Chefs in Sydney and Byron Bay are coming together next month to raise funds for farmers affected by drought in New South Wales. The likes of Monty Koludrovic, Mat Lindsay and Clayton Wells will be on the pans at a special dinner in Sydney while in Byron, the teams at Fleet, Barrio, Harvest Newrybar and Paper Daisy are among the headline acts at a four-course dinner, where drinks from local outfits Cape Byron Distillery, Jilly Wines and Stone & Wood will be served. Bulletin Place and Dead Ringer cocktail maestro Tim Phillips will craft cocktails for the Sydney event, using Archie Rose gin and ingredients from Matt Brown’s Greens.
It’s not just locals who are throwing their support behind the farmers, either. Adelaide chef Duncan Welgemoed (Africola) will join his Sydney peers, as will Victorians such as Matt Stone and Jo Barrett of Oakridge, Longsong’s David Moyle and Shannon Martinez (Smith & Daughters).
Menus for both events are still in the works but expect to see signature dishes from many of the chefs. If we’re lucky, that could mean Mat Lindsay’s potato bread from Ester or Fleet’s veal sweetbread schnitzel sandwich.
All proceeds go to Rural Aid, a charity that assists farmers with the likes of animal feed, equipment repairs and skilled staff and volunteers.
“We work so closely with these farmers and producers that we have to do our part and help them out in some way,” says Three Blue Ducks co-owner Mark LaBrooy.
Hear, hear.
Sydney dinner: Tuesday 4 September, 6.30pm. Three Blue Ducks, 1/85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery, NSW. $220 for four courses and drinks. Bookings via threeblueducks.com
Byron Bay dinner: Wednesday 5 September, 6pm. Three Blue Ducks, The Farm, 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale, NSW. $150 for four courses and drinks. Bookings via threeblueducks.com
