Vivid Sydney's brand-new pillar, Vivid Food, has delivered a sizzling smorgasbord of a program for its inaugural year. International culinary greats and homegrown superstars, combined with iconic dining establishments and pop-up foodie experiences, are set to deliver all the ingredients to make Vivid Food a feast for all the senses.

One of the biggest Vivid Food program elements is a two-week residency for New York chef Daniel Humm at Matt Moran’s Aria. Humm, who needs no introduction to global gourmands, is the chef and owner of three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park. Humm made headlines when he changed the entire menu of the former World’s Best 50 Restaurants number-one eatery to a plant-based offering. He’ll bring both his team and his visionary approach to cuisine to one of Sydney’s most celebrated restaurants from 6–17 June for Vivid Residence.

Vivid Chef Series will welcome more of the world’s most exciting chefs as they join forces with some of Sydney’s best restaurants, including Kiln, Fred’s and Yellow, to create exclusive and never-before-tasted menus. From relaxed to fine dining and from contemporary European to authentic African cuisine, collaborations include award-winning LA chef Jeremy Fox, two-Michelin starred chef Rishi Naleendra from Singapore, and Cape Town's Mmabatho Molefe, one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 50 Next hospitality pioneers in 2022.

Globally renowned pitmasters and barbecue heroes will take centre stage at Vivid Fire Kitchen, with Firedoor’s Lennox Hastie; Australian-born Texas pitmaster and TV celebrity Jess Pryles; Byron Bay’s Pip Sumbak; Dave Pynt from Michelin-starred restaurant Burnt Ends in Singapore and more firing up The Cutaway at Barangaroo. Along with cooking demonstrations, Vivid Fire Kitchen gives festivalgoers the unique opportunity to sample dishes from a curated selection of Sydney’s hottest dining concepts, offering something for everyone from casual eateries to acclaimed restaurants.

Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen bolster an already impressive Vivid Food program, including Chefs on the Harbour, Vivid Rooftop Experience at Aster Bar and, following its success in 2022, the Vivid Sydney Dinner at Ivy Ballroom plus many more, all with a nod to the festival’s theme, Vivid Sydney, Naturally.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said the addition of Vivid Food will deliver even greater economic benefits to the NSW visitor economy and shines a global spotlight on Sydney’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

“This is a celebration of NSW food culture. If tourists are not coming to NSW for our food, they should be,” Mr Graham said

“Our fresh ingredients, skilled chefs and multicultural society make our state a foodies dream. It’s time to get the word out and Vivid Food will do exactly that.”

Gill Minervini, Vivid Sydney Festival Director, said the launch of Vivid Food was an integral part of the festival’s evolution and celebrates an expanded definition of the creative industries in 2023.

“To be recognised as one of the world’s best chefs or restaurants takes immense skill, talent and creativity. We’re thrilled at the line-up we have created for the first-ever Vivid Food program – the chefs are some of the most creative masters in the culinary space, broadening the creative spotlight from Light, Music and Ideas.

“Vivid Food will enable festivalgoers the opportunity to experience exclusive and never-before-tasted dishes from some of the world’s best culinary talent with entry points for everyone, from wholesome street food to high-end dining experiences.”

Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen as part of Vivid Food are being produced by IMG, the global events company behind Gourmet Escape, Taste Festivals, The Big Feastival, New York Fashion Week: The Shows and Frieze art fairs.

Stephanie Calape, Managing Director of Culinary Events at IMG, said Vivid Food was set to deliver world-class dining events that will set a new bar for food events delivered in Australia.

“We are excited to be partnering with Vivid Sydney to help launch this first-of-its-kind culinary experience as part of the festival’s brand-new pillar, Vivid Food.  

“Vivid Sydney is an incredible celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, loved by visitors from Australia and all around the world. We look forward to reflecting this through an eclectic and delicious food and drink offering with top chefs and experiences that showcase Sydney’s world-class culinary scene and help boost the visitor economy through tourism.”

Tickets to the Vivid Residence and Vivid Chef Series go on sale 28 April at vividsydney.com. Vivid Fire Kitchen events, taking place at The Cutaway in Barangaroo, are free for all to attend. Food and drink can be purchased on site.

Vivid Sydney runs from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June 2023.

