The Italian Wine + Food Festival is on again this year on Sunday, August 26. From perfecting the art of stretching street-style pizza to giving fresh pasta a twirl with a pasta master, here are five reasons why you should visit this year’s Italian Wine + Food Festival.
1. You will learn to feast like a real Italian
From Bondi’s Rocker to the gorgeous Jonah’s Restaurant, located at Whale Beach, to the ever-popular Lucio Pizzeria in Darlinghurst and Via Napoli in Lane Cove to Caruso’s Italian in the south, many of Sydney’s best Italian restaurants will be under one roof for the Italian Wine Food Festival, to be held in the city this Sunday. Be sure to head to the Mutti stand on the day to try the delicious bruschetta, complete with sweet and succulent Mutti cherry tomatoes.
2. There will be hand-on demonstrations
The how-to sessions in the marketplace will help visitors understand how to use the Italian staples that have always baffled them. The Hands-On Demonstrations in the Marketplace will feature talented chefs and food producers who will show you how making your own pasta, gnocchi, pizza dough and cheese is super simple. Check the timetable for Gabriele Taddeucci’s How to Make Different Shapes of Pasta class to Luigi Esposito’s How to Make Pizza Dough session.
3. There will be more than 150 Italian wines, bars, wine masterclasses
Oenophiles will appreciate the fact the festival has an all-day Wine Zone Entry pass (8.5 hours) available for $85 pp pre-purchase. The ticket includes all wine tasting, a Plumm wine glass valued at $25, espresso coffee, bottled water, cooking demonstrations and entertainment. The Italian wine masterclasses will be hosted by renowned wine journalist Huon Hooke.
4. You will meet the makers
Hosted by Roberta Muir, Joanna Savill and Nerida Conway, the cooking demonstrations will feature Sydney’s much-loved Italian chefs teaming up with local providores. Learn to cook like an Italian with Silvia Colloca, Stefano Manfredi, Aldo Ortado, Nino Zoccali, Luca Ciano, Claudio Barzano and Matteo Zamboni who share the same philosophy: that great Italian cooking is all about quality ingredients and simple techniques.
5. There is a VIP Lounge
Pre-Festival Entry starts at 9.30am and includes Wine Zone Entry, a VIP Wine Glass to keep, Prosecco on arrival, access to the VIP Lounge with a Glass of Wine, a festival tote bag filled with Goodies, All Wine Tastings, an espresso coffee, bottled water, cooking demonstrations and entertainment. You’ll also enjoy an Assaggini menu especially prepared by David Wright, head chef at Buon Ricordo.
The Italian Wine + Food Festival will be held this Sunday, August 26 italianwinefoodfestival.com.au/
