That's Amore Cheese Ricotta Festival

Overview

If you're partial to stuffed cannoli or some gnocchi of the ricotta variety we've got the festival for you. That's Amore Cheese Ricotta Festival is returning in March for its fourth year, bringing ricotta-filled delights back to Thomastown.

For just one day on Sunday March 17, the Thomastown lot will be flooded with cheese-slinging food stalls and a handful of bars, plus the team will host some prestigious Melbourne chefs as they demonstrate ways to cook with ricotta.

As per last year, That's Amore Cheese will be serving its famed gnocchi sorrentina and porchetta rolls, and will be handing out free servings of hot ricotta. That's Amore will be joined by 12 other food stalls — Little Naples Pizzeria will have the woodfire oven pumping throughout the day, U'fuculari will be serving up Sicilian-style barbecue eats, and Abruzzo Lab will cook up its Abruzzese arrosticini (lamb skewers).

For sweets, get around Sicilian doughnuts, gelato and milkshakes from a few other local vendors.

It wouldn't be a cheese event without an appearance from wine, and booze definitely gets a look-in Ricotta Festival. Vino Bambino Lambretta will sling wines and spritzes, Imbue Distillery will be making cocktails from some of its own locally-made spirits, and Stomping Ground will have the beers sorted.

For the first time, there will also be a demonstration and masterclass stage where Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino, Cellar Bar, Ombra Salumi Bar) and his son Carlo will show visitors how to make fresh orecchiette with zucchini and ricotta. Other masterclasses include Andrea Cozzolino (a two-time World Pizza Champion) sharing pizza-making secrets, and Darren Purchese (judge on The Great Australian Bake Off) will be baking a ricotta, almond and plum cake with yoghurt.

Italo-disco tunes courtesy of DJ Stefano Marciano will feature throughout the day with a few live acts gracing the stage.

The Ricotta Festival will be a huge day celebrating Melbourne's obsession with one of the most versatile cheeses out there.

Early bird tickets are available for just $10 until Saturday, February 10, before general admission tickets go for $15 a pop. It's free entry for kids under 12.