The Ten Best Things to Do at Melbourne Good Food Month 2014

Good people of Melbourne, you have all of November to explore Melbourne's best restaurants, cafes and bars during Good Food Month. If there was ever a time to embrace your inner foodie, this is it. We really are so spoiled for choice when it comes to great eats and drinks around Melbourne, so a festival that celebrates this fact is nothing short of awesome. From pop-ups to rooftop parties, world-renowned guest chefs and dinners under $30, there is something for everybody (and every budget) in this year's program. Here are a couple of our hot tips for what to do see and eat during next month's festival. Stretchy pants are highly encouraged.

Night Noodle Markets

Round two of perhaps one of the most talked about event from last year's GFM, the Night Noodle Markets is back — bigger and better than before. This year it's moved across the river to Birrarung Marr, but the old favourites from last year will return, including Chin Chin, Mamak, Izakaya Den and Longrain. There will be over 50 food stalls and trucks in action from November 14-30, so you're winning on that front. DJs will be spinning tunes during those balmy spring nights, and for post-dinner treats, get yourself some Messina or a coffee from the St Ali pop-up.

What's on the menu?

Give one of the new kids on the block a go: Kong, Charlie Dumpling and Mr Miyagi are just a few of the exciting new additions to the Night Noodle Markets.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/noodlemarkets

Jump The Queue at Mamasita

A reservation can be a tricky thing to wrangle at Mamasita, and impossible if you're dining with less than seven others. During November, one table per night will be reserved at Mamasita for up to seven guests. Head chef Andrew Logan will create a 5-course Mexican progressive dinner, with influences taken from all over the country. Three of the five courses will be paired with tequila or a tequila-based drink, and the cost is between $120 and $150. We don't know how they pick and choose who gets the reservation spot, but try your luck and call incessantly.

What's on the menu?

Whatever Andrew Logan puts in front of you, and premium tequila is about to become your new best friend.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/jumpthequeue

Cheap and Cheerful Dinner at Boney

GFM is not just about getting good food, it's also about getting a good deal. There are plenty of places doing two- or three-course dinner feeds for under $30 if you're looking to get some bang for your buck. And at Boney, they're offering you a choice between two entrees and two mains, all for the sweet price of $25. Come for a cheap meal, stay for a wicked night out.

What's on the menu?

Entrees options include carrot, cashew and orange steamed bun with seaweed salad and ginger sauce, or chicken kofta with beetroot relish, tahini and yoghurt sauce. For main, choose from a baby snapper burger, feta and spinach dumplings, beetroot and walnut salad or good ol' potato skins.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/gooddinnerunder30

Late Night Fondue Party at Milk The Cow

Calling all night owls — this one's for you. Ain't no party like a fondue party, and this is the best of the bunch. The wonderful folk at Milk The Cow are open until 1am, and the late night deal takes $10 off its usual price. Push back your bedtime for this one. We take no responsibility if you incur cheese hallucinations/nightmares, but we've got a feeling it'll be well worth it.

What's on the menu?

This ultimate fondue features truffle pecorino, Swiss emmental, gruyere L'Etivaz, Remy Martin VSOP cognac and French sparkling Monmousseau Brut Etoile, topped with truffle honey.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/supperclub

Alpaca Head To Tail at Pastuso

Have a taste of the Peruvian Andes with a six-course head-to-tail alpaca feast at newly-opened Pastuso. We don't know about you guys, but alpaca isn't exactly something that commonly slides across our dinner table, so we're excited to give this a go. Pastuso chef Alejandro Saravia will be dishing up the goods for one night only on November 17 as part of the 'World Dinners' series. It's $85 for the all-alpaca feast, and $125 gets you matching wines too.

What's on the menu?

Alpaca dishes you'll be sampling during this evening include slow-roasted neck rillettes, slow-cooked short ribs and braised alpaca shoulder with carrot and cumin puree.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/worlddinners

Go Behind The Scenes at Messina

It's pretty obvious that Messina's popularity with gelato fiends is in no way slowing down, and why would it? Gelato pioneer Simone Panetta will share some of Messina's secrets and recipes with guests, as he goes through some of his wildest creations. If you get the recipe to their salted caramel and white chocolate, we're inviting ourselves over to be your taste testers.

What's on the menu?

You'll go through a full tasting session at the Fitzroy store — so prepare yourself to try a little bit of everything.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/talkandtaste

Harajuku Pop-Up Bar at Sake

Nihon-themed party times are the go at the Sake Melbourne terrace, and during GFM, you'll be able to get a taste of Neo Tokyo just in time for summer. And while dressing like a Shibuyan resident is not specifically required, there's no harm if you're feeling especially inspired. The super kawaii affair is being held for one night only (on November 7) and the $45 ticket price includes three Harajuku cocktails and as much Japanese finger food you can eat.

What's on the menu?

To accompany those cocktails, nibble on izakaya-style skewers, grilled fish, sashimi salad, sushi rolls and deep-fried cheeseburger gyozas. Yes, that's correct: CHEESEBURGER GYOZA.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/popups

Make Friends With Vegetables at The Town Mouse

New kid on the block and one-hatted Carlton venue, The Town Mouse, is going to show you how a vegetarian multicourse meal should be done. Winemakers Patrick Sullivan and Anthony Fikkers have made some lovely drops to accompany the vegetarian feast, and young gun chef Dave Verheul will be using fresh, local produce for his creations. This lunchtime feast will be held for two hours on November 15, and $60 covers your meal and a glass of wine.

What's on the menu?

Vegetarian fare that will want to make you leave meat behind. While this feast is vegetarian, we should mention it's not vegan as some of the courses contain dairy and eggs.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/surprisesaturdaylunch

Iron Chef Action at MoVida Aqui

This is what we call dinner and a show! Frank Camorra is going up against the head chefs of the MoVida kitchens to create five different dishes. On November 10, the crowd will be the judge, and a seat on the panel (read: in MoVida Aqui) will be $135 with wines to match each meal. There's also a Tanqueray cocktail or G&T that comes complimentary on arrival. A bit of friendly rivalry never goes astray, and we're excited to see if someone outwits, outplays or outlasts Camorra.

What's on the menu?

We're expecting high-quality, creative dishes from MoVida's best and brightest, as we have our score cards at the ready. May contain traces of blood, sweat and tears.

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/hatsoff

Flinders Mixer at Saint Crispin

In celebration of springtime, head chef of Saint Crispin, Joe Grbac, is creating a five-course dinner featuring wonderful fresh produce from Flinders Island. To get you into that spring feeling, Alan Mulvihill and the excellent staff of upstairs bar, Thomas Olive, will be creating cocktails that compliment the Flinders Island menu. One such drink we're inclined to try is 'Death in the Afternoon', Ernest Hemingway’s hangover cure, composed of absinthe and champagne.

What's on the menu?

An example of Grbac's menu includes Flinders Island lamb, nettle puree, baby leek, poached radish. Oh dear, we're salivating already…

melbourne.goodfoodmonth.com/drinkanddine

Good Food Month with run for the month of November. For the full program, click here.