Plate It Forward will launch the first ever Third I Festival across its three venues, Colombo Social, Kolkata Social and Kyiv Social. This month-long program combines food, art and conversation to explore the connections between International, Indigenous and Inner West communities, the three pillars behind Plate It Forward’s work.
Across the festival, guests can experience one-off collaborations between chefs, performers, writers and artists, creating spaces where culture and cuisine meet. Highlights include the opening night at Kolkata Social, where Ahana Dutt and Helly Raichura will mark Asthami, one of Durga Puja’s most celebrated days, with a menu that blends heritage recipes and contemporary takes, coinciding with the release of Raichura’s new book The Food of Bharat.
Read more: Sweet Memories cookbook by Two Good Co
The following weeks unfold like a cultural tour. Colombo Social hosts the Bindi Bosses Bottomless Brunch on 11 October, a lively mix of Sri Lankan food and South Asian dance. On 12 October, award-winning playwright S. Shakthidharan leads Chai & Chats, a shared lunch with discussions on Sri Lankan heritage, migration and family.
Indigenous and Bengali culinary traditions converge on 15 October when Sharon Winsor of Indigiearth joins Ahana Dutt for From Country to Kolkata. Over at Kyiv Social, the Story Dinner Series on 20 and 21 October offers two intimate evenings of storytelling. Somali-born poet Hani Abdile will host the first night on refugee and migrant experiences, while the second features Kirsten Booker and Australian Poetry Slam Champion Rob Waters, focusing on First Nations voices with a native-inspired menu.
On 22 October, Melbourne’s Hopper Joint partners with Colombo Social for a five-course Sri Lankan-inspired dinner. The Third I Festival ends on 26 October with a free laneway party outside Kyiv Social featuring cocktails, barbecue and live music.
Find out more about the festival and the program here.