From possum bao to squid on a stick: The ultimate must-try dishes at Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast
The feast has begun! If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of the dishes that are not to be missed.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The flames are lit and the tables are set for Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast, where food, fire and performance collide in a nightly celebration of the strange, the spectacular, and the delicious.
With more than 70 stallholders on site the biggest challenge is deciding what to eat first.
Here are just a few of the standout offerings lighting up the halls at PW1.
Niyati Rao and Stillwater’s cross-cultural fusion:
Launceston’s Stillwater has teamed up with Mumbai based chef Niyati Rao to bring a taste of India to Tasmania. The festival’s guest chefs are plating up Marmoris, featuring Tasmanian sea urchin, pickled beetroot and broth flavoured with ancient spices. Also on the menu is a chargrilled wallaby wing glazed with gochujang, served alongside cavolo nero and garlic oil.
Thi Le and Fat Pig Farm’s elevated take on classic street food:
Melbourne chef Thi Le joins forces with Fat Pig Farm for a street food favourite reimagined. Their banh khot – crisp turmeric rice cakes topped with pork or octopus, salted coconut and spring onion, is one of the most flavour-packed bites of the festival.
South’s surprising Bao:
South is offering one of the boldest dishes of the Feast in the Brushtail Possum Bao. The charcoal bun is filled with ten-hour slow-cooked possum, pickles and chilli-spiked mayo.
Formosa Bites squid on a stick:
Formosa Bites’ beloved Squidlipop, Tasmanian squid grilled over charcoal with satay sauce and sesame seeds, return as a feast favourite.
Analiese Gregory’s love letter to the Tassie sea:
Returning to the fires of the Feast, acclaimed chef Analiese Gregory serves Three Friends Baby Abalone, a combination of West Coast abalone, shiitake mushrooms and black garlic in an ode to the wild beauty of Tasmania’s shores.
Pizzirani’s Cucina homemade pasta:
From the pasta pans of Pizzirani’s Cucina comes Umami Butter Lobster Pasta, with Tasmanian lobster and saltbush.
Kiltro’s dark classic:
Over at Kiltro, open fire and seafood meet again in the Dark Paella, loaded with squid ink, scallops and paprika.
Canopy Ice Cream’s loaded sundaes:
Canopy Ice Cream offers a showstopping dessert: coconut sourdough crumpet topped with dark chocolate ice cream, raspberry sauce and almond crumble.
Nectar Eater’s suspiciously vegan treats:
For a plant-based treat, Nectar Eater delivers gooey S’mores and warm choc chip cookies that could fool even the most die hard vegan sceptic.
Tasmaniac’s bubbly tipple:
Tasmaniac Distillers whimsical Bubble Gun cocktail, a spritz of strawberry apero, prosecco and soda topped with an actual bubble.
The Winter Feast continues nightly until 11pm, building to the final free community day on June 15.
Admission tickets start at $10, with entry free after 9pm.
Dark Mofo event highlights
Crash Body – Paula Garcia
June 7
A world-first live performance where two cars crash head-on in a brutal, choreographed collision at the Regatta Grounds. The wreckage becomes a haunting sculpture on display for the rest of the festival.
Night Mass: God Complex
June 6, 7, 13, 14
A sprawling, late-night labyrinth of sound, light, and strange encounters across Hobart’s CBD. Some parts are ticketed, but many public elements are free, but the location is undisclosed.
Ogoh-Ogoh Burning
June 15
A towering Maugean skate filled with written fears is paraded through the streets before being set alight in a public ritual of release.
Nude Solstice Swim
June 21, 7.42am
Thousands plunge into the icy Derwent River at Long Beach to welcome the return of light after the longest night. Registration required, but the experience is open to all.
Live Music
June 5–15
Catch sets from Beth Gibbons, Tierra Whack, The Horrors and more. Ticketed concerts alongside free outdoor and pop-up shows across Hobart and Mona.
Coffin Rides (Free)
Climb into a closed coffin and lie in the dark. A short, personal meditation on mortality — eerie, quiet, and oddly peaceful.
Public Art & Installations (Free)
Roam the city to discover large-scale installations, including Quasi the surreal hand-face sculpture by Ronnie van Hout.
More Coverage
Originally published as From possum bao to squid on a stick: The ultimate must-try dishes at Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast
‘Devastated’: Grim details emerge of young tourists deaths
Police have revealed details of the tragic accident in which two young interstate tourists were killed. The details.
‘It could be the best thing since MONA’: Dean Winter on Mac Point Stadium
Opposition Leader Dean Winter has opened up on his preference between the government’s $945m Macquarie Point Stadium and the radical Macquarie Point 2.0 alternative. Here’s what he said.
Liberal and Labor in election campaign mode
The date for an early election has not been set, but already the major parties are getting ready for an early election – the second in 15 months. How MPs began their campaigns.
Business, mining heads mount pressure on Premier to resign
‘He’s put his heart and soul into trying to get it right, but … for the state, we would be better off with a new leader.” Business and mining bodies are the latest to join calls for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to step down. Why they say it’s the best option.
A thousand without power in Launceston area
TasNetworks are currently dealing with a power outage across the Launceston area and surrounding suburbs, with hundreds of homes still without power. Also, a child has died following a May pedestrian crash. The latest.
Government rules out privatisation
The state government has abandoned plans to privatise state-owned assets, blaming a Labor “scare campaign” against the idea. Where the government plans to recoup funds for the state deficit.