Crave Sydney Launches

Australia’s coolest and most cosmopolitan city kicks off its 13th International Food Festival: Crave.

For the entire month of October, foodies will converge on Sydney’s harbor to sample and celebrate some of the world’s best chef’s at the annual Crave Sydney International Food Festival, sponsored by the Sydney Morning Herald and Events NSW. With over 600 culinary experiences to enjoy, the festival began on October 1 with an exclusive appearance at the Sydney Opera House by the world’s number one chef, René Redzepi of Noma in Copenhagan. Redzepi is beginning his worldwide tour to launch his first major cookbook, Noma: Time and Place in Nordic Cuisine.

Other signature events coming up this month that you won’t want to miss if you are in town include the World Chef Showcase, Night Noodle Markets, Let’s do Lunch, Breakfast on the Bridge, The Perfect Picnic and Sydney Harbour Island Hopping. Whatever you fancy, this special food festival offers something for everyone and is a great way to experience the city. Large scale food events; intimate dinners cooked by some of the world’s leading chefs; authentic food experiences in Sydney’s culturally diverse suburbs; family activities on and around Sydney Harbour Bridge and its stunning harbour islands are all part of the line up. Festival director Joanna Savill says: “The number and type of events reflect Sydney’s incredibly diverse food scene. It’s all about enjoying amazing food, family and friends, and there’s no better backdrop than Sydney.”

World Chef Showcase (October 9-10)
Join 40 star chefs and prominent food personalities from Australia, France, Turkey, Lebanon, the US, UK and Asia appearing at the World Chef Showcase in Darling Harbour giving festival goers a chance to spend the weekend with the world’s best chefs, and taste their dishes!

Night Noodle Markets (October 11-15 and 18-22: 5-9:30PM)
Sample authentic Asian hawker-style food stalls, live Asian-inspired entertainment, three bars and the chilled-out Coopers beer garden. This year organizers have added a special new Middle Eastern-themed area in line with the festival’s focus on the food of Lebanon and beyond. This is a great spot to meet up with friends and family on a balmy spring night to soak up Sydney’s multi-cultural atmosphere.

Breakfast on the Bridge (October 10)
Be a part of the world’s greatest picnic when 6,000 lucky NSW residents will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience eating instead of driving on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Picnickers must register. For current information visit www.breakfastonthebridge.com.

Sydney Harbour Island Hopping (October 9-10, 16-17 & 23-24)
Learn more about Sydney’s natural and cultural heritage on this fantastic harbour outing with The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Try a taste of 1830s colonial life on Goat Island and sample traditional bush tucker as part of the Aboriginal cultural experience on Clark Island. Tribal Warriors will perform traditional dancing ceremonies and conduct various customary activities such as trap fishing and stencil painting. Aboriginal Elder Beryl Ven-Oploo (known as Aunty Beryl) and young Aboriginal chef Mathew Cribb will be serving up foods such as emu, roo and crocodile sausages with onion jam and bush tomato sauce. A Bush Tucker High Tea will feature unusual culinary delight like lemon myrtle cheesecake, quandong and custard tartlets, and wattle seed muffins. For more information visit www.harbourislandhopping.com.

The Crave festival program also reflects the current “locavore” food trend with myriad kitchen-garden style events as well as more than two dozen 100 Mile Meals held in different locations around Sydney and regional NSW, each with a menu created from locally-sourced produce. Highlights include The Bathers Pavilion in Balmoral, one of Sydney’s most scenic restaurants overlooking the harbour, which will be showcasing regional food from the Blue Mountains to the Hunter Valley Region in a special Prix Fixe dinner on October 14. For a different perspective, head out of the city to the Cottage Point Inn on the Hawkesbury River or for a more rural experience go to Food and Wine in the Hills of the Hunter Valley. Progressive Dinners, BBQ Madness, Pop Up Dinners, Sugar Hits, Eat Street Sunday and Hats Off Dinners are just a few of the fun events being planned for adventurous foodies. Hands On classes are also available as well as Kids in the Kitchen events. Let’s Do Brunch and Let’s Do Lunch events offer reasonably priced set menus on weekdays, and there are an abundance of food Markets to explore.

Eat Drink Live your way down under in the land of plenty–the Aussie’s have come a long way from the vegemite sandwich! For more information visit www.cravesydney.com.