After 14 years in London, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants took the awards show on the road for the first time this year. The global tour kicked off at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City but as of next April, the food industry’s night of nights is heading Down Under.

The world’s best chefs and restaurateurs will converge at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building on 5 April, 2017 over seven action-packed days.

Partnering with Tourism Australia, the Victorian capital was chosen for its world-famous food, wine and coffee culture, partly fueled by decades of migration into the state.

“Our produce is second to none, our talent is pioneering, and our natural landscapes and urban centres provide the backdrop to outstanding culinary experiences – from eat streets and coffee houses to stunning vineyards and regional dining,” Pete Bingeman, CEO of Visit Victoria said.

Etihad Airways and the newly opened QT Hotel Melbourne have also been confirmed as partners for the event.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is independently determined by a panel of food writers, critics, chefs and highly regarded ‘gastronomes’. Earlier this year saw Massimo Bottura’s intimate Modena restaurant, Osteria Francescana, take out the top spot. It was inventive dishes like “five stages of Parmigiano Reggiano,” and “eel swimming up the Po river,” that helped Bottura secure the win.

Locally, Melbourne’s Attica won best restaurant in Australasia, down one spot to 32^nd place from 2015’s 33^rd, while Victoria’s Brae made an impressive jump from 87^th to 65^th place. Peter Gilmore’s Quay in Sydney squeezed in at 98^th place, down from 58^th position.

Visit www.theworlds50best.com for more.