Eat, drink and be merry in Melbourne

The southern Hemisphere's largest food and wine festival is about to kick off in Melbourne, with 350,000 people expected to sip, nibble, quaff and chomp their way through thousands of local culinary delights and beverages.

More than 120 events will be held in and around Melbourne and 22 centres throughout Victoria, between March 16 and April 4.

They include a chocolate festival, a restaurant week, the world's longest lunch, with a table set for 1000 people, a tour of the city's lanes and alleys to find the hottest and coolest bars, and epicurean master classes taken by international chefs, winemakers, culinary experts, writers and commentators.

For more information visit the festival's website, or contact Margaret Spiro at Tourism Victoria, ph (00613) 379 0425, fax (00613) 379 4361.