Vivid Sydney 2022 includes first ever luxury foodie dinner

After three years of lights out, Vivid Sydney is going where it has never gone before, offering an extravagant food experience for culinary enthusiasts.

It’s the pearl in the oyster for Vivid Sydney. For the first time one of the world’s biggest festivals will include a food element.

After a three-year hiatus, Vivid Sydney is back and the best of the festival will be encompassed in a one of dinner, prepared by Merivale’s Executive Chefs Dan Hong and Mike Eggert, in the Ivy Ballroom on June 4.

It was Festival Director Gill Minervini’s vision to include a food element in the 23 day long calendar.

“My background is doing a lot of food events. My brother is a chef, my father was a publican so I’m not straying that far,” she said.

“Food, light, ideas, music. It’s a natural marriage.” Sydney has such amazing food and I don’t think we represent it that well in the event space, so I thought Vivid Sydney was a perfect match.”

The Sydney Opera House during Vivid Sydney. Picture: Supplied

As to who should host the inaugural event, Minervini said Merivale was her first port of call. “They are the best in the world and they are really happy to take risks and try new things.”

Executive Chefs Dan Hong and Mike Eggert with Vivid Festival Director Gill Minervini. Picture: David Swift

Hong, of Mr Wong and MuMu fame, has combine forces with Eggert, from Tottis, to design a menu that showcases the best of NSW produce, with an Asian twist, and a heavy influence on seafood.

While so many of their producers have been devastated by floods, Eggert said he’s backing them to get back on their feet in time for the dinner.

“[Supply] is not great. There is such wide devastation but we want to support our producers,” he said.

The Vivid Sydney Dinner will be accompanied by a fully immersive, 360, light show.

Mr Hong, Mr Eggert and Ms Minervini with fresh seafood which will be served at the dinner. Picture: David Swift

Actor and musician Justine Clarke will host the event, which will include performances by Virginia Gay and jazz aficionado James Morrison and DJ Kate Monroe.

“Before the pandemic, Mr Wong was hugely affected in a great way by Vivid because it brought tourists to the restaurant. To be finally be involved in the event and bring people back to the city and relaunch Vivid is awesome,” said Hong.

Minervini is hoping that the dinner will be the start of more Vivid food activations in the years to come.

“It’s been three years since Vivid has been on. For the whole of the city, this event feels like literally the light at the end of the tunnel.

“It’s a reset for the city and to have this event as part of it is a game changer. ”