A Sydney somm pours South American wines to Southide
This Wednesday, May 24, top Sydney sommelier Dennis Roman, of Senses At Wine, will host a dinner at Southside restaurant in collaboration with Half Moon Wine Store. Born in Chile, Roman moved to Sydney in 2007, establishing a reputation for himself as one of the city’s most sought-after wine guys through his work with Merivale group and, later, the innovative Cafe Paci. The dinner will highlight wines from Chile and Argentina, matching them to a set menu of Southside’s inventive East Asian fare, includes kingfish with green chilli and kombu; king prawns with ginger, shallots and yee fu noodles; and Wagyu stir-fry.

Axil Coffee brings its world champion barista from Melbourne to the Brisbane CBD
Melbourne’s Axil Coffee Roasters is heading to Brisbane this week. From Wednesday to Sunday, it will take over the guest coffee bar at Intersection (the laneway precinct that’s also home to Coffee Anthology and Fika). Axil barista Anthony Douglas – who recently took out the World Barista Championship – will be on the tools. There’s a meet and greet with him on Thursday from 4pm to 7pm, and a latte art smackdown from 4pm to 7pm on Friday. The winner takes home a $1000 cash prize.

A meal and a masterclass with Mas & Miek
Southside is at the centre of the action this week, with Newstead ceramics studio Mas & Miek hosting a masterclass for Brisbane Art Design at the venue on May 25. Guests will learn how a pinch pot takes shape before being treated to a two-course dinner, with all the food plated on handmade Mas & Miek pieces. The menu includes potato and truffle spring rolls, wasabi chicken and chive dumplings, and steamed market fish. Head here for tickets.

This year, gift them a dinner to remember with a Broadsheet Gift Card.

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Five Chefs, Five Plates at Essa
Each Wednesday – starting on May 31 – Essa will host a series of dinners designed to give young chefs a chance to experiment with seasonal produce and showcase their creativity. The first is priced at $66 a head, with Wineism’s Ian Trinkle pouring some of his favourite drops from Italy, France and Australia. Future dinners may involve young chefs from Essa, guest chefs or producers, but promise never to exceed a $100 pricepoint. Young chefs are encouraged to get in touch with Essa chef-owner Phil Marchant if they want to get involved.

Festa Italiana takes over Howard Smith Wharves
Chef Orazio D’Elia from Bondi’s beloved Italian spot Da Orazio, is coming to Brisbane to curate the inaugural Festa Italiana at Howard Smith Wharves. Held over the next two weekends (May 26–28 and June 2–4), the wharves’ main lawn will be converted into an Italian market with food and drink stalls and live music. Several of D’Elia’s famous dishes, such as vodka rigatoni and focaccia con porchetta, will be on offer alongside a drinks offering of Aperol Spritzes, Peach Bellinis and more.