Get Ready for a Foodie Love-In With Ben Shewry and the Team From Attica

It's no surprise that foodies make very deliberate lifestyle choices. They want to learn and care about every aspect of their meal. They advocate for organic produce and healthy eating. Even TV chefs like Jamie Oliver are always tending to a sprawling herb garden and reassuringly tousling the hair of pudgy middle-school kids. But Ben Shewry and his team at Attica, Australia's best restaurant, are about to take this well-meaning philosophising to the extreme.

Launching in just over a month, Shewry and co. have created a two-day 'anti-festival' designed to "inspire, energise and help people in the food community and beyond". From October 2–6, What a Wonderful World (WAW, the other W is silent?) will see some of the world's most influential chefs descend on Melbourne for a series of free public forums and a $500 a plate charity lunch that will make your mouth water in pre-emptive jealousy.

Featuring LA-based Korean taco king Roy Choi, Parisian legend Inaki Aizpitarte, Bangkok's Bo Songvisava, London's Margot Henderson and San Francisco's Daniel Patterson, WAW is set to be a who's who of contemporary global cuisine. And, whether you know any of those names or not, it's a big get for the Melbourne foodie scene. Even if you don't have $500 to splash around at their no-doubt stunning charity lunch, it's going to be well worth heading along to see them talk.

The free talks will take place on Saturday, October 4 and will feature an even broader array of talent from home and abroad. Non-chef types include Lucky Peach editor Chris Ying, enviro-pioneer Joost Baker and comedian Tom Gleeson. From 10am–5pm, 20 speakers will get on their soapbox at Spink St Warehouse in Brighton. The entire day will be free of charge although you will have to book a seat via the WAW website.

Of course, if you do have the money to splurge, the charity lunch is a must. Hosted at Rippon Lea Estate, the feast will be prepared by a team of 30 famous chefs and all proceeds raised will go towards youth charity Helping Hoops.

Shewry hopes the event will be a source of inspiration for both those in the industry and those with a simple passion for food. "[It's] a celebration of being alive," he told Good Food. "A reminder of the value of life, of the power of staying open, and the courage it takes to not only stand by your own convictions but remain open to those of others."

Sure, the cause may sound a little huge and overwhelming, but it's certainly noble all the same. A touch more gourmet than the tired cry of peace, love and brown rice.

For more information on the event head to the WAW website. Both the talks on October 4 and the lunch on October 5 are not yet available to book. Keep an eye on their website or Facebook page for release dates. Be warned: tickets will go fast.

Via Good Food and Gourmet Traveller.