An Evening at Parliament House, Dining with History

About the event

Australia’s oldest Parliament opens its doors for a feast, celebrating NSW’s political history, renowned food and wine culture and ongoing First Nations innovation in art, culture and agriculture. Arrive to canapes and Peterson House sparkling rose, as you explore an exhibit of First Nations art curated by Archibald-winning artist Blak Douglas on the Parliament’s Reconciliation Wall. Enjoy a three-course dinner showcasing NSW’s finest regional produce and native ingredients from Parliament House’s own rooftop garden, paired with wines from Hunter Valley vineyard Tyrrell’s, one of Australia’s First Families of Wine. Guests receive a hard cover copy of the Dining with History cookbook, taking the reader on a journey from the era when cows in The Domain parklands provided milk for the Parliament, to the mid-nineteenth century ‘Refreshment Rooms’, through to today’s modern fine dining service. Executive Chef Vanessa Harcourt (NSW Restaurant and Catering Association 2022 Chef of the Year) shares over 50 recipes from the dining rooms here at Parliament. You’ll also learn more about native ingredients, via a fascinating talk from Clarence Slockee, Gardening Australia presenter and director of Jiwah, an Indigenous cultural landscape and design company. He’ll highlight how native ingredients are used in contemporary and traditional Indigenous cuisine, plus explore Jiwah’s work in creating a world-first rooftop garden in Eveleigh focused on native plants to increase biodiversity.