food as art

With chefs like Rene Redzepi (Noma, Denmark), Andoni Aduriz (Mugaritz, Spain) and Alexandre Gauthier (Grenouillere, France), and in Australia Mark Best (Marque Restaurant), Dan Hunter (The Royal Mail Hotel) and Brent Savage (The Bentley Bar) in the world, the line between what is food and what is art gets really fuzzy. It looks great, but but does it taste good? In most cases the answer is a resounding 'yes', though there is the question of whether you're substituting 'art' for 'soul'.

Regardless, here are a couple of instances where you can decide for yourself:

Food Networks Exhibition


When you think of art exhibitions, you probably think of free booze, but not usually food. Presenting a show, curated by Sydney artist Michelle Helene, in a brand new exhibition space, the show features works by directors and founders of well known galleries in Sydney like Locksmith and Verge. This group show presents the idea of food as art featuring real food installations and multi medium art to convey social commentary about popular culture and food...and the opening night (tonight!) also includes an edible live performance (hellooooo fairy bread!).

PSH@Anyplace Gallery, 118 Terry Street, Rozelle, 28th January 6-8pm. 

...those unfamiliar with this space will quickly work out that it's several doors down from Adriano Zumbo's HQ, so why not drop by on your way to the show?

Food on the web

It's interesting to see how such a sensual medium can be so popular on the web - while a great forum for sharing ideas, is largely divorced from the senses that we relate to when it comes to food.

There are a heap of websites out there showing off the work of artists who use food as their sole medium, for example the butter sculpture above.


Jim Victor is a sculptor from Philadelphia, USA, whose site shows off a selection of his work and work by colleagues, using mediums like butter, chocolate, cheese and vegetables to create amazing works of (edible) art.

I doubt many of you spend as much time making your lunch to take to work as Sakurako Kitsa. Despite not being Japanese, Sakurako is a writer and artist who creates work...in her lunchbox.
Featuring everything from blue rice to green-tree frogs made out of apple, this is edible art at its cutest.

Designious Times also has a great link to food art photography, too. 

Bacchus Newcastle

You know about The Bentley Bar, Quay and Marque, but just north of Sydney, there's Bacchus. Headed up by chef Tim Montgomery, who has done time behind the burners at The Bather’s Pavilion in Sydney and The Manse in Adelaide, Bacchus treads the fine line between art and food with balance and poise. With dishes like Yellowfin tuna, remoulade, quail egg, lemon and green olive (pictured), this food is testament to the fact that just because something looks pretty, doesn't mean it lacks depth or flavour conception. Worth the drive. 

141 King Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, 2300
www.bacchusnewcastle.com.au  

Australia Day foods

With the silly season under our belts (and in some cases, spilling over said belts), it's time to celebrate the next great bludge day public holiday, Australia Day. Forget the politics for a minute and think about the food. There's the great Aussie barbecue, there's Vegemite...and of course, there's beer.

In the lead up to Australia Day, here are a few iconic Australian sweets we couldn't live without, and why.

1. Lamingtons

With or without cream and jam? The jury’s still out on whether the humble lamington should contain that squishy layer of cream and raspberry jam, but whichever way you look at it, there’s always golden sponge, dipped in chocolate and coconut. Bird Cow Fish’s owner and head chef Alex Herbert thinks simple is best; with her combination of old school sponge cake, real cocoa-based icing, a layer of strawberry jam, and long thread coconut. Find her treats at Eveleigh Markets this weekend.

Everleigh Markets: 243 Wilson Street, Redfern.

2. Monaco Bars

When these babies were discontinued, people were outraged. There were tears. There were recriminations. There was more than one petition to bring them back. Americans have been familiar with the ice cream sandwich for decades, but Monaco Bar was really the first of its kind to charm Australians, with its chewy biscuit exterior and creamy ice cream centre. Like all classics, it's the simplicity of ingredients that makes it such a wonderfully elegant classic. Thank god they brought them back.

3. Tim Tams

When it comes to comfort food, there are few Australians who would knock back the offer of  Tim Tam, especially when living overseas. In cold weather, these are best consumed in the style of the 'Tim Tam Straw', where you take a bite out of diagonal corners and use it to sip tea (English Breakfast, white) through. In summer, they're best stored in the fridge (and consumed standing in front of it).

Honorable mentions:

Golden Gaytime, Redskins, red and green frogs, Iced Vovos and Bubble-O Bill

floodlight the way

To say that Queenslanders have had it tough lately is an understatement.

In aid of the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal, the Sydney restaurant community has come together to host a one-off charity dinner on Monday 31 January.

FLOODLIGHT will feature a star-studded line-up of chefs, with all proceeds going to the Queensland flood victims.

FLOODLIGHT is the initiative of Four In Hand’s chef/owner, Colin Fassnidge. The idea snowballed in the ‘Twittersphere’, picking up chefs, sommeliers, waiters and other members of the hospitality industry along the way. What started as a simple idea to help Queenslanders has culminated in Neil Perry offering Rockpool as the venue to host this gala dinner by chefs Fassnidge, Phil Wood(Rockpool), Alex Herbert (Bird, Cow, Fish), Warren Turnbull (Assiette, District Dining), Matt Kemp (Restaurant Balzac), Jared Ingersoll (Danks Street Depot, Cotton Duck), Morgan McGlone (Flinders Inn), Darren Robertson (The Table Sessions) and Monty Koludrovic (Becasse).

The evening will be MC’d by ABC 702’s Simon Marnie and Iron Chef Australia’s Simon Thomsen. The price includes champagne, canapés and a six-course degustation with matched wines.

A raft of silent auction prizes has been donated, including dinners for a year (from restaurants including Quay, Sepia and Bodega), along with a selection of ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences to be released on the night.

Strictly limited tickets are now on sale through Rockpool Sydney.

When: Monday, January 31, 6.30pm

Where: Rockpool, 107 George Street, The Rocks 2000

Cost: $350 per guest

Dress code: Cocktail

Bookings: Email reservations@rockpool.com or call +61 2 9252 1888

Web: floodlightdinner.tumblr.com

[TOYS] nominated for a SMAC!

The [TOYS] Collective has been nominated for a 2011 SMAC Award! After a year of amazing ups and more ups, the [TOYS] crew are excited to be recognised by Sydney's premier arts and culture awards.