Wine and Food Pairing

Standing on Bourke Street for close to a century, Florentino has long been part of Melbourne’s dining life. It is a new era at Florentino with the team behind Nomad and Reine & La Rue now at the helm. To quote the website: ‘Long-time guests will recognise the dining room they know; new guests will encounter a restaurant shaped by memory, but firmly grounded in today. The new Florentino Dining Room menus draw on the room’s grand, old-world tradition, with thoughtful refinements made for dining now.’ Sounds good, right? I booked for 6 Fine Diners to enjoy the Menu Essenza at $200 per person for dinner from 6.30pm on Saturday 30 May. You can view the menu here: https://florentino.melbourne/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Florentino-Dining-Room-Menus-17022026.pdf 
Join the waitlist to express interest. Once I have names in the waitlist, I’ll send you a ‘Meetup Message’ to confirm you have a spot and how to pay. You’ll need to send me $100 to secure your place (equivalent to the cancellation fee - this will be deducted from your bill when we settle up). Once paid I’ll move you from the waitlist to going. Please check that you don’t have your settings blocking messages; if I can’t contact you I’ll have to move on to the next person. Also if you don’t respond to my message within 3 days, I’ll let you know that I’m offering the seat to the next person on the waitlist. 
Thanks and I’m looking forward to experiencing this new chapter of Florentino with you!

**A taste of popular Penang Hawker experience right at the center of Melbourne CBD - Lulu's Char Koay Teow with NEW menu curated!** General Ticket: $59/pp Ticket link:[ ](https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofmalaysiapenanghawkerexperienceapril)[https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofmalaysiapenanghawkermay](https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofmalaysiapenanghawkermay) **WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE** Embark on a flavour-packed journey through the vibrant street food culture of Penang. This experience showcases some of the most iconic and beloved Penang hawker dishes — from fragrant noodle bowls to irresistible local desserts — all in one unforgettable evening at one of the most popular Penang hawker food restaurant - Lulu's Char Koay Teow. Hosted by Malaysian founder **Pheh Sze**, this intimate evening offers you a true taste of her hometown Penang, which is famous for its hawker food. Enjoy a variety of popular hawker dishes which includes the trade mark char koay teow noodles in a vibrant setting that transport you right into the street of Penang! Spaces are limited, so gather your foodie friends and don’t miss out on this unique cultural dining experience **WHAT YOU'LL GET** * **Variety of four hawker dishes :** Enjoy a curated of hawker dishes * **A special drink:** Enjoy your meal with one of Malaysia's favourite drink * **Host :** Learn all about Malaysian food culture with fellow host * **Socialise and Dine :** Connect with fellow foodies , share your passion, and make lasting connections Limited tickets are available, so secure yours now for an unforgettable experience! General Ticket: $59/pp Ticket link: [https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofmalaysiapenanghawkermay](https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofmalaysiapenanghawkermay)

**Relaxing dinner with healthy meal in a great environment**

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https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1572681?fbclid=IwdGRjcARVc0dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe62V65GrZv-CpIkQ-JfpxrvS7qKsiSC8nR68UX2NLJM0Vv8K_GpVQYzbL0mg_aem_NzRVjLjyRYkndjRfukpz9Q Tickets must be purchased for entry to this event. An RSVP on Meetup will not gain you entry without a ticket. What is a Saturday night Spectacular? It’s a variety trivia-ish style 3ish hours of team-based fun (and much, much (well, some...) more) on a Saturday night. How good is your general knowledge? Do you know your music? Can you solve puzzles? Want to take part in some team challenges? Up for a singalong? Want some hands on challenges? Then come join a mixed table and see if your team can vie to win the grand prize of $120! Let your hosts take you on a 3 hour journey of fun, laughs and terrible commentary. Come for the fun, stay for the prizes. Presented with thanks to the Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Please support your local venue and partake in dinner and drinks while you play. This is a non refundable event.

