Sydney Festival kicked off on 7 January, and the food stalls at Meriton Festival Village and The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve are offering more than simply sustenance to festivalgoers. Porteño and Bodega, Saké and Fratelli Fresh join Cow and the Moon, Chrissy’s Cuts and the Hunter Valley’s James Estate Wines to keep patrons fed and watered in style.
Porteño and Bodega’s Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz have gone the extra mile, creating the Porteño Pie Shop and the Bodega Cantina at Festival Village. On the pie menu is barbecue brisket pie with buttered peas and pickled jalapeño, chicken, leek and tarragon pie with creamed corn, and a marinated pepper, eggplant and salsa verde option. For dessert, you’ll find Porteño’s custard tart with cinnamon and nutmeg.
The Bodega Cantina takes its cues from modern Mexico, with tamales, quesadillas, a deep-fried burrito, and guac-and-chips, all sure to be popular grab-and-go snacks. And when summer temperatures soar in the Village, cool down with fruity paletas: colourful Mexican-inspired ice blocks.
With a nod to Festival sponsor Kirin, the chefs at Saké are braising lamb ribs in beer and serving them with Asian slaw. They’re also turning out loaded fries and prawn siu mai with spicy ponzu dressing.
The Fratelli Fresh crew is presenting a mix of their favourite flavours, some classics dishes, as well as new Italian street food-inspired creations. Look out for their fried squid hotdog with marinara sauce and aioli. Mary’s are also turning out their popular burgers and fried chicken.
If you’re heading to The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, check out The Beach, an installation of more than one million balls forming an ocean guaranteed to be shark-free, and while you’re there, fuel up on fancy snags by Chrissy’s Cuts, pizza, or coffee and gelato at Bar Coco.
As part of Gourmet Traveller‘s partnership with Sydney Festival, a number of Sydney restaurants have come on board to offer a range of festival plates. Whether you’re after a pre-show dinner or a post-show snack, you can choose from $30, $55 and a la carte options to help you gear up or wind down during the Festival. From authentic pizza and hand-cut pasta to spicy noodles or a four-course set menu with matched wines, there’s a deal to sate any hungry festival-goer. And whether you want it in a basement in Sydney’s inner east, in the heart of the CBD, harbourside, late-night, pre-matinee, post-theatre, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered. Check out sydneyfestival.org.au/2017/festival-feasts for the full rundown of participating restaurants, and book now to make the most of the 2017 Sydney Festival.
Sydney Festival runs from 7-29 January, 2017. The Meriton Festival Village is located in Hyde Park North near the Archibald Fountain. sydneyfestival.org.au/2017/
Gourmet Traveller is a proud partner of Sydney Festival.
