By Paul Pickering
Festival for foodies
MOUNT Dandenong restaurant Wild Oak has been chosen to represent the hills in this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
It will be the first time that the festival has followed its nose up the mountain.
Based on a recommendation from The Age’s Good Food Guide, Wild Oak was selected to take part in the Restaurant Express luncheons series.
Restaurant owner and chef Ben Higgs said: “It’s an awesome opportunity for Wild Oak to strut our stuff to the Melbourne food community.”
Mr Higgs is confident that flatlanders will be suitably impressed by the hills fare.
“We tend to get overshadowed by the Yarra Valley because of the marketing presence of the wineries,” he said.
“We’re hoping to show people that the Dandenongs are not just scones, jam and cream anymore.”
Wild Oak’s specially designed menu for the luncheons will focus on localised produce, including boutique wines such as Elmswood Estate and Hoddles Creek Estate.
“I think we’re sitting on one of the best kept secrets in the culinary world up here,” he said.
The Wild Oak luncheons will be held from 16-30 March at a cost of $30 per person.
This includes a two-course meal, a glass of wine and coffee or tea.
Bookings can be made on 9751 2033.
