Newcastle’s biggest and most ambitious food festival is taking over the city for the entire month of April with more than 60 restaurants, 30 feature events, three festivals, and one world-famous dining event planned.
Newcastle Food Month (NFM) is a nod to homegrown produce, with many Newcastle restaurants, cafes, and eateries using fresh local ingredients from places like the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, and the Central Coast.
The festival includes feature events, Plate Dates and a signature dining experience, Le Dîner en Blanc.
Le Dîner en Blanc is a worldwide event known for its all-white dress code and secret location, which is revealed an hour before the event commences.
From cities such as Paris, New York, London, Montreal, Sydney, and Melbourne, for the first time, Newcastle will host this event, with guests to bring their own gourmet meal, tables, chairs, and even tablecloths.
The first round of invitations are sent out to the hosts’ network, and the second round of invitations are received by registering on the waitlist.
NFM also includes Plate Dates which will see 60 restaurants, cafes and pubs designing a custom plate with a drink for $25.
Organisers Gus and Louise Maher said in an NFM Q&A that Newcastle people were spoilt for choice when it came to places to eat.
“We are passionate about wanting to put Newcastle on a plate for all to see; there are so many stories to tell, personalities to meet and amazing food to eat in this city,” Louise said.
“It’d be a darn shame not to shout it from the rooftops.
“We have such an eclectic mix of eateries with flavours from all over the world, curated and plated up by passionate local chefs—and it’s only going to get better with new cafes and restaurants popping up in every pocket of town.”
Venues like the Basement on Market St, Customs House Hotel, Momo Wholefoods, The Autumn Rooms, Goldberg’s Coffee House, and Foghorn Brewery are all participating in Plate Dates.
Some feature events will include food masterclasses, pop up oyster bars, night markets, beer degustation dinners, and an afternoon of decadence where people can indulge in bubbles, bries, caviar and chocolate.
“There’s a whole suite of dining events and experiences running all month,” Gus said.
“Think unique fine dining experiences at the likes of Restaurant Mason and Flotilla, a fun cider and pork festival, perhaps the unholy but entertaining marriage of opera and beer, through to a drive-through gourmet hot dog stand at McDonald Jones stadium.”
Newcastle Food Month kicks off on April 1 until April 30, with pre-booking required for many of the feature events; for more information, visit NFM’s website.
Hayley McMahon