Sydney Eat Street: Autumn 2024 in New South Wales is set to be a culinary carnival
As the cooler months start to set in across New South Wales, the Autumn Food Festival is just starting to heat up. Here is a list of the must-do foodie events you can’t miss in 2024
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New South Wales is a melting crockpot of many different great cultures. Tour the best 2024 food Autumn Food Festivals with Sydney Eat Street.
Narooma Oyster Festival
An aphrodisiac and a hangover cure with muscle-building protein, no wonder the mighty mollusc inspires celebrations worldwide, including the popular Narooma Oyster Festival. Held over two days (May 3-4, 2024), Festival Chair Cath Peachey said the event serves as an opportunity to indulge in oysters sourced from various South Coast estuaries and taste the subtle differences based on their respective region.
“The Narooma Oyster Festival has grown to be southern NSW’s biggest food and wine event, showcasing a spectacular diversity of oyster and seafood experiences, including cooking demonstrations from hatted and celebrated chefs, like Corey Costelloe (ex-Rockpool) and Hao Chen (Raku) along with award-winning and emerging producers plus some lively shucking and biggest oyster competitions,” she said.
New to the festival is Rock Oyster Week (May 7-17, 2024), featuring a wide array of activities and experiences such as river tours, lectures, and farm gate excursions. Peachey notes that the extended program” offers visitors even more opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of both the rock oyster and the wonderful community and environment that it grows in”. (General admission is $25 per adult; admission for kids under 16 is free).
Quota Park, 19 Riverside Dr, Narooma; naroomaoysterfestival.com.au
Capers Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival
Once a sleepy coastal town known for its stunning beaches and laid-back lifestyle, Byron Bay has morphed into a hub of trendy shops, premium real estate, and a haunt for Hollywood celebrities. But the launch of Caper Byron Bay Food and Culture Festival and North Byron Hotel, has found a way to embrace the area’s creative talent and celebrate the local producers of this tight-knit community. Caper’s Creative Director Abbie Gibson said: “Caper is about celebrating the unwavering resilience and connection to community Byron Bay has through food, music, the arts and wellness”.
Award-winning chef Louis Tikaram, Caper’s food curator, has assembled a line-up of events featuring renowned chefs and restaurants. He says, “A massive part of Caper is to inspire chefs in the area, especially the younger chefs not working in the big cities. We want these young chefs to be proud of the restaurants they’re working in and strive for greatness. And the amazing producers and farmers are such an important part of Caper, not just to support smaller producers but also to expose them nationally and internationally”. To check out the stellar line-up, visit caperbyronbay.com. (May 17-26, 2024).
Pyrmont Festival
Mark your calendar as the Pyrmont Festival is back and bigger than ever declared the festival director Alex Gibbs.
Now in its 12th year, this free, family-friendly affair will host more than 20 wineries, breweries, and distilleries (for the big kids), as well as an array of food trucks and artisan producers – not to mention a stellar view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
“Over the years, the Pyrmont Festival has blossomed into a cornerstone of Sydney’s culinary scene, mirroring the vibrant evolution of Pyrmont itself,” Gibbs said.
“What began as a local celebration has expanded into a not-to-be-missed food and wine event. This year, we’re excited to introduce an even more diverse gastronomic journey.”
Highlights include our very own freshly shucked oyster bar by Cheeky Naked Oysters and the coveted blow-torched cheesy scallops, baby octopuses skewers, and more from the famous Aburi Bar”.
There’ll also be entertainment with live music, art installations and face-painting. The festival is May 18-19, 2024 from 10am-5pm, with an extended calendar of events May 1-30, 2024).
Pirrama Park, Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont; pyrmontfestival.com.au
Shoalhaven Autumn Celebration of Food
For a culinary adventure not to be missed, head south to Shoalhaven for the annual Autumn Celebration of Food. Rather than a mere weekend of events, the Shoalhaven Food Network brings visitors six weeks of activations featuring renowned chefs, cheese makers, baristas, pâtissiers, brewers, winemakers, distillers, bakers, growers, and artisan producers.
A highlight of the series is the Fire and Feast lunch at Wildwood Kangaroo Valley (May 18-19, 2024). Using ingredients sourced from local farmers, including meats from Rosewood KV, and Terra Firma Dining, will prepare the entire menu over an open flame. While adults linger over lunch, children can partake in the Bush Kids program. and
“Now in its third year, the Shoalhaven Food Network’s Autumn Celebration of Food promotes a connection between our hospitality businesses and the wider community - both locals and visitors to our region,” said Team Leader for Kangaroo Valley Brenda Sambrook. “From the mountains to the sea, we showcase our affinity for the land we grow, farm, and work and the produce derived from there. Locals know our secret: the best of the best is grown, produced, and created here in our Shoalhaven, and this Autumn, we again invite all to Join our Tables.” (May 1-June 10, 2024). Shoalhavenfoodnetwork.com.au
Filipino Food Month
While taking a tour of Sydney suburbs in search of a melting pot of cultural cuisines, Anna Manlulo noticed that Filipino food was under-represented, so to promote her native cuisine, she founded the Filipino Food Movement Australia. “We are thrilled to celebrate Filipino food in Sydney by creating different events and supporting Filipino-Australian chefs and businesses,” Manlulo said. “Our advocacy is really to share our cuisine with the wider community”.
Whether you’re a fan of Filipino food or curious to try such dishes as whole roasted pig, fried salted fish, or an array of rice and curries, be sure to check out the foodie events held throughout April as part of Filipino Food Month. From cooking demonstrations at Paddy’s Market to a full-on feast at the Tramsheds in Forest Lodge, you’re bound to fall for this culturally rich cuisine. For full line-up, visit filipinofoodmovementaustralia.org.
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