Carriageworks Night Market

If your idea of a perfect balmy summer evening involves eating your way through a food market showcasing some of Australia’s best produce, chefs and restaurants, then there is only one place you need to be on Friday night – Carriageworks Night Market.

Curated by acclaimed chef Kylie Kwong, this year’s event is inspired by all things native Australian. Be prepared to feast on unique and diverse local flavours and produce like wallaby, quandong, saltbush and crocodile as you’re kept entertained with live tunes, cooking demonstrations, art and educational talks.

There’s an impressive line-up of over 60 stalls of deliciousness so we’ve narrowed down some of our faves that you must check out.

What to eat

Start the night with Nomad’s hiramasa kingfish ceviche with finger lime, avocado and saltbush crackers or their house-made charcuterie from wallaby, kangaroo and other locally-sourced animals.

Be sure to make your way over to Biota’s stall where you will find scrumptious kangaroo Bolognese toasties (because you can NEVER go wrong with a toastie), prawn and myrtle doughnuts and crocodile and riberry pemmicans.

Another favourite will be Kwong’s restaurant Billy Kwong, who will be serving up steamed savoury pancakes filled with Moreton Bay bug tails, XO, munyeroo and fresh sea urchin.

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, why not try some of local entomologist Skye Blackburn’s sustainably-produced edible insect samples as she hosts The Edible Bug Shop.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, complete your culinary adventure with an Andy Bowdy creation as the Saga team whip up a macadamia and Davidson plum ice cream sundae or get your hands on RivaReno’s gelato flavour created especially for the event in collaboration with Kwong.

Where to drink

After scouring the never-ending food stalls we know you’ll be in need of a drink. Luckily there’ll be bars aplenty with tipples on offer to suit all tastes …

Gin fiends will love Archie Rose’s Signature Dry Gin served with native Australian botanicals of blood lime, dorrigo pepper leaf, lemon myrtle and river mint.

Or, if an ice cold brew is what you’re after, then you can’t go past Marrickville brewer Wildflower and Melbourne’s artisanal brewery La Sirene.

What to do & see

There’ll be local DJ’s so you can get your Friday boogie on, but make sure you don’t miss the live performance by internationally renowned composer Elena Kats-Chernin who will be playing piano in the centre of the market.

Carriageworks, Artbank and Kylie Kwong will be presenting a special art installation commissioned specifically for the Night Market. Five women from the Yarrenyty Arltere Artists in Alice Springs have created an incredible large neon light installation that is a must-see.

Leave the market not only full of yum food but full of culinary knowledge as there’ll be dozens of demonstrations and talks on all things Australian produce and culture. Sea urchin expert and diver Craig Shephard will be showcasing freshly harvested sea urchins, turban snails and seaweed whilst Dwayne Banon-Harrison will be demonstrating traditional fire making and cooking with smoke as he mixes up paperbark smoked blackfish parcels with native sea sprinkle.

Check out the full list of chef and producer demonstrations here.

Details:

When: 5pm -10pm, Friday February 9^th

Tickets to the market are $10 and can be bought on Ticketek.

words by jessica coughlan