World’s Longest Lunch 2025

Get ready, Australia: we’re going international in 2025. World’s Longest Lunch, presented by La Trobe Financial, is bringing Melbourne’s favourite culinary son back from his adopted home city to headline this year’s Festival opener. That’s right, friends, live and direct from Los Angeles, it’s the one and only… Curtis Stone!

Few people can claim to have done as much to bring that very Australian mix of relaxed vibes, smart ideas, and a dedication to great produce to the world as Curtis. Born in Melbourne, he found his passion for cooking watching his grandmother in the kitchen. He sharpened his skills working for the legendary Marco Pierre White in London, where he ended up heading the brigade at Quo Vadis in Soho. His appearances on British TV led to work on screen in the US and in the ground-breaking Surfing the Menu back home in Australia, and from there the sky has been the limit. Since then, Curtis has become a New York Times best-selling author, won a Michelin star for his cooking at his LA restaurant, Maude, and continues to be one of our greatest global ambassadors for Australia and Australian cooking.

Now, he’s heading back home to headline Australia’s favourite food festival and its signature event. More than three decades on from its humble beginnings on the turf at the MCG in 1993, the World’s Longest Lunch now kicks off the Festival each year with food from a celebrated chef served across more than 600 metres of table winding through Melbourne’s superb Kings Domain, in a spectacular dining experience that must be seen to be believed.

“I'm so excited to be back in Melbourne for the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival,” says Curtis. “We’re going to be celebrating at the World's Longest Lunch and I can't wait to see you there.” 

Every ticket for the 2025 World’s Longest Lunch, presented by La Trobe Financial, includes a three-course lunch designed by Curtis Stone and prepared by MFWF’s new official catering partner, Curtis Stone Events, and served by staff dressed to the nines by our apparel partner, Worktones, with wines by Tahbilk, beer by Bridge Road Brewers, still and sparkling waters from Capi, and coffee from Melbourne’s own ST. ALi. With thanks to our beauty brand partner, Mecca Cosmetica, every guest receives a 50ml bottle of SPF50+ sun serum.

This year we’re dialling up the Lunch adventure even further with some excellent new features. Our friends from Regent Seven Seas Cruises invite everyone coming to the event to join them for a cocktail at the Regent Lounge they're creating at Kings Domain for the day, and to indulge in "exquisite culinary experiences that reflect Regent's commitment to luxury, Epicurean Perfection, and personalised service aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet exploring over 550 global destinations". (That's a big yes from us.)

It’s World’s Longest Lunch taken to the next level – and you’re invited.