Perfect skies, live music, good food and great company. The City of Sydney's Dank Street Festival was back again yesterday and attracted thousands of Sydneysiders. I was one of the many who took up on the free shuttle bus offer and trekked down to Dank Street in Waterloo for an afternoon of market shopping, queue lining and drooling.
There was a great turn out in Young Street with stalls of breads, oils, jams, marinades and trucks of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.
We also wandered through a designers market where there were wall decals, hand-made jewellery, bags, bibs, retro furniture, fabric remnants, and plenty more.
And then there were roving entertainers including these Italian chefs of stilts and false security guards carrying giant plush dogs on a leash. Ha!
False security guard with plush toy dog
The gourmet food stalls was what I was really there for. Jones The Grocer were selling large blocks of rocky road, nougat and fudge. I treated myself to the rocky road in dark chocolate which was rich and satisfying. Fluffy marshmallows, glace cherries, dessicated coconut and peanuts were encased in thick chocolate. Mmmm...
At the Dank Street Depot stall this year was a mass production of BBQ pure bred Suffolk lamb rolls with pomegranate and mint salsa.
Dank Street Depot's stall
After eyeing this giant paella in the making, I had to have one for myself. I was a little disappointed the saffron rice wasn't well cooked through but it was still piping hot, moist and delicious.
Chef cooking huge paella
Also at the Seafood & Eat It stall were a stack of young coconuts for drinking and a scrumptious aroma of fresh BBQ seafood.
I've always been a little cautious with food prepared in high quantities but this mixed seafood platter which I shared with X was surprisingly tasty! Salt and pepper calamari, prawns and BBQ octopus were served with a nicely dressed gourmet salad on a cool bark plate.
Loren & Karen respectively had the spicy chorizo roll and smoked bratwurst served with sauerkraut from Eumundi's BBQ Blitz.
Some men are known to walk cute toy dogs to strike up conversations with women... this man took it to another level with 2 massive Huskies. They were gorgeous!
To cool ourselves down, we lastly indulged in gelato and snow cones.
Dank Street Festival
More info: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/artandabout/ExhibitionsEvents/DankStreet
Other upcoming events: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn
Looks like you had a fantastic day! The gelato looks sensational. I didn't make it yesterday but glad you did - and shared the photos too!
I was there too - I didn't spot you! I loooved those cute rings with the food on them! Glad you spotted those. Great photos!
I wasn't able to make it yesterday but it sure looks like fun! Love the new hair too.
I agree with you about the paella. It seems as if they were rushing it. so didn't allow time for the grains of rice to absorb the stock, or possible there wasn't enough stock to begin with. However I did enjoy the festival, sampling food =D
I wasn't sure whether to go to this or the Italian Festival. Looks like I should have come here too, it looks fabulous. Wow that gelato looks almost "folded". Love your new haircut too! very chic :)
Hey Helen, yup, the festival has brought me back into the mood for outdoor events. I can't wait for all the markets and festivals in Spring / Summer!
Hey Christie @ fig&cherry, i was keeping an eye out for other food bloggers but didn't find you either! Doh!
Thanks Lisa! The Sydney Food and Wine Fair is tomorrow.... i'm sure that'll be as much fun! See you there?
Hi Linda, from memory, i think there were only 2 or 3 paellas cooking at once; probably reason for the rush! they were too popular... haha...
Hi Lorraine E, oooo,. you went to the Italian festival? I was going to try do both but realised it wouldn't be feasible :-P
hi..do you know what the wall decor shop was called..ive been looking for it everywhere!!!
Hi emz, i think its called 'flat bird' - surface art wall stickers, try emailing flatbird@live.com; from memory, they have a stall at the Paddington markets
Would you have the contact information for the person/company that sold the fresh vegetable products from their truck
Thankyou
Hi Andrew, the fresh fruits and vegetables were from Hawkesbury Harvest.