Sydney food lovers, this is the kind of collaboration that deserves a spot in the calendar immediately.
On 22 June, acclaimed chef Paul Farag will reunite with former Aalia colleague and Hamsi Taverna (https://hamsitaverna.com.au) Head Chef Erdi Akyol for an exclusive one-night-only dinner overlooking Blackwattle Bay.
If you’ve followed Sydney’s dining scene over the past few years, you’ll know exactly why people are already talking about this one.
Farag, best known as the founding chef behind Aalia, has become one of Australia’s most exciting culinary voices, known for taking Middle Eastern flavours and traditions and presenting them through a contemporary lens. His food tells stories. It challenges expectations. And importantly, it’s always delicious.
Joining him is Erdi Akyol, whose own journey has taken him through some of Sydney’s most respected kitchens including Efendy, Anason, Sydney Cove Oyster Bar, Margaret and, fittingly, Aalia, before taking the reins at Hamsi Taverna.
The result?
A dinner that feels less like a guest chef event and more like a reunion between two chefs who genuinely share a creative language.
Set within the stunning new Sydney Fish Market precinct, guests will enjoy a shared-style feast showcasing the pair’s mutual love of bold flavours, exceptional produce and Mediterranean hospitality.
The menu sounds incredible.
Expect dishes including:
• Turnip with tarama and roe
• Tarhana crumbed ling with walnut harissa
• Baby zucchini with aged rice and labne
• Glazed capsicum with whipped feta and marjoram
• Marinated sardine with shatta oil, smashed cucumber and dill
In other words, exactly the sort of menu that encourages everyone around the table to immediately start reaching across for “just one more bite”.
What I particularly love about this collaboration is the full-circle nature of it.
Akyol spent years working alongside Farag at Aalia before returning to the Efendy Group to lead Hamsi Taverna. Now the two are back in the kitchen together, bringing their shared influences and individual styles to one menu for one night only.
And if you’ve visited Hamsi since it opened at the new Sydney Fish Market, you’ll know why it’s the perfect setting.
The venue has quickly become one of the standout openings within the precinct, combining waterfront views with warm Mediterranean hospitality and a menu that celebrates seafood in all its forms.
For diners, it’s a chance to experience two exceptional chefs cooking side by side in a setting that feels distinctly Sydney.
For food lovers, it’s the sort of event that often sells out long before the date arrives.
The Details
📍 Hamsi Taverna, Sydney Fish Market, Blackwattle Bay, Glebe https://hamsitaverna.com.au
📅 Monday 22 June 2026
⏰ From 6pm
💰 $149 per person including drink on arrival
🍷 Optional wine pairing: $79
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