Good Food Month returns to Canberra

After a tumultuous 12 months for events, Good Food Month has confirmed it will be going ahead in Canberra this March. With international travel still blocked, the 2021 festival will take the opportunity to celebrate and foster culinary collaborations from different corners of Australia.

One such collaboration will see Alanna Sapwell (former head chef ARC Dining, Brisbane; and Saint Peter, Sydney) and Analiese Gregory (recently departed from the two-hatted Franklin, Hobart) join forces to recreate Sapwell’s pop-up project Esmay at Canberra’s Bar Rochford. In town for just two events – a lunch and a dinner sitting on Sunday 28 March – Sapwell and Gregory’s collaboration will comprise multiple courses with matched wines.

A chance to witness first-hand the talents of Canberra’s brightest young chefs will take place at Ovolo Nishi’s Monster Kitchen & Bar. The Young Chefs Dinner presented by Citi will shine a light on the next generation, who will together curate a vegetarian menu under the guidance of Michelin-starred executive chef Paul Wilson. So far, Kenny Tse (Monster Kitchen & Bar) and Ben Waterston (Les Bistronomes) have been confirmed for the event, with more to be announced soon.

Finally, the Good Weekend Quiz team has teamed up with Good Food’s restaurant critics to present The Good Weekend Quiz: Live. Not your average trivia night, the event will bring Rockpool Bar & Grill executive chef, Corey Costelloe, into the lakeside kitchen at The Boat House, where he will prepare a menu comprising snacks, main meal, and dessert.

Due to Covid-19, the decision has been made not to go ahead with the Canberra Night Noodle Markets in 2021, but there are plans to return it in 2022.

Tickets for Canberra Good Food Month go on sale at 9am on Thursday 25 February. The program for the Friends of Good Food Month events series will be announced on Monday 1 March.

Image credits: Zachary Griffith