Artist Janet Laurence’s exhibition at the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park: (Langwarrin, Vic): ‘The Alchemical Garden of Desire’ was the setting and inspiration for an exquisite pop-up dining experience themed around native Australian plants.

A project of the Australian Future Foods Lab, the Native Botanicals Dinner offered a full day adventure and sensory experience, offering a unique perspective on the potential for native foods to be a future food solution.

3pm: Australia Garden Tour: John Arnott, Head horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Australia Garden, Cranbourne fled guests on a tour of their edible garden.

5pm: Artist Talk: Janet Laurence spoke about her exhibition at McClelland Gallery and her inspiration for the events.

5.30pm: Elixir Bar: Enjoy botanical potions from the bar by Sebastien Reaburn, Australian cocktail maker of the year.

7pm: Native Botanicals Dinner: A five course degustation menu designed by Chef Douglas McMasters (byJoost) featured familiar and wholly unexplored plants. Also featuring performer Will Tait, as the ghost of botanist past and the microscopic projections of art-science collective, Scale Free Network.