**Get ready to taste and make new friends in this sommelier-led event where you can learn about and taste 7 old wines - includes $40 dining credit making your tasting just $5!** THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT: [GET YOUR TICKET HERE](https://oldandrare.eventbrite.com.au) **Your wine night just got a whole lot finer!** \- Includes $40 dining credit \- Small group setting \- Sommelier run Join us for **Old & Rare Wines Tastings** and get ready to make some new friends. Led by qualified Sommelier Antony Anderson (WSET3, WSET4 pending), this evening involves a free tasting of seven back-vintage (old) wines and some wine education, followed by your choice of dinner items and additional drinks from our extensive menus. We'll be gathering at **Life's Too Short Bar**, located in the vibrant **Tribeca Arcade** on **Victoria Parade**, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia, where you can meet like-minded wine lovers and discuss all things wine, food, and common connections and interests. **Your ticket includes a $40 dining credit** towards food and drinks purchased on the evening, making your ticket (almost) free. Reserve your spot now - Then bring your appetite and sense of humour, and join us for a night of conversation, cuisine and, of course, wine! **GETTING THERE:** We recommend you use public transport or rideshare. We are on the 12/109 tram line (stop 16, Wellington St), several Bus Routes (302, 303, 304, 305, 309, 318, 350, 905, 906, 907, 908) or a 5-10 minute walk from Jolimont and North Richmond train stations. If you decide to drive and/or have a designated driver, 2-hour paid parking is available around Powlett Reserve, Darling Square, and the Fitzroy Gardens. Extended paid parking is available at Care Park at 162 Albert Street, East Melbourne or the Epworth Freemasons Car Park in Gotch Lane off Grey Street. **UNABLE TO ATTEND?** Cancellations and Refunds are generally not possible. However, for sudden illness, COVID, or other special circumstances, we may agree to reschedule your session to another night or provide a gift certificate for part or all of your ticket price. Please SMS your request to 0466 045 473\*\*.\*\* **TERMS AND CONDITIONS:** * See the ticket link for further conditions * This is a preferred pre-booked event, but walk-ins may be possible. * RSVPs on Meetup do not constitute a booking. * Minimum spend for F&B following the event is $40 * Minimum Event Sales 2. If the minimum number of seats is not sold, the event may be rescheduled later or cancelled and tickets refunded. * If you have booked a ticket and an event is amended, we will contact you before the event to advise and make new arrangements. * Please note: By Public Health Directives, all attendees must be fully COVID-vaccinated, and proof of vaccination may be required. #meetingpeople #makingfriends #winetasting #blindtasting #winegames #singles #lonely #winelovers #winebuffs #winophiles #melbournewine #winemelbourne #melbournewinetasting #socialwines #makenewfriends #wine #lovers #tasting #event #meetup

Join members of The Empowered Mind for a fun, relaxed, and social day exploring the Good Food & Wine Show together. We'll meet at the main entrance at 10:30 AM before heading inside to explore the show together. Feel free to stay with the group or explore at your own pace throughout the day. What to Expect * Food and beverage tastings * Artisan food producers and gourmet products * Cooking demonstrations and celebrity chefs * Friendly conversation and connection with like-minded people * A relaxed and enjoyable community experience * Meeting Details Meeting Point: Main Entrance Food Show Meeting Time: 10:30 AM Sharp I'll be wearing a green coat so you can easily identify me. We will enter the festival promptly at 10:30 AM. If you arrive after this time, please send me a Meetup message and I'll let you know where the group is located. Important Information * Attendees must purchase their own festival ticket before attending. * Attendees are responsible for arranging their own transport to and from the venue. * The venue is easily accessible by train and tram. * This is a social community event designed for connection, conversation, and enjoying the festival together. * This is not a coaching, counselling, therapy, or hypnosis session. * Please be respectful and courteous to all attendees. * Harassment, discrimination, aggressive behaviour, excessive intoxication, or inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. * Members are welcome to explore independently throughout the day if they wish. * Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend. * Attendees participate at their own discretion and are responsible for their own purchases and personal belongings. * We look forward to sharing a wonderful day of food, connection, and community. Hosted by Charlene The Empowered Mind

We will get-together at the KereKere cafe - at the community table just inside the cafe entrance. *This is a group for people with intermediate and advanced level French who are able to engage in a conversation en français. It is not suitable for beginners.* The cafe is close to the corner of Wellington Parade and Lansdowne St, East Melbourne in the Fitzroy Gardens. It takes about 5 minutes on Tram 75 from Flinders St Station, or 15 minute walk. Car parking around Fitzroy Gardens on Sundays now is $2 per hour with a 4 hour limit, Some parking is limited to 1 hour even on Sunday. And occasionally, if there is a game at the MCG for example there might not be much parking at all. Price: The event fee is $4.00 - cash necessary! . and please be sure you are a member of MyFrenchLife.org before attending reunion - merci https://www.MyFrenchLife.org. The event fees are transferred to MyFrenchLife contributing to the meetup platform - thank you. À bientôt ! Veronica and Daniel Réunion Hosts MyFrenchLife.org

