Sydney Is Getting a New Food Festival Dedicated to Italian Nonnas

Every Italian will tell you that no one cooks like their nonna — and to prove that claim true, Sydney's best Italian chefs and their grandmothers are teaming up for a brand new two-week festival of Italian deliciousness.

Running from November 17–27, the Festival of Nonna will be a celebration of the traditional matriarchs of the Boot, with a whole fortnight filled with dinners, drinks and workshops at Redfern's 107 Projects. Preented by Sandhurst Fine Foods, it will show off the modern interpretation of Italian food coupled with the tried-and-tested traditions that make the cuisine so damn good.

Sydney chef and restaurateur Andrew Cibej (of 121BC, Berta and Vini fame) will be teaming up with his mum to host a pop-up trattoria on the rooftop of 107 Projects. Together they'll host eight meals over the two weeks, where they'll showcase Andrew's skills that have fed hungry Sydneysiders for years, and pay homage to the humble roots of his craft.

"Nonna taught me everything I know about the importance of fresh and simple ingredients," Cibej says."But I always show her a thing or two about throwing new flavours or techniques into the mix."

For those keen to cook like nonna does, chefs — including two Luca Ciano of Milan's two Michelin-starred Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, Massimo Mele of the Woollahra's now-closed La Scala on Jersey, and MasterChef's Sara Oteri — will have their own grandmothers in tow to deliver hands-on demonstrations that show off the tradition and the techniques of crafting the perfect Italian meal.

Tickets for the workshops are $30 a pop, while tickets for the pop-up dinners are $50 and include five courses with paired wines and a sweet party bag. Many of them are already booked out — so hop to it.

The Festival of Nonna will run from November 17-27 at 107 Projects, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern. For more info, visit festivalofnonna.com.