08-27-2008, 06:25 PM
Attendance figures for Taste of Melbourne exceeded all expectations as Victorians 16,639 food and wine lovers attended the event at the Royal Exhibition Buildings. 13 of Melbourne’s highest rated restaurants plated up their famous signature dishes to a discerning audience of salivating, gourmet palates.
Event Director, James Cregeen commented “We are overjoyed that Taste of Melbourne has been embraced so wholeheartedly by Victorians. Numbers were well above our expectation which signifies the interest in food and wine and the desire by the public to visit these amazing restaurants. This enormously successful international event launch suggests Melbourne really is a top food capital of the world. Planning for Taste of Melbourne 2009 is already underway.â€
Highlights of the show included The Emirates Lounge – a first-class retreat for VIP guests to sample their dishes in comfort while listening to beautiful music by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s string quartet; The Chandon Bar was a spectacular centerpiece in the venue serving 3000 glasses of Chandon over the event; The Saab Saffron Lounge was an exclusive invitation-only enclosure highlighted by splashes of yellow saffron matching perfectly with the Saab saffron convertible.
“Taste of Melbourne was a very well run show and proved to be extremely popular amongst Melbourne’s foodies.†Guy Grossi, Grossi Florentino
After the closing session on Sunday, chefs and their brigades were toasting their success at the event and looking forward to some well earned R&R.
Taste Event Statistics
• 45,000 Dishes sold by Taste of Melbourne’s 13 participating restaurants
• 3,000 Botanical Waygu Burgers sold, 900 serves of Kingfish, 600 Rabbit Terrines
• 4,000 Lamb Souvlaki - The Press Club
• 200 kg Wagyu Beef – Circa, the Prince
• 1440 Free Range Eggs – Interlude
• Longrain - 250 kg chicken, 110kg Crystal Bay Prawns, 45 kg curry paste; Longrain cocktails - 20 cases limes, 20kg Passion fruit pulp, 7 cases Lychees
SAAB Taste Award
George Calombaris of The Press Club was thrilled with the response from guests who voted his Lamb Souvlaki the most popular dish at the event. The Press Club sold 4,000 portions of spicy lamb, Dijon mustard, shoestring chips encased in warm pitta bread. To commemorate the win George Calombaris was presented with a beautiful engraved Georg Jenson platter. In addition, competition entrant Louise Culreavy wins two tickets to the exclusive Saab Birdcage enclosure on Oaks Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
"I would like to say thank you to Saab and the Taste organizers for an exciting event. As a Saab Ambassador, it is an honour to receive the Saab Taste Award for the most popular dish of the show." George Calombaris, The Press Club
:plate:
Event Director, James Cregeen commented “We are overjoyed that Taste of Melbourne has been embraced so wholeheartedly by Victorians. Numbers were well above our expectation which signifies the interest in food and wine and the desire by the public to visit these amazing restaurants. This enormously successful international event launch suggests Melbourne really is a top food capital of the world. Planning for Taste of Melbourne 2009 is already underway.â€
Highlights of the show included The Emirates Lounge – a first-class retreat for VIP guests to sample their dishes in comfort while listening to beautiful music by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s string quartet; The Chandon Bar was a spectacular centerpiece in the venue serving 3000 glasses of Chandon over the event; The Saab Saffron Lounge was an exclusive invitation-only enclosure highlighted by splashes of yellow saffron matching perfectly with the Saab saffron convertible.
“Taste of Melbourne was a very well run show and proved to be extremely popular amongst Melbourne’s foodies.†Guy Grossi, Grossi Florentino
After the closing session on Sunday, chefs and their brigades were toasting their success at the event and looking forward to some well earned R&R.
Taste Event Statistics
• 45,000 Dishes sold by Taste of Melbourne’s 13 participating restaurants
• 3,000 Botanical Waygu Burgers sold, 900 serves of Kingfish, 600 Rabbit Terrines
• 4,000 Lamb Souvlaki - The Press Club
• 200 kg Wagyu Beef – Circa, the Prince
• 1440 Free Range Eggs – Interlude
• Longrain - 250 kg chicken, 110kg Crystal Bay Prawns, 45 kg curry paste; Longrain cocktails - 20 cases limes, 20kg Passion fruit pulp, 7 cases Lychees
SAAB Taste Award
George Calombaris of The Press Club was thrilled with the response from guests who voted his Lamb Souvlaki the most popular dish at the event. The Press Club sold 4,000 portions of spicy lamb, Dijon mustard, shoestring chips encased in warm pitta bread. To commemorate the win George Calombaris was presented with a beautiful engraved Georg Jenson platter. In addition, competition entrant Louise Culreavy wins two tickets to the exclusive Saab Birdcage enclosure on Oaks Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
"I would like to say thank you to Saab and the Taste organizers for an exciting event. As a Saab Ambassador, it is an honour to receive the Saab Taste Award for the most popular dish of the show." George Calombaris, The Press Club
:plate: