Book Now: Six Collaborative Dining Events on Soon in Sydney

Pop-ups are only on the up around Sydney. Chefs are collaborating and dining rooms are shifting as kitchens are shared – and we’re into it. These events are happening soon, and are just another reason to make a booking at some of our favourite restaurants.

Maiz at The Bat & Ball

Newtown’s Maiz is popping up at The Bat & Ball on Thursday February 26. The menu mashes Cam Votano’s Aussie pub classics with Juan Carlos’s Mexican flavours, with riffs on the Mexican dishes Aussies ate in the ’90s: old El Paso-style hard-shell tacos with guajillo adobo mince, pork chimichangas, and a tinga twist on the pub’s chicken parmi. There’ll be cocktail specials, too. Bookings encouraged.

Gildas Guest Chef Series

Lennox Hastie’s Surry Hills bar is hosting a starry clutch of guest chefs – with many making quite the trip. First up is Ollie Wong, of Byron Bay’s Bar Heather. On February 24 and 25, he’s topping rye with whipped anchovies, sending out pork belly puffs and his famed mushroom-topped potato chips – and that’s just the start. Expect a five-course set menu that finishes with a burnt honey ice-cream sanga. Alex Herbert, of now-closed Bird Cow Fish, is coming too, along with Sushi Oe’s Toshihiko Oe, Fishface’s Steve Hodges, Tulum’s Coskun Uysal and Bistro Livi’s Ewen Crawford. Bookings essential, $145 per person. 

Mimi Wong at Lana

Mimi Wong joins executive chef Alex Wong in the Italian-ish CBD restaurant for one night only: Tuesday February 17, welcoming Lunar New Year. The pair’s four-course set menu starts with king prawn toast, vinegar-dressed storm clams and bonito crudo, before pineapple char siu buns, dry-aged roast duck, “eggplant masquerading as potato” and more. There are add-on dishes too, all of it set to be incredible with these two flavour-masters on the job. Bookings essential, $139 per person.

Trisha Greentree and No Flowers Mahjong Club at the Ace Hotel

On Wednesday February 11, Fratelli Paradiso’s Trisha Greentree is back at the Ace Hotel – this time cooking a Lunar New Year meal before No Flowers Mahjong Club leads a few games in the lobby. First it’s food: Greentree’s brown butter zucchini dumplings, chicken wontons, seafood chow mein and more, plus a matcha and fig pancake for dessert and a welcome drink. Then it’s game on, for both mahjong beginners and experts. Tickets essential, $110 per person.

Christine Manfield at Cho Cho San

In the ’90s, Christine Manfield was known for her Potts Point restaurant Paramount. Soon, together with her partner Margie Harris, she’s returning to the dining room – now the ever-popular Cho Cho San. Book in on February 23 or 24 for Take a Walk on the Wild Side. The share-style menu will be powered by wild-harvested or -caught produce. Sea urchin and sesame leaf tempura, kangaroo tail rendang, fiery wok-fried warrigal greens and more. Plus, a wine pairing if you’d like. Tickets essential, from $150 per person. 

Ennui Chef Collab Series

The two-storey wine bar and diner in Haymarket is inviting a bunch of celebrated chefs into its kitchen for a series of one-night-only pop-ups. First up is Chris Benedet of Bondi’s Promenade, on Thursday February 26. His menu – available as à la carte or set – spans crab arancini and Sicilian crudo, pumpkin gnocchi with brown butter, pork cutlets, and peaches and cream. March 26 will welcome Attenzione’s Toby Stansfield, and April 30 Gastro Park’s Grant King. More dates (and chefs) to be confirmed soon. Bookings essential.