Pearls of Wisdom: Powerhouse Late X Vivid Ideas

Alex Herbert, the chef behind the former Surry Hills institution Bird Cow Fish, curates a free night dedicated to unpacking what food tells us about ourselves and exploring how both First Nations people and migrant communities have shaped Australia’s culinary landscape.

Hear first-hand from Australia’s leading chefs, food writers and creatives in a fun and fascinating night of talks and food. Find the full program below, featuring ABC presenter Jennifer Wong, writer Benjamin Law, Cornersmith Café and Cooking School co-founder Alex Elliott-Howery, Heartbake author Charlotte Ree and many more. 

Plus, fresh oysters from the Sydney Oyster Girls, fresher cocktails from Trolley’d Bar, live music from the Lauren White Jazz Band and a Bookstall from Food and Words founder Barbara Sweeney selling out-of-print and classic cookbooks. 

Expect pearls of wisdom on plenty of topics, from regional Chinese restaurants to oysters, climate change to soul food, sustainability and food surplus versus waste to the rise of native ingredients. Each talk will also be live-illustrated by artist Gavin Blake.

And hear from leading creatives and artists behind food photography, cookbook designs and creating vessels for eating and drinking with Creating Connections to Food, a series of pre-recorded interviews playing through the night and moderated by Julie Gibbs (Food Illustration), Mags King (Photography) and Eva Cernis-Ryl (Vessels for Food and Drink). Featured creatives include Sam Gordon, Jason Roberts, Rebecca Dowling, Mark Best, Nikki To, Jason Loucas, Evi O, Daniel New and Gem Leslie, pairing their words with images of their work.

This event is part of a series of free Powerhouse Late x Vivid Ideas nights exploring the role of creativity in community and connection. 

VOICES on FOOD

5.15pm – 6.15pm – Cookbook Love 

Journalist and founder of Food and Words Barbara Sweeney explores why we love cookbooks so much, examining the cookbook throughout history, charting the latest trends. She’ll also chat to Charlotte Ree, chef and author of Heartbake – a powerful part memoir, part recipe book, part joyous battle cry for those finding themselves lonely at any age, hungry for so much more from life and ultimately a tribute to the healing power of food. 

6.45pm – 7.30pm – Pearls of Wisdom 

Joanna Savill, journalist and ex-SMH Food Editor, examines the use of native ingredients by First Nations people and their more recent incorporation into an ‘Australian Cuisine’ with founding director of Ngaran Ngaran Cultural Awareness and Co-Founder of Mirritya Mundya Indigenous Twist Dwayne Bannon-Harrison and historian and gastronomer Jacqui Newling.

8pm – 8.45pm – Migrant Voices on Food 

Join Farah Celjo, Managing Editor of SBS Food, in conversation with Southern Soul author and founder Tyree Barnette and Jennifer Wong, writer, comedian and presenter of ABC series Chopsticks or Fork?, about Chinese restaurants in regional Australia. 

8.15pm – 9pm – Plated

Host of podcast Plated Savva Savas interviews TV writer, journalist and author Benjamin Law in a live recording, asking him about his three favourite food memories. 

Conversations – 100 Climate Conversations Stage Level 1

5.45pm – 6.30pm – Considering the Oyster

A trio of oyster experts – Tathra Oysters farmer Gary Rodely, Rockpool Bar & Grill Head Chef Corey Costelloe and Fishtales director John Susman – come together to discuss the best way to taste an oyster.

7.15pm – 8pm – Surplus and Creativity 

Learn how creativity and collaborations are being fuelled in the food world by a move towards sustainability and away from waste. Hear from the Head Chef of OzHarvest’s Refettorio Restaurant Jez Wick, co-founder of Cornersmith Café and Cooking School Alex Elliott-Howery and historian and gastronome Jacqui Newling, with a panel moderated by FoodLab Sydney Co-Director Alana Mann.

And music, interviews, oysters and cocktails run throughout the night.

This is part of Vivid Ideas' Immersive Events series. Be transported somewhere new by the Up Late nights at Australian Museum and Powerhouse, an NFT party, mindfulness workshops and truly one-of-a-kind experiences.