Overview
Hope you're feeling hungry, because Taste of Sydney is back. One of the biggest, tastiest gastronomic events in town, this four-day foodie festival, which starts cooking on Thursday, March 9, will once again welcome some of the biggest names in Sydney's restaurant scene to cook up their signature dishes in Centennial Park.
This year they've broken up their selection of restaurants into the precincts they reside. Representing Paddington (where everything seems to have opened this past year) will be two of Sydney's newer restaurants: Tequila Mockingbird and Saint Peter (which we named as one of our favourite new restaurants of last year). Respective chefs — Regan Porteous and Josh Niland — will make their Taste debut alongside Guillaume Brahimi, who'll be representing Paddo pub The Four in Hand.
Tequila Mockingbird is planning Latin American signature dishes like ceviche tacos and goat shoulder empanadas, The Four in Hand will serve up French bistro classics, including Guillaume's marinated Berimigui octopus, while Saint Peter champions its favourite, Australian seafood, like sweet and sour Mooloolabah albacore with malt sourdough crisps.
The CBD will be brought to Centennial by Bouche on Bridge and — another of our favourite restaurants of 2016 — Mercado, while vermouth bar Banksii and Turkish eatery Anason will rep Barangaroo. If you've been in previous years, you'll have sampled dishes from Porteño, Kensington Street Social and nel. — these guys will all be returning with new noms for 2017.
Anason will be dishing up white cod roe taramasalata with finger lime and crispy simit, while Banksii enlivens Mediterranean dishes like pork sausage, vermouth plum jam and fennel salad — alongside their very own pop-up vermouth bar. Taste favourites Porteño will bring their signature Argentinean nosh to the table including those famous fried brussel sprouts. Kensington Street Social will wheel out their hotdog creation The Social Dog, while Nelly Robinson is finishing things up with his own dessert bar, Nel's Sweet Shop — featuring his version of a wagon wheel made of raspberry, yuzu and milk chocolate.
When you're not busy stuffing your face (but let's be honest, that's why you're there), you can also try your hand at cooking school, learn some skills alongside one of the aforementioned chefs in a masterclass, or up your wine knowledge with an expert from The Wine Society.
Tickets cost $25, which will get you entry to the festival and access to some workshops and free tastings. You'll have to purchase food separately, but it's still a pretty good way to try some of Sydney's fanciest food without committing to a whole meal (and hefty bill).
TASTE OF SYDNEY 2017 LINEUP
Saint Peter
Banksii
Mercado
Long Chim
Bouche on Bridge
Tequila Mockingbird
Porteño
nel.
Anason
Kensington Street Social
Gastro Park
Taste of Sydney will return to Centennial Park on March 9–12. For more info and to buy tickets, visit sydney.tastefestivals.com.
By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.