Home » Top Destinations In Europe » Six Unmissable Food Events To Experience In Australia, The United States And Beyond This Summer, Here Is All You Need To Know

Thursday, July 17, 2025

There are plenty of enticing reasons to travel, but food festivals and culinary events are some of the most delicious, and more than give you an opportunity to taste the local cuisine: they’re a chance to engage with other cultures, meet famous chefs, and make unforgettable memories in the process. From eccentric cruises to fire-fueled feasts, here are some of the food events around the world in the coming months we absolutely can’t wait to check out, and that just might leave you pining for a bite.

Epicurious: A Culinary Journey with a Former White House Chef

To those who enjoy dining on truly world-class cuisine at sea, we offer you some of the finest (and rarest) gourmand options available as you cruise the Baltic Sea. Through a partnership with the elite Club des Chefs des Chefs, the line enlists retired White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and other leading toques to serve as guest chefs on Le Commandant Charcot for a menu inspired by meals that were once served to heads of state. As the ship negotiates the ice-choked waters of the Baltic Sea, passengers will sample a slice of history in dishes served at official dinners at the White House and the Elysee Palace. It’s this extra special experience which offers not just great food, but also a peek behind the scenes of the kitchens which have served world leaders. This cruise has something to impress even the pickiest of people and is perfect for foodies or luxury travelers looking for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.

Fire Festival in the Orange Region: A Celebration of Tastes and Flames

And for all the foodies, the Orange Region of Australia is all set to light their fire this August with a Fire Festival. This popular annual festival is branching out with an emphasis on fire-powered food, wine, and cider experiences. The festival starts on 1 August with the Millthorpe Fire Fair and continues with one-of-a-kind happenings throughout the month. Highlights include the Ember Feast at Hillside Harvest on August 3 featuring slow-roasted pork and fire-cooked dishes to have your mouth watering. Other events include A Winter Wassail at Small Acres Cider (August 2) and Food Over Fire, by Nashdale Lane Wines x Union Bank dinner – August 9. The occasions are an opportunity for guests to experience a vibrant celebration of food, fire and community among the region’s breathtaking vineyards and orchards.

Ballarat Pie Days: A Tasty Tour of Cobblers of Victoria pies

Victoria’s Central Highlands at Ballarat are set to become a pie lover’s heaven this August. As the city’s best establishments vie for the title of Ballarat’s Best Pie, this annual celebration is a cause to go on a pie pilgrimage. The festival finale will be held on August 2 at the Pie Awards, when 36 entries, featuring both old school and quirky pies, will be judged. Presented by celebrated chef Julia Busuttil Nishimura, the event boasts inventive pies, such as the Filipino-style Lechon Paksiw Pie, with pork crackling crumble and covered in banana leaf. A pie-loving foodie’s dream, visitors can forge their own pie trail between Ballarat’s best bakeries making this an absolute must for any lover of the regular Aussie meat pie. From winter warmers to reinventions of an old favourite, there is a pie for every palate across Ballarat.

Fire with Chef Lennox Hastie at Hayman Island-Fine Dining meets Fire

For a one-of-a-kind culinary experience, visit Hayman Island in Australia’s Whitsundays, where a fire-powered feast by celebrated chef Lennox Hastie awaits. A five-course Balvenie x Firedoor Feast at $249 per person on July 17 will meld Hastie’s signature style with the best whisky pairings. This special one-night event is to take place under the stars and invites guests to enjoy incredible fire-inspired food. The event is part of the hotel’s current culinary series at InterContinental Hayman Island, 75 years in the making. For foodies angling for a lifetime meal, this is an event combining fire, flavour and an unforgettable setting.

Michelin-Star Masterclass at Taste of Port Douglas

The Taste of Port Douglas festival in Queensland which runs for four days bringing culinary wonders to the table and this year’s masterclass series will blow your taste buds! On August 10, Marguerite Singapore’s chef behind the one-Michelin-starred restaurant, Michael Wilson, will present an intimate masterclass showcasing the sophisticated culinary techniques that landed him the Michelin star. The $155 per person session is a chance to learn from one of the world’s best chefs, plus a glass of Pol Roger Brut Reserve Non-Vintage. The masterclass is one such activity amid a week of celebrating food, culture and epicurean flair that is the Taste of Port Douglas which attracts food aficionados.

A Revolutionary Bar Experience With APT’s Hydraulic Wine Bar

Travellers sailing in Europe with APT will experience a first for the world with the introduction of the world’s first hydraulic bar on its Solara and Ostara river cruises. That being said, the best part about this place has got to be the Gruner Bar & Dining, offering panoramic views and mind-blowing vino, specifically all your gruner veltliner needs. The passenger platform is raised vertically by a hydraulic lift so that you can take in a new view of the beautiful riversides of Europe. The APT hydraulic bar raises the bar on cruise dining; transporting guests to a dynamic and upward environment from which to relish fine food and drink whilst savouring the panoramic eye candy of Europe’s most picturesque rivers.

Conclusion: There’s Pleasure at Every Turn

From cruise ships serving meals once enjoyed by world leaders to fiery feasts served up in the vineyards of Australia, the culinary events that are going on in the coming months promise to be a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Whether it’s sitting in on a Michelin-starred masterclass, eating inventive pies in Ballarat, or the views from a hydraulic bar on a European river cruise, there are no shortage of chances to sample the best of what food and travel offer. Such experiences have become more and more common as travelers seek to move beyond the standard restaurant meal and instead explore local flavours, pick up some cooking skills from top-notch chefs, and take it all in in a unique dining environment. Great for food enthusiasts and thrill-seekers too, these food events are a chance to eat, drink, and be merry into the heart of the new year.