Newcastle Food Month Is Giving Us 75 Reasons To Visit the Steel City in April

Over the past several years, New South Wales’s second largest city has experienced an eating and drinking renaissance. From neighbourhood bistros to laid-back pubs, conceptual bars and forward-thinking fine diners, Newcastle’s venues are on the up. Newcastle Food Month, which serves up 75 events throughout April, is just another excuse to fit in a mini-break to sample the local culinary culture. From wine parties to winemaker and restaurant crossovers and great-value meal deals, here’s what to check out.

Wine parties

Newcastle’s location on the cusp of the Hunter Valley means it’s got great wine – and the vino will be flowing at parties and Sunday sessions throughout April. Buzzy diner Humbug is celebrating chardonnay from around the world with a “chardy party”, while pan-Asian eatery Light Years will serve up a four-course menu teamed with a range of pinots – from pinot noir to sparkling – by Hungerford Hill. Plus, each Sunday during the festival, Wickham wine bar Vecina will team up with a different winemaker for a wine-and-snack soiree.

Bring-your-appetite meals

Some of the city’s best restaurants are putting together special themed menus for the festival. Waterfront brasserie Thermidor’s four-course feasting menu will feature the various cuisines of the Med, while charming neighbourhood brasserie Harrison’s Food & Wine will host a long lunch celebrating the pintxos and seafood of the Basque region. The nexus of the festival is Diner en Blanc, in which guests are invited to dress all in white for an al fresco dinner party in a secret location. It’s BYO food (or you can order from the event in advance), so you can eat as much or as little as you like.

Wine-and-restaurant crossovers

Wine and food share equal billing at a series of long lunches and one-off dinners. Japanese seafood dishes meet wines by the Hunter’s First Creek Wines at a long lunch at Nagisa, while red meat lovers should aim for the Meat Your Maker event at laundromat-turned-bar The Edwards, where a five-course menu starring local beef will be paired with Margan wines and Akasha beer. Meat – including a grilled bone-in rib eye – is also in the spotlight at a three-course meal at the QT, which will be paired with various Hunter wines. Or swing by Una Volta, where drops from winemaker Hart & Hunter will meet a four-course Italian feast.

Meal deals

In this economic climate, a plate of food and a drink for $30 is a real joy-bringer. That’s the deal with the Plate Date element of the festival, in which a bunch of restaurants and pubs will be dishing up a meal deal throughout the month. At the pretty Autumn Rooms cafe you can get crumpets and a Mimosa for breakfast, while at historic Customs House Hotel the deal gets you a lunchtime serve of Tuscan chicken orecchiette and a glass of chardonnay. Other offers include a burger and beer at The Edwards, steak and a beer or glass of wine at old boozer The Grand, and beetroot-cured Hiramasa kingfish and a glass of vermentino at Nagisa.

Newcastle Food Month runs throughout April.

newcastlefoodmonth.com.au