Sydney’s Carriageworks will host the inaugural Australian Native Food Festival on 27 and 28 September 2025, bringing together some of the country’s most celebrated chefs and food advocates to showcase the diversity of First Nations culture and native ingredients.
Presented by Indigiearth and led by Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor, the two-day event will feature a mix of food, music, art, and storytelling, with a strong focus on Indigenous-owned businesses and culinary traditions.
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The chef lineup includes big names such as Ben Shewry, Kylie Kwong, Colin Fassnidge, Karima Hazim, George Calombaris, and Elena Duggan. Each will present creative demonstrations designed to honour and reimagine traditional bushfoods.
Highlights include Kylie Kwong teaming up with Proud Gamilaroi Elder Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo OAM for a cooking demonstration that pairs storytelling with native ingredients. Their session will celebrate connection and culture through dishes like lemon myrtle chicken and Kwong’s Australian-Cantonese creations.
Attica’s Ben Shewry will share his approach to incorporating native ingredients into modern dining, drawing on his two decades of shaping one of Australia’s most acclaimed restaurants. Karima Hazim from Sunday Kitchen and Raylene Brown from Kungkas Can Cook will explore the shared values between Arabic and Indigenous food traditions, using recipes as a way to preserve stories and strengthen cultural ties.
Elena Duggan will demonstrate practical ways to incorporate native ingredients into everyday cooking, from pantry swaps to creative lunchbox ideas, making bushfoods more accessible for home cooks.
Alongside these demonstrations, visitors can browse stalls from First Nations-owned businesses such as Baagi Milaygiin, Black Duck Foods, Yaala Sparkling, Native Botanical Brewery, and Kungkas Can Cook.
Sharon Winsor describes the festival as an opportunity to honour culture, strengthen connections, and celebrate the remarkable people and produce that make native foods unique. Raylene Brown echoes this sentiment, calling food one of the most powerful ways to keep stories alive.
The Australian Native Food Festival is free for general admission, with ticketed chef demonstrations now on sale. For the full program and bookings, visit Carriageworks.