Guest chef Vaughan Mabee's signature dessert - deer milk ice cream sculpted into antlers attached to a deer skull and drizzled with 'deer blood' caramel - will be one of many showstoppers at this year’s City of Hobart Winter Feast.
At a glance
- The City of Hobart supporting Dark Mofo Winter Feast again in 2024.
- Both Sundays will be free to enter the Winter Feast this year as well as cheaper tickets for Thursdays and Fridays.
The annual Feast is a staple of Tasmania's culinary calendar and returns with a line-up that promises to challenge culinary norms.
The star attraction is a collaboration between guest chef Vaughan Mabee, who is the executive chef at Amisfield in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Vince Trim, executive chef at Mona's Heavy Metal Kitchen.
Winter Feast food curator Amanda Vallis said the culinary lineup for this year’s event seeks to embody the spirit of winter in Tasmania.
“We are so excited to announce that globally renowned guest chef Vaughan Mabee will be joining us this year.
He has been described as ‘Dark Mofo on a plate’, and in collaboration with Mona's executive chef Vince Trim, we can expect something deliciously wild and wonderful,” Ms Vallis said.
They will cook together in a custom-built outdoor pavilion, creating a menu featuring Tasmanian deer and wallaby, fire-roasted and sliced to order, served alongside wild edibles like wakame furikake, long-spined urchin, and wattleseed.
This year’s Feast will feature 75 stallholders, including 25 newcomers from across Tasmania.
Savoury delights will include spit roast pork buns and neo-Nepalese goat curry, while sweets will include milk and honey doughnuts and giant warm cookies.
The drinks offerings will also impress, with mulled wine, smoked beetroot vodka, and cloudy apple cider among the new additions.
"I'm really excited that yula (mutton bird) will be on offer once again this year, showcased at the Palawa Kipli stall presented by palawa woman Kitana Mansell,” Ms Vallis said.
“Served with tinputina (kunzea) relish on wurani (wattleseed) buns, Kitana’s food is an innovative fusion of traditional Tasmanian ingredients.”
A Tasmanian sparkling wine bar curated by local sommelier Joseph Burton will offer wines to complement the culinary delights.
Hobart City Council is proud to support the event again this year and to encourage people from across Tasmania and interstate tourists down to Hobart this winter.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said it was more important now than ever to support our festivals.
“This is the 11th year of the Feast, and we always receive very positive feedback from both locals and visitors about the quality of the food, the music and the atmosphere,” Cr Reynolds said.
“The flow on benefits to local businesses and tourism operators is clear and the vibrancy it brings to our darkest month has been a true game changer for Hobart.
“I appreciate with extra cost of living pressures that many are taking a second look at how they spend every dollar, which is why we’re so proud to support a festival that is doing what it can to increase accessibility by offering lower priced tickets across some nights and free entry for both Sundays this year.
“We welcome the news of Metro increasing the number of free trips into the city for the Winter Feast from both the northern and southern suburbs this year too.”
Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite welcomed the City of Hobart’s support of the event.
“We are thankful for the continued support of the City of Hobart,” Mr Twite said.
“As costs continue to rise for both the festival and those who attend it, these funds help us maintain the high quality of this unique event but also keep the Feast financially accessible."
Dark Mofo’s City of Hobart Winter Feast is on from June 13-16 and June 20-23.
Visit darkmofo.net.au for ticketing and stallholder information.