The 2024 Winter Feast features 75 stalls including 25 newcomers at Princes Wharf No. 1

‘It’s eating something delicious while being mildly scared’. Find out what Winter Feast guest chef Vaughan Mabee was talking about, plus all the details of this year’s Feast.

City of Hobart Winter Feast, food curator Amanda Vallis. Picture: Chris Kidd

Winter Feast guest chef Vaughan Mabee’s description of a dessert on offer this year could be used to sum up the whole vibe of Hobart’s favourite winter event.

“(It’s) eating something delicious while being mildly scared,” he said.

Mr Mabee was referring to an antler-shaped ice cream made of deer milk with “blood” sauce derived from beetroot.

The ice cream is just one of hundreds that will be on offer when the Feast opens its doors tonight.

This year’s event features 75 stalls including 25 newcomers from across Tasmania.

A world-renowned New Zealand chef, Mr Mabee, who is executive chef of three-hatted eatery Amisfield near Queenstown, will team up with Mona’s executive chef Vince Trim to stoke the outdoor fires of the Heavy Metal Kitchen.

The sight of whole animals cooking over coals is a signature attraction of the Winter Feast.

Visitors to this year’s Heavy Metal Kitchen will not only enjoy this primal dining experience, they will also be helping to address Tasmania’s feral deer problem.

Mr Trim said a new cooking set-up this year would allow them to hang six whole deer and 10 wallaby at once.

“We can work all the way around, it’s a 360 degree barbecue,” he said.

City of Hobart Winter Feast, Vaughan Mabee of Amisfield restaurant (New Zealand) and Vince Trim of Heavy Metal Kitchen. Picture: Chris Kidd

This year there are 60 undercover seats adjacent to the Heavy Metal Kitchen in addition to plenty of open air seating around the fires on the lawns.

Mr Mabee said he was drawn to the Winter Feast because the event aligned with his own cooking ethos.

“This is kind of how I started cooking, growing up in a hunting family, we cook a lot of whole animals,” he said.

Winter Feast food curator Amanda Vallis said there would be plenty of new offerings this year in addition to old favourites such as squid pops, apple pies and s’mores.

“It’s about trying to establish that really important balance between new stallholders, so giving new operators a chance to show what they offer, but also making sure we’re bringing back those favourites,” she said.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds welcomed the continuation of the feast, which has become a central part of the city’s winter economy.

City of Hobart Winter Feast, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds. Picture: Chris Kidd

Hobart City Council and the state government have supported key Dark Mofo events including the Winter Feast and the Nude Solstice Swim, as the main festival pauses in 2024.

“The Winter Feast is more than just a celebration of food and culture; it is a vital economic driver for our city,” Ms Reynolds said.

“By attracting thousands of visitors, it supports local businesses and creates employment opportunities.

“This event aligns perfectly with our winter campaign, City of Warm Hearts and Cool Adventures, which encourages people to explore and enjoy Hobart during the cooler months.”

City Economy Portfolio Chair Alderman Louise Bloomfield said the Feast had a broad positive impact on the community.

“Financial data from the 2023 event estimates a $54 million festival economic impact on local hospitality and tourism organisations from both local and interstate guests. Over 46,000 tickets were sold to the Winter Feast in 2023,” she said.

WHAT’S HOT THIS WEEK

The City of Hobart Winter Feast

Princes Wharf No. 1

June 13-16 and June 20-23

$10-$20

Free on Sundays

Namedropping

Mona’s new major exhibition

Opens June 15

Winter in the Garden

In the Hanging Garden, 153-155 Liverpool Sr

June 12-23

Live music events, DJs, food, drink and of course, fire.

Dark Fringe

Hobart, various venues

June 9-25

Art, music and immersive experiences

Dark Lime

The Twisted Lime, 112 Liverpool St, Hobart

June 14 and 15, June 21 and 22

Four nights across two weeks of themed MC and DJs.

SOCIETY x Mofo Masquerade

22 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point

Sat 15 June, 8-11pm

Descend into SOCIETY in disguise to celebrate dark arts and dark drinks. With roving performances from drag doll Nikkie Glamour and burlesque babe Bonnie Rogue.