AIDS Trust Food & Wine Fair
Stuff your face on food from Sydney's best restaurants, while raising money to fight AIDS.
By Andrew Georgiou
Most 18th birthday celebrations involve a few kegs of beer, a bathtub full of wine on ice and an empty 'emergency' bucket on call. There’s one 18-year-old, however, who's well schooled on throwing a decidedly classier bash. Renowned for hosting a vast range of stalls peddling tasting portions of fine food and wine, the AIDS Trust Sydney Food And Wine Fair is laying out the fine china to celebrate its 18th year as one of the city’s most heralded community events.
For those who have yet to lose their culinary virginity to the day-long celebration, prepare yourselves for a day of cultural and exotic food sampling, some tantalising wine tasting and a drop of live entertainment to boot. If you’re thinking C-grade grub, think again. Some of the Sydney’s kingpins in the food and wine realm are invited to the fair including Cafe Sydney, Longrain, Quay, Bourke St Bakery and Scarborough Wines. Set among the leafy tree-lined walkways of Hyde Park North, the Sydney Food and Wine Fair pulls in a healthy crowd of foodies who have set their appetites on supporting a very worthy cause. The AIDS Trust of Australia relies on the funds generated from this A-class affair to support their work in HIV research, care and client support.
Here's how it works. You rock up at noon and buy coupons for $15 for a page of five (or even better pre-purchase them online). You then exchange coupons at one of the many stalls – two coupons for a glass of wine, three for an entree or dessert and four for a main. Be quick though: the best restaurants sell out their goodies within the first hour! To beat the queues it's a good idea to buy two portions of a top restaurant's offering, then swap with a friend.
Official entertainment on the day includes performances from Sister Madly, Gin Wigmore, Emma Donovan and a cavalcade of local talent. Unofficial entertainment includes singles cruising one another in an outdoor setting. Nothing says "I'm single, sensual and cultured" better than sucking up some pad see eew straight from the bowl.
The AIDS Trust Sydney Food & Wine Fair is on Sat 1 Nov, 12 noon–5pm, Hyde Park North, Sydney 2000.
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