Sydney Morning Heralds Good Food Month is just around the corner! YAY!
It’s Australia’s BIGGEST food festival and showcases the best of what Sydney has to offer, from regional restaurants, cafes, bars and producers with venue-based events and offers sure to tantalise your tastebuds.
There is so much going on throughout the month that sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, so we’ve tried to make it a little easier, bringing you Citibank Dining Program ambassador, Gary Mehigan’s ultimate tips for feasting through this year’s festivities.
- Night Noodle Markets – You can’t miss this signature event, it’s a must for everyone in Sydney. You can avoid families and go later at night – I’d pick Friday night to experience the busy vibe. Get ready to queue – it’s half the night of the night! Space out your meals too and make sure to try multiple dishes. My picks are Longrain roti bread, anything from Mamak, Din Tai Fung – it’s all about the mix of sweet, savoury, crispy, friend, steamed – and chopsticks! All the good things in life.
- Breakfast Club – Everybody loves breakfast, apparently it’s the new thing to do in Sydney! But make sure to try different dishes, not just bacon and eggs. Try famous corn fritters with poached egg and crisp bacon at The Pig & Pastry in Petersham, or be brave and go for the ox tongue, sourdough, broad beans, peas and mushies at Devon Café in Surry Hills.
- Bar Hop – Sydney has certainly changed since the introduction of many small and larger bars – the town has opened up to become the city of “cool”. Hop around town to make the most of what’s on offer. My picks – Black by Ezard to have a Negroni, Longrain Bunker Bar to taste a Watermelon & Ginger sour, Hinky Dinks for their famous “Hotel Georgia” and Sokyo for a Pinku Kuri.
- World Dinners – Take a seat at the global table as authentic banquets unfold…with loads of different cuisines to choose from, you can’t go wrong. Aussies love to sample a little bit of everything – a mix of sweet, sour, hot, bitter, and spicy. I’m loving Vietnamese cuisine at the moment so I’m looking at the Saigon Night Street Eats at La Mint restaurant in Darlinghurst. Korean is the other hot cuisine of the moment, so try out the Seoul Kitchen event at the Bathers’ Pavilion in Balmoral. Or to really spoil yourself, try the Cira Young Talent Award Dinner at Balla – a five course meal at $145 isn’t bad!
- Rooftops & Laneways – Who doesn’t love a rooftop? Food always tastes better outdoors, and this year Parramatta is getting involved with Good Food Month with Parramatta Lanes. Discover craft-beer gardens, dumpling bars and other hidden gems all for free. The Big Syrian Barbecue at Darlinghurst’s Almond Bar also appeals as a fun and cheap event at only $15.
Gary Picks for GFM – no (money) boundaries!
- Yotam dinner at Nomad
- Night Noodle Markets – Friday night, busy night
- Growers Market
- Hats Off Dinner – Mamafuko, MoVida , Bridge Room
- Barbie Crew – organic market Alexandria
- Butcher, Baker, Winemaker at Victor Churchill – Drink & Dine
- Signature dish – Cabramatta
- Rooftop and Laneways – Big Syrian BBQ at Almond Bar
- Glass Brasserie – Dessert chocolate semifreddo
- Let’s do Lunch – Bentley Bar, Balla
For the seventh year in a row now, Citi is partnering with The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month to offer customers exclusive access to world-renowned chefs and the prestigious #CitiVIP area at the festival’s Night Noodle Market.
An event not to be missed, for more information on Good Food Month, visit http://sydney.goodfoodmonth.com with details on the Citi VIP experience found here, http://www.citibankdining.com.au/events