British sound artist Matthew Herbert will be cooking up some tunes in Melbourne this month.

British sound artist Matthew Herbert will be cooking up some tunes in Melbourne this month. Photo: Supplied



Events


Pig for thought


Melbourne chef Jesse Gerner (The Aylesbury) teams up with British DJ and electronic artist Matthew Herbert for a unique event at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday April 13. Herbert will perform his controversial performance piece One Pig, which has attracted protest from animal-rights activists overseas. Gerner meanwhile will lend his culinary skills to the mix; think music and the sound of frying pork. Make up your own mind. It's all part of the Metropolis New Music Festival.


Details: April 13, 8pm, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank. See metropolisfestival.com.au for more details.


Yarra Valley Food & Wine Festival


Highlighted by three major dinners around the Yarra Valley, the food and wine festival is set to showcase the region's fine food and wine. Don't miss the main event; the Garden Party - taking place on Sunday April 14 at Healesville Racecourse - will include tastings, demonstrations and live entertainment.


Details: April 11 – 14, various venues around the Yarra Valley, Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Healesville, Victoria. For more information visit their website.


Pop-up night at The Merri


Celebrate autumn's harvest with round two of POP-UP at The Merri at Brunswick's CERES environment park. French pastry chef Younes Khazour teams up with Nick Boyle (sous chef, Rockpool) and Ashley Harvey (former sous chef at Bella Vedere) to create a dinner-time feast. Tickets are on sale now.


Details: April 12, $75, your tickets here.


Heathcote Unearthed.


Look forward to a Sunday afternoon of fine food and wine tasting at Pei Modern. Eat a stunning four-course menu accompanied with Heathcote wines as you taste your way around one of Victoria's best wine regions.


Details: April 14, from 12 Noon, $135, Pei Modern, Collins Place, 45 Collins Street Melbourne, Bookings are essential on 9654 8545 or visit their website.


Picnic


Pack a picnic rug and head to Elsternwick for another Harvest 'n' Graze festival event. Take advantage of the food, beer and wine stalls on offer and laze the day away whilst enjoying some great Australian music.


Details: April 14, Rippon Lea Estate, 192 Hotham street, Elsternwick, Victoria 3185, 9528 5045, for more information visit their website.


Help hospitality stars of the future


HEAT hospitality students are putting their skills to the test. Guests can enjoy a two or three-course cafe lunch and help students gain practical work experience.


Details: April 18, $20 (2 course) or $25 (3 course), SKYS Learning Centre


62-74 Pickles St, South Melbourne, for more information visit their website.


Classes


Sourdough bread baking workshop


Master the basics of bread at the Boonderoo Organic Farm Micro Bakery in Cheshunt. This hands-on workshop takes you through from the milling process and finishes with baking your own loaves in a wood-fired brick oven.


Details: April 6 - 7, Boonderoo Organic Farm, 922 Upper Rose River Rd, Cheshunt, Victoria, 5729 8441, for more information visit their website.


Cooking for kids


To coincide with the success of Liz Long's first cookbook, The Junior Gourmet, classes will be held to teach your little chef some skills in the kitchen. Cuisines include Mexican, Thai and Indian.


Luscious Affairs, Shop 9, Toorak Village, Toorak Road.


Details: April 8 – 10, please call 9827 7199 for all inquiries and bookings. Classes $99 (three hours).


Preserving masterclass


Forget store-bought jams and make your own instead. This hands-on workshop will show you the basics of pickling and preserving your own jams and conserves. Using seasonal produce the recipes for the day include spiced plum jam, Moroccan chilli jam, Kimchi and more.


Details: April 13, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Community Kitchen, CERES Environment Park, Cnr Roberts and Stewart St, Brunswick, for more information visit their website.


Growing fruit


Cool weather means the time to plant fruit trees is nigh. The folk at Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens in Harcourt, central Victoria, want to help you perfect the art of fruit-growing and will be holding a series of half-day workshops from now until the end of June. Topics include building healthy soil, pest and disease control and pruning. City-dwellers, don't despair; classes will be held at the Collingwood Children's Farm, as well as in Harcourt.


Details: April 18 – end of June, $44 (group discounts apply), for more information see www.mafg.com.au


For the diary


High Country Harvest


Get down-to-earth with top chefs, producers, winemakers and craft brewers for a ten-day celebration of the North East's autumn flavours. Events include foraging for mushrooms, cycling tours, and a bee-keeping workshop.


Details: May 17 – 26, for more information visit their website.