Lona Misa x Gracias Madre

Overview

What happens when two legendary vegan restaurants from different sides of the Pacific Ocean get together? Find out at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. South Yarra's beloved Mexican restaurant Lona Misa is joining forces with West Hollywood Latin hotspot Gracias Madre for eight excellent nights.

You'll have a choice of two tantalising tasting menus; five courses at $85 or seven at $105. Either way, you'll be feasting only on non-GMO, all-organic produce. Look out for madre ceviche with lime and Aleppo pepper, crunchy coconut calamari with salsa roja and hibiscus chilli flautas topped with pumpkin-seed parmesan, and charcoal-grilled lion's mane steak with chimichurri.

Either way, on arrival you'll be met with one of Gracias Madre's signature Palomas (a bold, bright concoction of Volcan De Mi Tierra Tequila Blanco, house-made grapefruit soda, butterfly pea flower, lime and salt), before taking your pick of the bespoke, largely-tequila-inspired cocktail list. Or you can opt for a pint (or two!) of the Balter Cerveza, a Mexican-style lager brewed here at home.

This epic event is bound to be one of the highlights of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which means tickets will probably sell out at lightning speed. Do rush in.