Western Sydney's annual Parklands Food Fest is back for its ninth year this spring. Usually, you'd head to Western Sydney Parklands for food stalls and cooking, but now it's bringing the festivities to you on Saturday, September 5. Yep, it may be different but not even a global pandemic is enough to stop this epic event.
So, what's in store? The festival is going virtual for 2020 and, while it may not be the big bonanza you've come to know, it's sure making up for it in talent. None other than top Aussie chef Matt Moran, known for his love of local, fresh produce and his mini-empire of paddock-to-plate restaurants, will be teaching you all the tricks of the trade via Facebook Live. Best of all, it's free. There'll be two 40-minute sessions, at 11am and 1pm, which you can stream on the day.
In the first session, you'll be learning how to make some of the renowned cook's favourite dishes. You can also purchase a produce box ($55–90) from one of the parkland's 12 urban farms for your cook-along session, or to recreate at a later date — just sign up to the event for details. For the 1pm session, Moran is teaming up with OzHarvest's Executive Chef Travis Harvey for an insightful masterclass on food waste, before demonstrating how to cook a tasty meal from food scraps. If you'd like to support the charity, you can make a donation over here.
Parklands Food Fest 2020 is going digital, with two live-stream sessions at 11am and 1pm on Saturday, September 5. To sign up, head here — then order yourself a seasonal produce box, available both prior and after the event for delivery across Sydney metro.
