After two Covid-impacted years, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (MFWF) is going big for its 30th anniversary – with a truly international line-up.

Inimitable food personality Nigella Lawson is headlining the 2022 festival, which will run for two weeks from March 25 to April 9. You’ll be able to join the English TV presenter and food writer for a long Sunday lunch – and a Q&A hosted by Matt Preston – on March 27.

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be joining the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival in March – the 30th birthday of a great festival in a great food city deserves a great celebration,” Lawson said in a statement. “And that’s exactly what the festival will be.”

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Other big-name international guests include American comedian, director and musician Eric Wareheim (of weird and wacky comedy duo Tim & Eric), who’s hosting an event called Foodheim at Hope St Radio; Isaac McHale, chef and owner of London’s Michelin-starred Clove Club, who’s bringing his expertise to Cutler & Co; and Sichuan food expert Fuchsia Dunlop, an English writer and cook, who’s headed for Spice Temple. Plus, Embla is playing host to Dave Pynt, the chef-patron of Singapore’s acclaimed Burnt Ends.

Returning this year is signature event the World’s Longest Lunch – it’ll be headed up by Attica’s Ben Shewry – as well as the World’s Longest Brunch, which will have a Middle Eastern theme courtesy of Maha’s Shane Delia, Rumi’s Joseph Abboud and Babajan’s Kirsty Chiaplias.

You can also get all-you-can-eat hot chips at Maximum Chips, or there’s family-friendly pasta party The Big Spaghetti featuring Tipo 00, Al Dente and more. Welcome to the Jungle is an entirely plant-based soiree curated by Shannon Martinez, and at the Snacktown precinct you’ll find some of Melbourne’s best snacks under one roof (including A1 Bakery’s haloumi pie, plus boreks, dumplings, cannoli and roti).

According to MFWF creative director Pat Nourse, “Outside, inside, big or small, meat-based or plant-centric, top-dollar or free, wild, family-friendly or both, this festival has a food and drink adventure for you.”

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival runs from March 25 to April 9. Pre-sale tickets are now on sale for MFWF subscribers; general-release tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday February 17.

melbournefoodandwine.com.au