DarkLab organisers are excited to announce a thoroughly travel-worthy program of events for this year’s winter festival period in Nipaluna/Hobart.
“I know we said Dark Mofo would stay quiet, but Winter wouldn’t feel the same without the chance to feast and frolic during the long Tasmanian nights,” Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite said.
“As the chill of winter creeps in I know we are already longing to feast, dance and swim together. So we’re really excited to be able to present these beloved pillars of the festival this June for Tasmanians and all our dedicated Dark Mofo pilgrims.”
WINTER FEAST’S NEW MENU
The Winter Feast 2024 star attraction is guest chef Vaughan Mabee (Executive Chef, Amisfield, Aotearoa/New Zealand) who will be partnering with Vince Trim (Executive Chef, Mona, Heavy Metal Kitchen), bringing their shared love of unorthodox ingredients and mind-bending dining to life with a collaborative menu designed to challenge and surprise.
Housed in a custom-built outdoor pavilion, the pair will dish up a menu featuring Tasmanian deer and wallaby—strung up, fire-roasted and sliced to order—served alongside an array of wild edibles like wakame furikake, long-spined urchin and wattleseed.
Mabee’s signature dessert will also grace the menu—deer milk ice cream sculpted into antlers, attached to a real deer skull, and drizzled with ‘deer blood’ caramel.
Winter Feast food curator Amanda Vallis shared her enthusiasm for the tantalising culinary lineup for this year’s event, one that seeks to embody the spirit of winter in Tasmania.
“We are so excited to announce that globally-renowned guest chef Vaughan Mabee will be joining us this year. He has been described as ‘Dark Mofo on a plate’, and in collaboration with Mona’s executive chef Vince Trim, we can expect something deliciously wild and wonderful,” she said.
This year’s Feast will feature 80 stallholders, including 25 new stallholders from around the state of Lutruwita/Tasmania, adding an exciting element of discovery, and offering a diverse array of flavours and culinary traditions to explore.
New savoury Winter Feast offerings to look forward to include delectable spit roast pork buns from The Waterloo Inn (Swansea), mortadella cruller choux pastries from Trophy Room, (North Hobart), neo-Nepalese goat curry from Ekka (Hobart), Indian street food from Spice on Wheels (New Town), crispy-fried Southern rock lobster sliders from Hursey Seafoods (Stanley), arancini stuffed with beef ragu and mozzarella from Zero81 Napoli (Kingston Beach), Pork Baozi buns from Kung Fu Canteen (Hobart), pino empanadas from Chilean Cuisine Tasmania (Kingston), woodfired margherita pizzas from Pizza Guys (Moonah), classic calzones from Incendio Pizza (Huon Valley), Huon beef rolls from Smoked by Lost Captain (Hobart), and fried wings and mushroom congee from Communion Brewing Co. (Burnie).
New sweet Winter Feast offerings to look forward to include milk & honey doughnuts from Kenzo’s Kitchen (Launceston), and giant warm cookies from Nectar Eater (Hobart), while new drink offerings on the menu include mulled wine from Prickly Mo (Eugenana), smoked beetroot vodka from Salvage Drink Co. (Derwent Park), cloudy apple cider from Mr Bridges (Kettering), plus Stoney Rise Wine Co. (Gravelly Beach), Derwent Distillery (Dromedary), Aunt Alice Wines (Tamar Valley), Devil’s Brewery Tasmania (Tinderbox), and Penguin Beer Co. (Penguin).
These new local stallholders will be dishing up along with so many familiar Feast favourites, including Festival Martabak, Tummy Thai Pad Thai, Middle Eastern-style Nachos by Harissa, instagram favourite Squidlipops by Formosa Bites, Baked Otto by Bruny Island Cheese + Beer Co., and of course, Bruny Island Oysters Tasmania.
“I’m really excited that yula (mutton bird) will be on offer once again this year, showcased at the Palawa Kipli stall presented by palawa woman Kitana Mansell. Served with tinputina (kunzea) relish on wurani (wattleseed) buns, Kitana’s food is an innovative fusion of traditional Tasmanian ingredients,” food curator Amanda Vallis said.
“Also exciting is the addition of a Tasmanian sparkling wine bar, curated by cherished local sommelier Joseph Burton. We’re working hard to ensure that this year’s Winter Feast will deliver a fresh and unparalleled celebration of Tasmanian food and wine, highlighting the best winter season produce our state has to offer.”
WINTER FEAST’S MORE AFFORDABLE ACCESS
With current cost of living pressures in mind, festival organisers have extended free entry to both Sundays of this year’s Feast. Season Passes will also be valid for the entire two weeks of the event, allowing locals and visitors alike the chance to drop in every night to try something new and experience the vibrant music program. As always, entry will be free after 9pm every night.
NUDE SOLSTICE SWIM EXPANDS
This winter, Tasmanians and visitors alike will also be able to revel in the reinvigorating ritual that is the Nude Solstice Swim, running into the waters at Long Beach after the longest night of the year in the southernmost city in Australia.
With a significantly increased capacity this year, there will be plenty of free registrations for people to be able to take the plunge and welcome back the sun on the Solstice morning, Friday 21 June.
LATE NIGHT SHENANIGANS
For the night-owls, there’s plenty to enjoy this June, as the multi-storey dance party Night Shift returns at Altar and High Altar, along with a new and fun nocturnal cousin, Slow Burn, opening at midnight in the Odeon Theatre’s Mezz Bar.
For punters not wanting to stay up quite that late, Winter In The Garden will present a vibrant music program across the In The Hanging Garden precinct, with DJs, food and drink pop-ups and more, from 11am daily.
MIDWINTER AT MONA
The Museum of Old and New Art presents the Mona Gala. Taking place on Friday 14 June 2024, this once-secretive, always-lavish mid-winter extravaganza will celebrate the opening of Mona’s forthcoming new exhibition, Namedropping. Historically an invitation-only affair, guests can purchase tickets to this event to see and be seen at, with the Mona Gala promising a carnival of contrasts—high and low, denim and diamonds—with a dress code to match.
Namedropping will see Mona’s curators zero in on status and the human pursuit—often fast and ferocious—of looking good in the eyes of others. The exhibition of some 200 artworks and objects assembled in Mona’s subterranean galleries will pose questions: What makes the big names big: Porsche, Picasso or Pompidou? What is the nature of status and why is it useful? Is status all about culture, or is there something deeper? On view at the Museum of Old and New Art from Sat 15 June 2024 until Mon 21 April 2025.
A second allocation of tickets to the Mona Gala go on sale next Tuesday 16 April at 10am for subscribers, midday for everyone else. Subscribers will receive a link to access tickets sometime before 10am Tuesday.
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