This year's Festival theme, "Medley of Asian Cuisine" starts with a "race" to all the vast variety of events, restaurants and cuisine.There will also be a spectacular array of delectable delights and morsels, with our popular "Mr. Roti Man" back on the scene, slapping away the ever-popular savoury and sweet breads. This marks the commencement of an extensive program of Asian culinary events across Melbourne. The event will be launched with a toast from Banks Road Vineyard wine and Beerlao.

Roy Moorfield, international wine consultant, will guide your palette through a journey with Banks Road Vineyard wines from Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, where the subtleties of fish, pork, prawns, etc. are married with a Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Shiraz and all these becomes a fine contrast for the tang of Spicy Chicken Patties to start the evening.

This event is organized and brought to you by the Chinese Restaurateurs Association of Victoria, bringing together some of the signature dishes of its Restaurateur Members and also served with Beerlao. Also supported by Orient Express Travel Group; funds raised will assist in developing of a Chinese Cultural Resource Box - a teaching aid that will be available to schools all around Australia.

These cooking classes will encompass a complimentary drink and canapés at the start of the evening, followed by culinary talk tour of Asian cuisine, recipes, "goody bags" and hands on cooking for 2 groups. You will learn to cook an entrée and two main courses.

A Black Tie Asian-fusion Dinner with viewing of a Zen painter currently showing at the NGV. Dinner includes music programs of world premiere pieces written by Julian Yu and Chopin specialist concert pianist playing Chopin Nocturnes.

Hosted by the International Chinese Arts Festival, an auction will raise money and proceeds go to the Elderly Chinese Home in Melbourne.

By popular demand, the Asian Food Festival Floating Yum Cha is on again. Join us for lunch on a cruise and discover the best of what Melbourne has to offer while gently meandering your way through this river city. Relax and sip on tea while enjoying those delectable Yum Cha pastries.

Want to travel around Melbourne city without the parking hassles or worry about the alcohol limit? Then relax on one of our iconic Yarra Trams "ding dinging" away, bringing you to your meals. Meet at Red Spice Road Restaurant, get warmed up with a hot steaming bowl of soup, followed by an array of modern Asian mix of entrées.

Then be "chauffeured driven" in a Yarra Tram to the heart of the city as it is onto Tomodachi - tuck into a traditional Japanese bento box main meal. Presented in the signature 5-compartment box featuring your choice of main dish - Chicken, Beef or Salmon Teriyaki - each bento box includes a generous selection of sushi, dumplings, salad and seasonal fruits. Follow it up with a Green Tea and Black Sesame ice cream dessert and you have a mouth-watering evening of savoury Asian cuisine! Includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. What a way to experience "eating-on-the- run". Accompanied by Banks Road Vineyard wines. Certainly a night to be "chauffeured driven" - why not take the Yarra Trams?

Fancy a wild romantic evening in a softly-lit restaurant under a gilded rose ceiling
and an amazing chandelier while listening to Live Jazz? Chillipadi on Chapel offers
all that and more. Situated in the heart of Melbourne’s night life along Chapel street,
come in and kick off your shoes and sink into our leather couches and enjoy healthy
steamy yum cha dim sum and select from our wide range of cocktails and drinks list
… and the musos take you to a wonderful world. A truly unique experience.

Served with fine Palandri Wines.

What better way to keep you warm than with some mouth-watering spicy and hot
curry dishes. Join us for a cruise and discover the best of what Melbourne has
to offer, gently meandering your way through this river city, whilst you dine on an
aromatic array of curries!

Can't decide what food to have? Can't decide what to drink? Can't decide where to go? At a crossroad?? Let us take you to this newly open Malaysian restaurant, where you will enjoy and be warmed up, firstly with a steaming hot bowl of Soto Ayam, a lemongrass and galangal infused coconut chicken soup, followed by an entrée platter which consist of 3 of Laksa Me's signature dishes. Then it is off to our "neighbouring" country, or the next block down the road!, to a Thai restaurant where you will be served with a very aromatic meal of Thai cuisine, followed by a collection of dessert. Served with Banks Road Vineyard wine and Beerlao.

Warm up from winter's chill by tucking into a steaming traditional Asian Hot Pot Dinner! Select tasty prepared morsels, place them in the cooking pot in the middle of your table, cook, dip and enjoy. Hot, fresh and tender. Ladle up and sip on the broth for the full culinary experience. Guaranteed to warm the body and spirit! Accompanied with a complimentary glass of Banks Road Vineyard wine or Beerlao.

Thai food is popular all over the world and particular use of spices create unique taste that will guarantee to satisfy the discerning palate. For this year's Asian Food Festival, we will be offering a buffet spread of dishes that have freshness, piquancy & spontaneity of flavours. The buffet meal is served on a river boat, while cruising down the Yarra so guests can enjoy slow change in river views and share a relaxing meal of aromatic array of modern Thai buffet with friends and/or family accompanied with good-natured conversation.

Chinese Yum Cha traditions have adapted freely and changed fluidly with time and Chillipadi on Chapel invites you to sample their Modern Pan Asian Yum Cha Buffet with Live Jazz music. There is plenty of interest from the great spread, from highstreet crowd pleasers to more esoteric offerings. Start with xo baby octopus, Thai chicken patties, drunken chicken martini, suai gow with jasmine infused soup and work your way through to the ubiquitous har gow with ginger dressing, siew mai with caramelised onions, and super light char siew bow.

Sit back and relax and honestly where else but Melbourne can you enjoy Yum Cha with live jazz music!

Join us for a cruise and discover the best of what Melbourne has to offer, gently
meandering your way through this river city, whilst you dine on a multi-cultural menu,
from Chinese to Malaysian to Thailand to India – a real medley of Asian cuisine.

A progressive dinner evening of Asian inspired delights at Melbourne Central, first stop at Tomodachi, for a Japanese winter warmer soup and then famous for its sushi, select your choice of sushi entrees.

Then down to Melbourne Central's ground floor to Chillipadi where the dishes pan across Asia from India to South East Asia then up to China and Japan. The dishes combine Asian ingredients with local produce using modern techniques and western design template in the presentations.

Red Spice Road, in conjunction with Beerlao and the Asian Food Festival will be holding their "Walk The Red Spice Road in Laos" on this night. Acclaimed chef John McLeay will be sourcing some unique Laotian recipes and be preparing a three course meal with a complimentary Beer from Beerlao.

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to visit Red Spice Road and enjoy the wonders of our take on Modern Laotian food.

Another good way to keep yourself warm with some mouth-watering and aromatic dishes - join us for a cruise and discover the best of what Melbourne has to offer, gently meandering your way through this river city, whilst you dine on an aromatic array of Chinese cuisine!

The Royal Selangor Asian Food Festival Awards of "Happy Smiling Chefs" will be announced and presented to the Chefs and Restaurateurs at this special dinner which will be the grand culmination of the Festival with a "Yum Seng" toast from Banks Road Vineyard and Beerlao.