We will meet at the starting point. Then walk towards Docklands to one of the popular coffee places. We will stop for a coffee and finish off at the Southern Cross Station. Dress for outdoor walk. Come along & simply say, "Hi, it's my first time joining the group event." or ask the organiser to introduce you. If you enjoy the conversations, take the initative to invite others to hang out over a bite/ drink after. **\-\-\-** **Coming with a +1 guest** **\-\-\-** You are welcome to come along with a guest to join the walk. Please register a +1 guest at RSVP. **\-\-\- Running Late \-\-\-** If you are running late, please message at least 30 mins in advance. We will wait up to 15 mins before heading off. We won't be able to keep track of messages once we start. **\-\-\- RSVP / Change of Plan \-\-\-** Change of plan or decide not to attend is absolutely okay. Please do update your RSVP to "NO", so others can have the opportunity to attend. **\-\-\- Intro \-\-\-** Kudos 2 Friends is a Melbourne based community created for individuals who are looking to expand their social circle and form long term friendship overtime. Join us on a fun journey as we explore cafes, restaurants and bars, including drinks, meals, outings, hiking, sporting, chilling, etc. Above all, we’d like to celebrate the importance of friendships. So if you are looking to expand your social circle and explore new adventures and venues in Melbourne, come join us! **\-\-\- Heylo App \-\-\-** We use Heylo App for more fluid communication, including ideas, interest groups, questions etc. Please download the Heylo app from the App store and let the organizer know if you would like to be added to the Heylo Group at the event. We will send an invite to attendees to the group. (give us some time) **\-\-\- Rules \-\-\-** Admin will only add members to the group with a clear profile picture. (No hidden behind sunglasses, masks, drawings) **You might be removed from the group in the case of…** * no show * without a clear profile picture * anti-social behaviour (i.e. acts rude / disrespectful regularly) * take advantage of individuals for personal gain(s) **\-\-\- Privacy \-\-\-** Do not disclose your contact number in this post comment. We will delete your comment/info as soon as we see it to protect your privacy.

This is "***New Members Night***." If you are one of the many folks on the fence about coming to your first wine tasting with the *Hilliard Wine Club*, this is the night to come. There will be many other new people, so you won't be alone. And the regulars will be there to help make you feel welcome. We're a relaxed and warm group. We hope to see you. **SIDE NOTE:** New members are welcome to ALL our Friday night wine tastings, but this night is a special overture to those who don't want to feel that they are the only new person in the room. Don't worry. You won't be. And don't hesitate to RSVP to other events. **OLD MEMBERS NOTE**: Hey Old Members! You're not excluded from this event. We expect to see you there to help make the new members feel welcome. **Sample 4 different wines** this Friday for $15 (*Cash or Venmo only please*). Glasses are provided. Bring a snack to share. Bring a bottle to share if you care to. See all the details below for the Hilliard Wine Club Wine Tasting. In Person. In Real Life. Actual Wine from glass bottles with corks and everything. **Wine**: Tastings will be $15 for four samples as always. And you are welcome to bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share with others. Participation in the wine tastings is optional. But since you’re going, I will buy enough wine to cover you. If you bring your own wine and do not participate in the tasting you will only pay $10 to cover the door charge. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **Extra Wine**: After everyone has had their samples, we remove the pouring spouts and any remaining wine is poured freely to whomever wants it. I hate having leftover wine. **Queen of Hearts**: The Queen of Hearts raffle is a fundraiser for the club and a Barnum and Bailey type extravaganza - minus the dancing ponies, clowns, and actual circus. Bring your ***cash*** as the Queen does not accept American Express or other plastic. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

**Self-Proclaimed Trivia Master, Paul, has all the questions AND answers**: All YOU have to do is bring the answers. Easy? Let's find out in the next rendition of Trivia Night. Let's warm up with the question that I like to ask to establish your knowledge of current events and IQ. Don't be shy. Shout this one out. What happened in April in America that had not happened since 1972 ? (warm up questions answer is posted at the bottom) Okay, not bad. I heard that. RSVP and form up into teams of up to 4 people when you show up. Compete for prizes so large we had to park them at the airport. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and Dead Last (that one's more of a remedial learning aid, but it will be fun. I promise). **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! (ps - empty the glasses into the sink, not the trash ... please) **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host* **Answer**: *That's right!* / We sent a rocketship with live astronauts to the moon for a quick lap around our only natural satellite. They didn't land. And they never got out of the capsule... for 10 days! Been there. Done that! (It's like they're replaying all the greatest hits from my childhood.)

**Local Cantina -** We'll shut down wine club at 8 pm this evening and take a short walk to our neighborhood Tex-Mex eatery - Local Cantina. Join us after wine club for a snack or meal. Please RSVP early AND Please let me know in the comments if you plan to join us after at the diner so I can have accurate numbers for the reservations. **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

**On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! (ps - empty the glasses into the sink, not the trash ... please) **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

Who’s up for a pizza night at the highly requested Pizza House? 🍕🍻 Join us at for great pizza, good laughs, and even better company! Come hungry and ready for a cheesy good time.