchen will be joining in on the  party at the new Stonybrook estate in Hillside. For those with a sweet tooth, there will also be ice creams and gelati from Bianco Latte, or try the famous strawberry and chocolate crepes from Rue De Creperie. With sunny days forecast for the weekend, this is the perfect opportunity to escape the city! Visit the website here.

Taste Festival

Taste of Melbourne (+ Win a Double Pass)

Prepare your stomachs. Taste of Melbourne returns to Albert Park this November for four days of foodie heaven. The festival will host over 10 of Melbourne’s latest, greatest and hottest restaurants serving up 50 bite sized dishes all in one unique location. Create your dream tasting menu from restaurants including Gazi, Movida, Supernomal, Royal Mail Hotel, Circa and the Prince. As well as all the delicious food and drinks there’ll also be live entertainment,  new interactive culinary masterclasses and shops from boutique producers. This is one garden party on the Melbourne foodie and social calendar you don’t want to miss. When: 12-15 November Where: Pelican Lawn, Albert ParkAlbert Park, Visit the website here.  WIN 1 OF 5 DOUBLE PASSES TO TASTE OF MELBOURNE. ENTER BELOW Terms and conditions here.  Competition ends midday, 2 November 2015. This competition is now closed.  Exclusive offer for We Know Melbourne readers: 2 x General Entry tickets for $45* (Save $15**). Book general entry tickets through Ticketek and enter FOODIE in the promotional code box to save OR 2 x Platinum Passes …