Behind every great Italian meal, and chef, is a
great food- loving Nonna. To give these matriarchs the recognition they
deserve, Sandhurst Fine Foods has teamed up with Sydney celebrity chefs
and their Nonnas to host the two-week Festival of Nonna.
The
project, developed by Special Group with support from Alfred on event
production and Poem handling PR and influencer engagement, will see the
rooftop restaurant pop-up at Redfern's 107 Projects.
A foodie's
dream, the Festival of Nonna offers dinners celebrating Italian heritage
and flavours and workshops teaching all the best customs from the
boot-shaped country. More than 90 per cent of tickets had sold out
within a week of going on sale.
Says Cade Heyde, managing partner
at Special Group: "We hope that this initiative will help to establish
Sandhurst Fine Foods as a business that is about more than just bottles
of pesto and olives - this is a business that is immensely passionate
about food, love and family."
Says Mimmo Lubrano, CEO, Sandhurst Fine Foods: "We're a company built on
family and tradition so we understand how both of these things shape
who we are and how we enjoy food. The Festival of Nonna gives us all a
chance to appreciate the people who first inspired many of us and get
closer to the tastes that make Sandhurst products so popular."
Celebrity
chef Andrew Cibej, renowned for his work at Sydney's favourite
restaurants Vini, Berta and 121BC, will cook side-by-side with Nonna
Valerie Cibej creating a five-course meal with Italian prosecco for $50
per ticket.
Workshops will be held with chefs Luca Ciano (of 2
Michelin-starred Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia in Milan), Massimo Mele
(previously of La Scala on Jersey) and Sara Oteri (Series 7, MasterChef
Australia), plus their Nonnas, sharing authentic, time- tested Italian
techniques passed down to them, with interactive, hands-on
demonstrations.
Saucy gnocchi, tender veal, delicious antipasti
and other delectables from their ancestral homeland will be served up on
a traditional table for guests to enjoy. Coupled with heady, aromatic
wines the five-course meal is sure to hit the spot with those who enjoy
food 'just like Nonna used to make'.
Tickets to the Festival of
Nonna dinners are priced at $50 and guests will enjoy a five course
meal, wine, prosecco and a bag of Italian goodies to take home. Tickets
for workshops are $30.
For more information on the dinners, food workshops and to purchase tickets, please visit
festivalofnonna.com.