Get your body ready for a little bit of indulgence with the return of the State Makers Festival. Held across a number of venues within the iconic State Buildings, the epic foodie festival has a range of events, all boasting something vastly different and discoverable—we’re talking exciting chef collabs, vegan dinners, an exclusive day in the Swan Valley and so much more.
The full program is available to view here, but we’ve done the hard yards and rounded up 6 of the best events you won’t want to miss.
Petals And Pet Nat
Saturday 17 April
Get your creative juices flowing while you explore two of nature’s most delicious fruits of the earth—wine and flowers—at Wine Merchant’s delightful Petals and Pet Nat masterclass. Hosted by award-winning Director of Wine, Emma Farrelly and the floral expert behind Fox & Rabbit, Karli Davies, this spritzy midday masterclass will clue you in on everything to do with seasonal blooms and Western Australian pet nat production.
Five Years Of Wildflower
Tuesday 20 April
To celebrate Wildflower’s fifth birthday, gastronomic mastermind Matthew Sartori is inviting guests into the beautiful rooftop restaurant to revisit some of the most cherished dishes from the last five years. While the exquisite menu has been ever-evolving since 2015, its perfectly-plated dishes have always paid tribute to the six Indigenous Noongar seasons—and this is a night where you can expect to be feasting on the best of the best. In the spirit of celebrating native ingredients, why not add a selection of rare Western Australian wine pairings to your meal?
Petition X Coogee Common Vegan Feast
Thursday 22 April
Adding a plant-based offering to the State Makers program of exciting collaborations and crossovers, the delicious Vegan Feast is not to be missed whether you’re skipping the meat or not. Petition’s Head Chef Simon Bow will welcome Chris Eales from Coogee Common into the kitchen to help deliver a menu packed with incredible dishes using freshly harvested ingredients straight from Coogee Common’s kitchen garden. Wild child winemakers Si Vintners will also play a part in this evening of sustainable deliciousness, putting together a list of perfectly paired natural drops for your enjoyment.
Bangkok Junket
Tuesday 27 April
Because two heads are better than one, Long Chim bar boss Eoin Kenny has enlisted the help of Beer Corner brew guru Gavin McGrane in hosting a five-course share-style feast complete with 10 beer tastings and two cocktails per person. This fiery night filled with Thai delights will send your taste buds to another dimension, but you’ll have no issues in cooling them down thanks to all of the craft brews and cocktail concoctions on offer, plus a brand new Long Chim X Ocean Brewing Co Hazy IPA. Once you’re done feasting, grab a spot under the umbrellas in the courtyard and boogie to beats selected by DJ Alex.
Chef Play
Tuesday 27 April
By now, we all know that there is an insane amount of culinary talent housed within the State Buildings—from Executive Chef Kim Brennan to young gun Sofika Bolton at Wildflower, these guys are the best of the best when it comes to putting incredible food on the table. So you can imagine the kinds of next-level creations they’ll be able to come up with when they’re given the freedom to cook without rules and restrictions. Josh Chen and Simon Bow from Petition will join Kim Brennan and Sofika Bolton for this night of foodie fun, and Emma Farrelly has carefully curated the perfect beverage pairing list for you to drink your way through, so you can really get a taste of everything the State Buildings have to offer.
A Day In The Valley
Saturday 1 May
Wine enthusiasts, prepare to be taken on an intimate behind-the-scenes adventure through the Swan Valley by none other than Emma Farrelly, the Director of Wine at the State Buildings. A private vehicle will chauffeur yourself and 11 fellow vino lovers to and from three of the Swan Valley’s most beautiful wineries—Sittella Winery, John Kosovich Wines and Chouette Wine—where you’ll walk among the vines and enjoy tastings while an array of avant-garde winemakers tell fascinating stories about their winemaking processes. And because wine tasting is hungry work, this exclusive tour also includes an indulgent picnic lunch and tasting courtesy of Executive Chef Kim Brennan and Vino Volta at Nikola Estate, where lobster finger sandwiches feature on the menu along with other gourmet bites.
Image credit: Supplied
Want more? Check out this seafood extravaganza hitting Shorehaven in March.