VIVID RESIDENCE

One of the world’s most revered and award-winning chefs, Daniel Humm of three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park in New York City (World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ number-one restaurant in 2017 and the world’s first three Michelin-starred vegan restaurant) will be in Sydney with his team. Taking over one of the city’s most iconic harbourside venues, two-hatted Aria Sydney, Humm will create a unique dining experience for a two-week residency (6 June to 17 June), bringing his visionary approach to plant-based dining to Australia for the first time. Humm will champion NSW produce alongside his crew and Aria Sydney’s team, led by Matt Moran and chef Thomas Gorringe.

Humm and the teams will create two different menus available with a nine-course tasting menu for dinner, as well as a shorter tasting menu for lunch. Tickets for the nine-course tasting menu are $550 per person, with the shorter lunch tasting menu costing $395 per person. Bespoke beverage pairings will also be available. Tickets go on sale on 28 April at vividsydney.com/residence.

Daniel Humm, owner and chef of Eleven Madison Park and Eleven Madison Home, said: “We could not be more thrilled to participate in Vivid Sydney and bring Eleven Madison Park to the iconic Aria Restaurant. This year’s theme of ‘Naturally’ closely resonates with our core values and journey as a restaurant. We’re excited to delve into New South Wales’s fresh and local ingredients to bring a creative, beautiful and delicious menu to life with Chef Matt and his team. So much of what we eat is part of our identity, and we look forward to sharing our language of food.”

Matt Moran, chef and co-owner of Aria, said: “Aria has had a front row seat on Sydney’s harbour for over 23 years and one of the best times of the year to dine in the restaurant is during Vivid Sydney when you’re able to not only enjoy a great meal, but also take in the incredible creativity Vivid Sydney brings to the city. We couldn’t be more honoured to be hosting Daniel and his incredible Eleven Madison Park team for the first Vivid Residence. We’ve long admired what Daniel has done in New York, and the team can’t wait to work alongside his world-class team to deliver something that is going to be quite special.”

VIVID CHEF SERIES

The Vivid Chef Series will take over Sydney's food scene, with the city’s best restaurants and chefs pairing with some of the world’s most exciting talent to bring the global contemporary culinary scene to Sydney for a limited number of nights.

From relaxed to fine dining, and boasting something for all tastes, from contemporary European to authentic African cuisine, chef collaborations will include:

• Mitch Orr, from the current Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide best new restaurant Kiln, working alongside award-winning LA chef Jeremy Fox from zero-waste focused Rustic Canyon.
• Brent Savage working at his award-winning vegan restaurant Yellow with two-Michelin starred chef Rishi Naleendra from Singapore’s Cloudstreet.
• Hussein Sarhan, from Merivale’s Fred’s, will come together with one of London's hottest chefs, Jackson Boxer, who runs Brunswick House and Orasay.
• Bar Morris, which launches in May via the Handwritten Collection, hosts Cape Town’s Mmabatho Molefe, one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 50 Next hospitality pioneers in 2022.

Tickets go on sale on 28 April at vividsydney.com/chefseries.

VIVID FIRE KITCHEN

Set alongside the immersive splendour of Vivid House, Vivid Fire Kitchen brings together Sydney’s hottest dining concepts, with the world’s best pitmasters, barbecue heroes, some of NSW’s finest producers and much-loved local flame-focused restaurants all coming together for a festival of accessible fire demonstrations and exclusive barbecue dishes with drinks.

Guests will enjoy demonstrations combining local produce and raw-fire cooking from chef and restaurateur Lennox Hastie, of three-hatted and current Good Food Guide restaurant of the year Firedoor; MasterChef Australia 2021 runner-up Pete Campbell; Dave Pynt from Michelin-starred restaurant Burnt Ends in Singapore (number 24 on the 2023 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list); Australian-born Texas pitmaster and TV celebrity Jess Pryles; Pitmasters Brasil’s founder and barbecue expert teacher Daniel Lee; 2022 World Barbecue Champion Sterling Smith from Arizona; and Byron Bay’s Pip Sumbak.

Alongside barbecue offerings, Vivid Sydney audiences will be able to enjoy dishes from a curated selection of Sydney’s hottest dining concepts, from casual eateries to acclaimed restaurants.

Vivid Fire Kitchen events are free for all to attend every night of Vivid Sydney from 26 May to 17 June 2023. For more information visit vividsydney.com/firekitchen.

VIVID SYDNEY DINNER

Following a sell-out event in 2022, the Vivid Sydney Dinner returns to the Ivy Ballroom, fusing Light, Music and Ideas into a special feast created by renowned Merivale Executive Chef Ben Greeno and powerhouse chef and author Danielle Alvarez.

In the exciting collaboration, Greeno and Alvarez will create a menu that celebrates their shared love of NSW’s fresh seasonal produce, served alongside paired wines. And it wouldn't be the Vivid Sydney Dinner without world-class immersive lighting, inspired by nature and served to your table.

Host Eddie Perfect will guide guests through a night of music, art, nature and more, featuring performances from Eddie, alt-pop singer Montaigne, African fusion artist Julian Belbachir, and beloved vocal powerhouse Christine Anu, plus Australia’s ‘First Lady of House’ Kate Monroe on the decks. Find out more: vividsydney.com/event/food/vivid-sydney-dinner. 

CHEFS ON THE HARBOUR

Take in Vivid Sydney in style onboard Sydney’s newest luxurious superyacht, The Jackson. Enjoy the finest view of the spectacularly illuminated harbour as renowned chefs cook up an unforgettable five-course degustation.

Set sail on Sydney Harbour for a night of world-class cuisine and entertainment against the backdrop of Vivid Sydney’s beautiful Light Walk. The event features Nel Restaurant’s Executive Chef Nelly Robinson, MasterChef Australia favourite Khanh Ong and TV personality Mark Olive, with more talent to be announced. Find out more: vividsydney.com/program/chefs-on-the-harbour.

CARRIAGEWORKS PRESENTS THE WARAKIRRI DINING EXPERIENCE

The Warakirri Dining Experience features an intimate evening of First Nations food showcasing 60,000 years of culture through a guided dining experience, entertainment, music and storytelling.  

Renowned Chef and Founder of Mudgee’s Indigiearth, Sharon Winsor will create a five-course menu that celebrates First­ Nations ingredients sourced on Gadigal Land. As a Ngemba Weilwan woman from Western NSW, Winsor has a deep passion for combining her culinary training with an unparalleled knowledge of First Nations food.

Carriageworks presents The Warakirri Dining Experience will be held on 14 and 15 June 2023. Find out more: vividsydney.com/event/food/carriageworks-presents-the-warakirri-dining-experience.

VIVID ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE IN ASTER BAR

Perched 32 floors above Sydney Harbour, rooftop bar Aster boasts breathtaking 270-degree views of Vivid Sydney that can be enjoyed during a spectacular three-course menu paired with cocktails to match, overseen by InterContinental Sydney’s executive chef Matt Hart. A one-of-a-kind immersive experience inspired by astrology will also take you to new heights in this special experience.

Find out more: vividsydney.com/event/food/vivid-rooftop-experience-in-aster-bar.

HERE NOW

Day-to-night party HERE NOW is a day-to-night festival of abundance, mixing food and wine masterclasses with music and art to celebrate our most important voices, artists and makers, curated by Mary’s Group.

For its inaugural party, HERE NOW will bring together our most exciting names, cult favourites and the emerging artists who are forging the new paths for food, wine and art to keep flourishing in our country. Find out more: vividsydney.com/event/food/here-now.

For more information and to keep updated about the program, go to vividsydney.com.

MEDIA ASSETS 

The full 2023 Vivid Sydney media kit, B-roll footage and high-res imagery are available to download at vividsydney.com/news-room.  

MEDIA CONTACTS

Jenna Whyte, PR Manager – Vivid Sydney, +61 484 719 536 or jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

Vanessa Gregory, Ogilvy PR – Vivid Sydney, +61 432 882 756 or vanessa.gregory@ogilvy.com.au

Shannon Blanchard, The Cru – IMG, +61 432 543 377 or shannon@thecru.agency

Sophie Foster, The Cru – IMG, +61 410 789 908 or sophie@thecru.agency

About Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is Australia’s largest festival celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, and transforms Sydney into a kaleidoscope of colour and events for 23 nights. Staged for its 13th year in 2023, Vivid Sydney will bring together mesmerising displays from the world’s brightest light artists, exhilarating live music performances, deep-dive discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. For more information and tickets, visit vividsydney.com.

About IMG

IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specialises in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company