A night of warmth and decadence, The Winter Feast was a foodie’s winter wonderland.

Foodies clutched at their jackets and braced winter’s bite, as they embarked on a journey to the location of our recent Winter Feast. At 5pm, they received their secret text message revealing the location of the event, which was hosted at the luxurious Mode Kitchen & Bar. Situated in the heart of the Four Season’s Hotel in Sydney’s CBD, Mode honours fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients in its striking dining room. A wood fire oven lies in the heart of the kitchen, which is charged to 400 degrees to offer exceptional cuisine quality.

Crossing the restaurant’s thresholds, guests were strongly encouraged to get warm with the first cocktail of the night, a Chivas Whisky Sour. This iconic drink, shaken and stirred with Chivas Regal Whisky, egg white, lemon juice and sugar syrup, quickly eased everyone into the night, as they mingled outside the main dining room.

With cocktail glasses nearing being empty, Ms Darlinghurst aka Alex Adams, soon sat guests around the room. Warm wooden furnishings teamed with moody teal velvet cushions offered a cosy feel, the signature Secret Foodies black and gold masks adding the final decorative touch to a space. With everyone seated, it was time for the first wines to be poured for the night.

Our incredible drinks partner, St Hugo Wines, worked closely alongside the Mode team to create the perfect food and drink pairings. With that in mind, guests started with two unique white wines. The first was St. Hugo Eden Valley Riesling, while the second was a St. Hugo Eden Valley Chardonnay. A lovely St. Hugo ambassador stood before the group and encouraged everyone to try and distinguish which one was which, each vino offering a distinct flavour.

It was time for the first dishes to leave the pass. Starters included smoked burrata teamed with vibrantly coloured broccoli, nashi and toasted pine nuts. Accompanying this was Hiramasa Kingfish, offset by nutty macadamias, onion and sweet and sour sauce. The final entrée was a delectable duck terrine, laced with pistachios and pickled cucumbers. Guests around the table agreed that each share-style entrée embodied freshness and vitality, perfectly in keeping with both the Riesling and Chardonnay.

Mains cleverly encapsulated the Winter Feast theme of the evening. Designed to share, dishes included wild mushroom and parmesan risotto alongside Tuscan-style Porchetta, topped with crowd pleasing pork crackling. Cutting through the richness were side servings of garden salad, whilst roasted potatoes added the final touch of decadence.

To suit the rich and hearty feel of these dishes, two St. Hugo Wines were poured. The first was a St. Hugo Barossa GSM, offering a medium bodied and fragrant mouth feel. The second wine to be poured was the St. Hugo Last Letter Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, which was slightly fuller-bodied. Guests agreed that both wines delivered on drinkability and complexity, all while the St. Hugo ambassador told amazing stories behind the two wines before the crowd.

Dessert at Mode certainly didn’t come as an afterthought, as Head Chef Franceso Mannelli dished up his signature Lemon tart. It went down a total treat. As guests tucked into this sweet delight, