Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s Snacktown coming to Queen Victoria Market
A ginormous sandwich packed with 13 types of deli meat will be among the snacks for the taking at this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine festival.
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Our city’s famous lipsmacking snacks will be yours for the taking at Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s new event.
Loosen the belt and set the GPS for Snacktown at Queen Victoria Market this weekend – a destination for our city’s favourite snacks under one roof.
Brunswick’s A1 Bakery will sell its classic halloumi pie, alongside a raft of other eats from Shandong Mama, West Footscray’s Migrant Coffee, Mabu Mabu and Oriental Tea House.
A1 Bakery’s Haikal Raji always knew his family’s Lebanese cheese pie was delicious, but didn’t think it would garner a cult following.
“We started the business 30 years ago and the pie has been on the menu ever since we opened, but in the last 10 years it’s been our top seller,” he said.
“It’s just delicious and when you eat it you’ll understand – the way the cheese and pastry combines, it’s unbelievable.”
Raji said the pastry was key to the pie’s success.
“(The pie) is filled with straight, shredded halloumi. The good thing about the cheese pie is the pastry, though,” he said.
Raji’s two brothers, Daniel and Anthony, will be on deck at the A1 market stall.
“We’re just trying to work out the (pie) numbers now, we want to come prepared,” he said. “On a busy weekend at the shop, we will sell over 500 to 600 pies.”
SNACKS FOR DAYS
Try these five delicious bites at Snacktown
1. A1 Bakery’s halloumi cheese pie
2. Burger Shurger’s vada pav burger and butter chicken loaded fries
3. Migrant Coffee’s pastrami mami bagel
4. Oriental Teahouse’s white chocolate dumplings with coconut praline
5. The Original Maltese Pastizzi Co’s ricotta-filled pastizzi
MONSTER SANGER
Ever dreamt of eating every deli meat at Queen Victoria Market in one giant sandwich?
The heaving Convenient Motherlode packs 13 different meats in between slices of bread and is one of the many tasty treats to try at a reimagined 7-Eleven store, which will pop up at the market as part of the two-week festival.
Think booze-spiked Slurpees, a sushi train, 7-Eleven’s famous coffee, Falco Bakery’s Neenish tarts, Gomi Boys Ramen’s noodle cups and prawn cocktail chips by Chappy’s and Yarra Valley Caviar.
7-Eleven’s head of food Emma Metcalf-King said the store was nothing like we’d seen before.
“We continue to challenge and improve the product we put into our stores because we know consumer preferences are changing,” she said.
“Melburnians are big on their food, so what better way to disrupt consumer perceptions on what a convenience store can offer than with the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. This is a 7-Eleven, but not as you know it today.”
For the first time, festivalgoers can taste the new hot deli sandwiches coming soon to selected 7-Eleven stores, packed with either beef brisket, falafel or tuna and cheese.
All sangers will be served with a side of Tom Sarafian’s hummus and Chappy’s dill pickle chips.
The Convenient Store, March 25 to April 3, Queen Victoria Market, open daily from 8am to 7pm. mfwf.com.au
COOK ALONG
Up your kitchen game and learn how to make a family recipe close to Sicilian chef Joseph Vargetto’s heart as part of The Big Spaghetti festivities at the Queen Victoria Market.
The Mister Bianco executive chef will share his family scaccia recipe (that’s Sicilian pasties) during a 30-minute demo, hosted on the main stage by Herald Sun food and wine editor Kara Monssen.
Held over two days, the pasta party shows off 20 great Italian dishes from our favourite restaurants including Agostino, AlDente, Lagotto, Marameo, Sydney’s Paski, Pastore, That’s Amore and Tipo 00.
The free event is held in the E Shed and Queen St at Queen Victoria Market on the second weekend of the festival. Food and drink available at pop-up stalls between 11am-8pm on
Saturday, April 2 and 11am and 5pm on Sunday, April 3.
FESTIVAL FAVOURITES
While many big-ticket events have sold out, there are plenty more to sink your teeth into.
Join vegan queen Shannon Martinez for a wild celebration of plant-based eating and drinking at Welcome to the Jungle. Expect cruelty-free eats from Rice Paper Scissors, Rumi, Warung Agus, Smith and Daughters and Fancy Hanks.
The following weekend, charge your glasses at Victoria’s new drinks party New Crush. Quench your thirst across five beverage stations – wine, beer, cider, spirits and non-alch –
showcasing the best of Victorian-made sips. Chat to producers, learn a thing or two in Sip School or drop into a variety-specific wine bar.
Welcome to the Jungle, 6pm-10pm, April 1, Queen Victoria Market, $80pp.
New Crush, 12pm-4pm, 5pm-9pm, April 9, Queen Victoria Market, $40pp.
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