A palatable party

During the final months of 2014, Ashfield Council will be showcasing the three gems in its culinary crown – Ashfield, Haberfield and Summer Hill. A veritable trifecta of delicious destinations, the 2014 Feast of Flavours is sure to be like no foodie celebration the Inner West has ever seen.

Over the coming weekend, October 10th-12th, it is Ashfield and Summer Hill’s time to shine with two unique street dining experiences.

Not only will the Ashfield and Summer Hill feasts feature delicacies from local restaurants and providores but they will also involve music, dance and just a spoonful of theatricality!

Well-loved restaurants are getting ready to serve up their signature dishes to the masses. Some big names on-board include Ashfield’s notoriously divine dumpling house New Shanghai and Head Chef Roy Ner from The Owl House in Darlinghurst.

Here’s our chow-down guide to this year’s Feast of Flavours. Bon appetit!

 

Ashfield’s Taste of Asia
Friday October 10th, 6pm – 9pm Ashfield Civic Centre, Ashfield

Mall Forecourt and Liverpool Road Ashfield will be opening up its doors to let the delicacies and liveliness of its restaurants spill on to the street, with local chefs serving up tasting plates in the Ashfield Mall Forecourt and performers providing outdoor entertainment. Ashfield is renowned for its wonderful Shanghai-style Chinese food, but you will also be treated to flavours from the north, south and west of China and the cooking delights of Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. n

Xiao Long Boa from New Shanghai
Xiao Long Boa from New Shanghai

Getting there: Via train catch the Inner West or South Line to Ashfield station. Via bus catch the 483, 480, 406 or 418.

Our Top Pickings:

  • Xiao Long Bao, or soupy dumplings, from New Shanghai
  • Designer cupcakes from Dessert Devil
  • Barbecue pork from Mr Wong
  • Oriental Fish balls and lamb skewers from Homers Café
  • Baingan Bharta from Sai Cuisine Indian Restaurant
  • Taro frozen yoghurt from Yogo Espresso
  • Tuna Tataki from Three Brothers Japanese Restaurant
  • Gelatony Gelato from Da Vinci’s Italian Restaurant pop-up stall
  • Shallot pancake from Shanghai Night

 

Summer Hill Neighbourhood Feast
Sunday October 12th, 10am-3pm. Lackey Street, Summer Hill

Hang out with the residents of one of Sydney’s most diverse foodie sites for a Sunday Lunch like no other. The neighbourhood feast will be a swinging street party showcasing Summer Hill’s family friendly food outlets, heritage architecture, coffee shops and specialist providores. Highlights of the day will include a pizza dough throwing competition, roving musicians, a garden tour and celebrity chef show.

BIVia train catch the rail bus along the Inner West and South Line as rail works will be taking place. Via bus catch the 461 or 483.

Celebrity Chef Special:

Four of Sydney’s most admired chefs will be sharing the secrets of their favourite recipes at the Summer Hill feast, and sharing around the tasting plates too!

Fouad Kassab, Chic Pea
Fouad is head chef and co-owner of Chic Pea restaurant, and is one of Australia’s foremost authorities on Lebanese food. A prolific blogger and writer, Fouad has shared his passion for wholefoods and organic eating in Sydney’s most venerable food publications. Chic Pea provides a unique take on contemporary Middle-Eastern dishes using locally sourced ingredients – even their honey is made by local bees!

Roy Ner, The Owl House
Darlinghurst darling, Roy Ner, is well known for his creative direction as head chef at luxe cocktail bar and eatery The Owl House, on Crown street. Throughout 2013 Roy took many trips away from inner-Sydney to visit The Owl House’s suppliers, giving him great insight into sustainable eating.

ashfield-FOF-onepennyred-crudoBlack kingfish crudo with fennel, lemon and horseradish from One Penny Red in Summer Hill
Black kingfish crudo with fennel, lemon and horseradish from One Penny Red in Summer Hill

RJ Lines, One Penny Red
RJ specializes in contemporary Australian dishes that are at once comforting and distinguished. His seasonal approach to cooking is well respected and he is currently working with an on-site gardener to curate the One Penny Red menu in Summer Hill. RJ’s career highlights include cooking at Sydney’s famous Rockpool Bar & Grill and at the Glebe Point Diner, and a six-month sabbatical he spent farming in Southern Italy.

Massimo Mele, Tutti a Tavola
Up until recently Massimo was the head chef of the acclaimed Hugo’s restaurant and bar group. Now Massimo follows the beat of his own drum running a catering business and hosting a specialty Italian dining experience, Tutti a Tavola. Since his early beginnings working at his parent’s restaurant, La Belle Napoli, Massimo has graced Donovan’s Italian Restaurant in St Kilda, Mud Bar in Hobart, the Waldorf Astoria in New York and Banyan Tree Resort in Seoul with his exceptional Italian creations.

 

Not Food but Still Good

The Feast of Flavours 2014 will also be bringing a host of musicians, artists and dancers to Inner West streets. With so many good things happening at once, this is probably the closest you’ll get to eating your cake and having it too!

Kuseah

Born and raised in Sydney to a Filipino mother and an English father, Kuseah has diverse influences of soul, reggae, hip hop, roots and ‘90s boy bands threaded through her music. Releasing her debut EP in 2013, Kuseah is one hip soul-singer on the cusp of some mega fame. Catch her crooning to Ashfield diners from 7.45pm – 8.45pm October 10th at the Ashfield Council Forecourt.

Act What You Eat

Ashfield Youth Theatre in partnership with Feast of Flavours Festivals has created a new performance work exploring the relationship between food and identity. The troop of young thespians will be getting amongst the sights and smells of the Ashfield & Summer Hill feasts, interacting with festivalgoers and feeding their input into a short performance work, ‘Are You What You Eat?’ Catch AYT at both Ashfield and Summer Hill feasts on October 10th and 12th respectively.

Claypool Pottery Demonstration

The sticky stuff on your boots after a rainy day is good for lots of things. Clay, when placed in the hands of someone feeling creative has limitless possibilities, which you can explore for yourself at Claypool’s interactive artisan craft stall where you will have an opportunity to make something and take it home the same day! Say hi to the folks from the Claypool Collective all day at the Summer Hill feast, Sunday October 12th, 10am-3pm.

Open Garden Visits

Step in to the verdant worlds of Inner West’s greenest thumbs. Eora Community Garden on 135 Smith Street in Summer Hill will be open from 10-3pm on Sunday October 12th and you can meet the gardeners, learn about rotation technique and find out about joining the trending community gardening movement.

The Old Summer Hill Post Office on 2 Moonbie Street will also have its garden open from 11-2pm on Sunday October 12th. The garden is now being used by One Penny Red to cultivate bee-attracting plants, heirloom fruits and self-seeding plants. Visit the garden to learn more about composting, worm farming and to pick up your very own seed bomb.

Ink and Watercolour by Emma Simmons

Sweets Workshop is a retail art gallery as well as an illustration and graphic design studio. As part of the Summer Hill Neighbourhood Feast they will be exhibiting a collection of Inner West landscapes rendered in hand and water colour by local artist Emma Simmons. Sweets Workshop is located just around the corner from Lackey Street on Carlton Crescent opposite the train station, open from 10-3pm on Sunday October 12th.

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