In Sydney, Christmas in July
Australians often celebrate mid-year to take advantage of the wintery feel down under – and this July it is all about food, fun and fantasy.
Australians don’t get the chance to have a white Christmas. Down under, a December Christmas is hot and steamy, and often celebrated with beers and barbequed seafood. So to take advantage of the winter feel, July is a popular time to celebrate again. And this year, it’s all about food, fun and fantasy.
For dining with a dash of adventure, try the Secret Foodies and Piper-Heidsieck Christmas in July dinner. Inspired by guerrilla dining experiences in New York and Melbourne, Secret Foodies host regular imaginative culinary events at locations announced a few hours prior via a text message. No menus are available beforehand, and sometimes masks are provided upon arrival to further enhance the novelty.
The Christmas in July dinner will be held over two nights (19 and 20 July) somewhere in Sydney’s inner west. The 95 Australian dollar ticket price includes Christmas eggnog, a festive three-course meal and Champagne throughout the evening. The location (and menu details) will remain a secret until the day, and guests are requested to bring along a gift to swap with another foodie (they should make or re-gift their contribution, rather than purchasing something new).
Another dining extravaganza, albeit of a different kind, is El’ Circo Blanc (meaning white circus) at Slide lounge/restaurant, located on Sydney’s famous Oxford Street. The Russian fairytale-themed Christmas experience is held over four Wednesdays (10 July, 17 July, 24 July and 31 July), with tickets priced at 79 Australian dollars. The five courses are cleverly intertwined with five live pantomimes performed throughout the evening.
The menu, prepared by executive chef Aymeric Sain Lannes, features Russian-inspired items, such as cranberry and beet borsch served with manouschka cheese puffs and the Dome of St Basil’s for dessert (a white chocolate and lemon charlotte with crème anglaise and raspberry coulis). The show spectacular has been choreographed by James Taylor, who has produced works for the Sydney Dance Company and The West Australian Ballet.
