But it’s done so much more than just bring in international big wigs to pull the crowds. This annual feast of culinary deliciousness (others know it as MFWF) has helped shape, celebrate and congratulate Melbourne’s enthusiastic palates and those who feed them. For that, we salute you.

On the eve of the festival launch, instead of going highfalutin (there’ll be time enough for that) I’m going back to basics. Back to ramen, that wonderful bowl of stock and noodles that soothes the soul and cures all ills.

It was the first thing I ate in Japan soon after landing in Osaka at 9am. Ordinarily you might hunt out a croissant and coffee but no, we stumbled across an open-air vendor serving sensational noodles in a rich pork bone broth topped with chilli, sesame seeds, pork slices and seaweed. I never looked back. Had the saying “you are what you eat” been true, I would have returned home as a bowl of ramen.

Kokoro Ramen in Lonsdale Street is the latest ramen house in Melbourne to fly the flag of authenticity. The noodles are handmade in-house and melt in the mouth. The stock is rich, albeit a little too salty at times, and the toppings are generous. Thick slices of pork and chunks of tofu are winners. It’s all wrapped up in a rambling open space with exposed bulb lighting and simplistic decor.

I’m not sure if MFWF is heavy on noodles this year, but if they’re not, Kokoro Ramen have it covered.