Chef Stefano Marano is passionate about sustainability, particularly when it comes to minimising food waste in the kitchen. This ethos comes to life at Avia, his charming 60-seat neighbourhood restaurant, which he co-owns with Jack Reid. Here, food scraps are repurposed into sauces, whole animals are used and waste is kept to a minimum.
Now, he’s taking things one step further with Re:Purpose, a new monthly series where Avia’s team will collaborate with a top Sydney chef and restaurant to create a low-waste and delicious meal at the Darlinghurst diner. The chefs will take inspiration from food waste they currently see in their own kitchens and turn it into something special.
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“Think fun vibes, delicious food, juicy wines and a good cause at the base of all: sustainability and repurposing,” the team said in a statement on Instagram.
The first Re:Purpose lunch is happening on Sunday, April 13 at Avia, featuring Korean-born Jun Hwang, the head chef of The White Horse.
While the menu is still being finalised, we do know the teams will be working with local farms, bakers and suppliers to repurpose produce that would normally go to landfill. There’s no set menu, so you can choose and order what you want.
Now, this is cool: Sydney-based creatives – including potters and ceramicists – are also getting in on the fun, turning glass and other material waste from Avia into crockery and art pieces that will be available for purchase on the day. Profits will go towards the artists and also to OzHarvest, which is onboard as a supporter of this initiative.
Throughout the day, the chefs will chat with guests about their dishes and what went into them, sparking conversations about food waste that diners may be able to take home and apply in their own kitchens.
Yum food, great vino and doing our bit to help the planet? Now, that’s something we can get behind.
Lunch seatings are available from noon to 2.45pm. Find out more and book lunch at Re:Purpose here.
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