News

Australia’s benchmark for excellence across beer, wine, spirits and food, Melbourne Royal Food & Beverage Awards, is inviting Australia’s leading food producers to benchmark their products against the nation’s best, with entries now open for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards (AFA) alongside several major category additions and returns for 2026.

‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry — and what better way to do it than with Melbourne Royal’s award-winning flavours? We’ve curated our favourite 2025 Food & Beverage Award winners to help you craft a Christmas feast worth celebrating.

Bentleigh’s own craft butchery and smokehouse, The Lucky Pig, has taken out top honours at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards (MRAFA), earning national recognition for its dedication to traditional butchery, small-batch production and uncompromising quality.

Rustica Antipasto is a family-run business in the Yarra Valley bringing authentic Italian antipasto to Australian tables. Founded just two years ago by mother-and-son duo Connie and Ernesto Lando, the business began around the family table, with Connie sharing her homemade antipasto with friends and family.

The festive season is the perfect excuse to elevate your entertaining game, and Melbourne Royal is here to help! We’ve rounded up the crème de la crème of our 2024 Food & Beverage Award winners to make your Christmas spread truly unforgettable.