At the heart of Vivid Food are the renowned celebrity chefs that will grace Barangaroo’s Cutaway with their culinary prowess for Vivid Smoke. Score a completely free cooking demonstration by the likes of Lennox Hastie, the mastermind behind the wood-fired flavours of Firedoor, and Dave Pynt, the Michelin-starred barbecue genius from Burnt Ends in Singapore. Woodcut’s Ross Lusted and Masterchef 2021 runner-up Pete Campbell will also be there, adding their smoky flair to the festival. Pip Sumbak, with her captivating food journey combining local produce and raw fire cooking, promises a soulful experience while Australian-born pitmaster Jess Pryles will showcase her smoking and grilling skills, and World Barbecue Champion Sterling Smith will show you how to make properly delicious barbecue.

The Vivid Chefs Series introduces a platform for collaborations and environmentally-minded dinners by local chefs and international political minds. See the culinary magic unfold as Kiln’s Mitch Orr and Jeremy Fox of legendary zero-waste LA restaurant, Rustic Canyon discuss and create menus that highlight the fusion of their talents. Rishi Naleendra, from Michelin-starred Singapore restaurant, Cloudstreet, will reunite with his former mentor, Brent Savage, at Yellow, Savage’s plant-based diner. Vivid Food Sydney 2023 will also bring a range of special events and new additions. From June 14-17, the newly opened wine bar, Bar Morris, will host Cape Town chef Mmabatho Molefe for a dive into her cuisine drawing on African, European, and Australasian influences.

On June 14-15 Carriageworks’ Warakirri Dining Experience, spearheaded by founder of Mudgee’s Indigiearth cafe, Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor, will celebrate more than 60,000 years of Indigenous culture over five courses. All ingredients will be sourced from Gadigal land, and the nights will feature storytelling, music and dance. Sail away aboard luxury superyacht, the Jackson for three incredible five-course meals with incredible views of the Vivid light shows. First up is Masterchef favourite Khan Ong on June 3, Nel’s Nelly Robinson on May 27, and Bundjalung man, chef Mark Olive on June 17. Mark your calendars from May 26 to June 17 for site-wide projections spotlighting conservation efforts at Matt Moran’s multi-level Barangaroo House. Be surprised by a special menu, and cocktails at Smoke Bar crafted using kitchen offcuts to reduce waste. Carriageworks is once again the MVP of Vivid, with the ever popular Night Markets dedicated to sustainability and eco-consciousness on June 16. Redfern’s Bush will curate a menu of dishes using native produce, not-for-profit Two Good Co will serve up vegan pies, Ricos Tacos will create a menu around wild game and Brix Distillery is designing a special cocktail using rum infused with waste from Bourke Street Bakery. Rising Sun Workshop, Cantina OK!, Three Blue Ducks and Jacoby’s Tiki Bar will also be present so you know it’s going to be a good one.

The Ivy ballroom will once again be taken over for a feast of food and light under the expert guidance of ex-Fred’s head chef Danielle Alvarez, and Merivale’s Ben Greeno and hosted by Eddie Perfect. The ballroom will undergo a ‘rewilding’, in line with the sustainability theme of Vivid 2023 for a multi-course meal paired with floor to ceiling light shows. Music will be provided by Australian synth-pop musician Montaigne as well as singer-songwriter Christine Anu. The nation’s darling, Maggie Beer will be addressing the standards of food for Australians in aged care, as well as food’s role in nourishing both our bodies and our souls. Beer will be leading a panel discussion on how a well-rounded meal can impact ageing and how we serve food to our seniors needs to be prioritised. The talk will take place on June 10 at the Telstra Customer Insight Centre on George Street.

Finally, from May 26 to June 17, Luke Mangan will be curating the perfect picnic box of local cheeses, wine and all the accompaniments so you can park yourself by the water and see all of the Vivid lights in all of their glory. Mangan is also reviving his pylon pop-up, Mangan’s Table for the festival however you might need to sell an arm or a leg to get a spot, the event is unsurprisingly already sold out. Check out the Vivid website here for the full, glowing line up.