Welcome
Welcome to the Sydney International Food Festival website
The very first Sydney International Food Festival has drawn to a close and food lovers across town (and beyond) are resting their tastebuds, just a little! With well over 400 different events across the month of October, most of which sold out, it’s been a busy foodie time.
There have been so many highlights. The opening weekend (October 3), despite leaden skies and bucketing rain, saw thousands flock to the Sydney Morning Herald Growers’ Market to peruse the food stalls and watch a baker’s dozen of top Sydney chefs, plus a couple of imports, produce their take on Nose-to-Tail cooking. Two marvellous rare breed pigs (Wessex Saddlebacks for those who know these things) turned for hours on a couple of spits, supervised by Fergus and Margot Henderson from St John restaurant in London, while the locals served up everything from house-made baked beans and bacon to pig’s ear schnitzel, pig’s head terrine and green eggs and ham (that was Sean Connolly, from Astral!).
The World Chef Showcase (October 10 – 11) was extraordinary, bringing together around 40 local and international chefs, cooks and food experts, to cook, talk, taste and debate in front of a super-keen food crowd. There were so many star turns you’ll need to read more. Check www.siff.com.au/showcase for details and soon, video excerpts as well.
The third weekend was all about community. Haberfield, Ashfield, Summer Hill and Bankstown are just a few of the food “villages” that put on a show for visitors, with food stalls, tasting plates, live entertainment and… huge crowds! These new Food Festival events offered an insight into food cultures as diverse as Sudanese, Afghan, Vietnamese, Burmese and Sri Lankan.
Children were treated to customised Week of Tastes menus at a number of top Sydney restaurants. “I found out many foods I liked which I usually would not have tried,” year 7 student Izzy told us proudly. Keen home cooks learned about everything from cheese-making to knife-sharpening. We toured the Sydney Fish Market, listened to Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini discuss the future of food at Sydney Opera House, sipped the Cocktail of the Month, Did Lunch, Did Brunch, did Hats Off, 100 Mile meals in regional New South Wales, High Tea and much much more.
It was such good fun we might just do it again. In October 2010. Stay tuned! You’ll get the news first via Foodie News, Twitter and our Facebook page.
Featured Highlights
On the Balcony at Bondi
Support local and regional produce as the country comes to the city.
Platters created using produce within 100 miles of home and matched to regional wines will be prepared and presented by TAFE students from Orange, Mudgee, Cowra, Dubbo, Bathurst and Lithgow. This is the finale FOR TAFE Western’s involvement in Sydney International Food Festival. more info >
On the Balcony at Bondi
Support local and regional produce as the country comes to the city.
Platters created using produce within 100 miles of home and matched to regional wines will be prepared and presented by TAFE students from Orange, Mudgee, Cowra, Dubbo, Bathurst and Lithgow. This is the finale FOR TAFE Western’s involvement in Sydney International Food Festival. more info >
Sydney Food and Wine Fair
The Sydney Food and Wine Fair, will be offering Sydneysiders a taste of heaven in Hyde Park North.
Now in its 19th year, the fair is the final event of the first Sydney International Food Festival and the signature fundraising event for the AIDS Trust of Australia. more info >
Eats B4 Riverbeats
A new and exciting addition to the hugely successful annual Riverbeats event.
An influential line up of local and celebrity chefs, restaurateurs and foodies will converge on Church Street to taste, talk, watch, learn, dine, and indulge. more info >
The 100-year, 100-mile dinner
Canberra's food region celebrates its centenary this year with a 100-year, 100-mile dinner.
A century ago, NSW transferred territory for a national capital "not closer than 100 miles" south of Sydney as Australia’s Constitution stated. In glorious gastronomic coincidence, that constitutional provision placed the national capital at the centre of one of Australia’s most diverse food-producing regions. more info >
