World Rice Festival

Overview

The World Rice Festival is headed to Sydney from December 1–2 to celebrate the diversity of this global food staple. Rice-heavy dishes are found all over the world, from the Philippines and Thailand to India and Spain — and you'll get to taste it all under one roof here, alongside cooking demonstrations, live music and cultural performances.

Expect around 20 vendors in all — think Japanese taco bowls (with umami mince, renkon crisps and rice crackers) from the Ume brand, fried ice cream (including a sticky rice ice cream sandwich) by Duo Duo and Filipino rice burgers by Mate Burger, plus pop-up stalls by Crows Nest's HaNa Ju-Rin, The Rocks' Shiki Japanese and Redfern's Donut Papi.

Each stall will serve a special rice dish for the occasion, along with other signature menu items. The cherry on top is a rice dessert cooking demo by MasterChef's Hoda Kobeissi.

To drink, Sydney Sake Society will be serving up three different types of sake (and free tastings) as well as ice-cold Orion draft beer. If you're looking to learn a bit more about the Japanese rice wine — and learn the difference between junmai-shu and ginjo-shu — head to a sake masterclass.

The festival is set outdoors in the Entertainment Quarter's Showring and entry is free.

Word Rice Festival is open from 12–5pm on both days.