Sydney on the menu
Looking beyond the four walls of hotels, Sydney’s event venues are reviving their offering too. CIM spoke to two
Sydney chefs to see what’s on the menu for business events this year.
Taronga Centre executive chef Craig Milnes
What are the highlights of
the new menu?
A shift away from formal dining
to more socially interactive
events seems to be the trend.
The public are a lot more
educated about food thanks
to the multitude of cooking
programs around, so they know
what they want and understand
that good food does not have to
be a formal affair. Casual events
with sharing platters and food
stations is the trend and the
highlight of our menus.
What is the theme of the
new menu?
There are several key themes
within the menu, which
incorporate an Asian influence
combining some of Australia’s
treasures found amongst
indigenous ingredients such
as quandong (wild peach) and
wattle seed, with an aroma
of nutty fresh roasted coffee.
We try to keep the food as
natural as possible, allowing the
amazing products we source to
deliver the maximum flavour it
produces so naturally.
What is your approach to
dietary requirements?
Food allergies and restrictions
are more prevalent than
ever. With advanced notice,
caterers can be prepared
for any eventuality. Clever
menu planning and educating
yourself on the ever-expanding
list of dietary requirements
is key as this can reduce the
number of requirements and
changes to the menu.
HostCo executive chef Dominique Heitz
YOUR
MODERN DAY
MENU
WE CATER TO
ANY LOCATION
IN SYDNEY
CATERING | EVENTS | VENUES
hostcosydney.com | +61 2 9563 6245 |
What influences the menus you
create for events? What ingredients are trending
for events this season?
The seasons and produce
available across the year are the
main influencers and centre pieces
for the custom menus we create.
We also see a large majority
of clients requesting tailored
menus for their special events
which gives us the opportunity to
expand our offering and design
dishes that are on trend. A huge trend in Sydney at the
moment is adding bite sized
menu options to an event and a
popular choice for this is burgers
and sliders. We’re seeing many
clients asking for stations and
sharing menus as it is perfect for
creating a relaxed and sociable
atmosphere to the event.
16 Convention & Incentive Marketing, Issue 2, 2017 www.cimmagazine.com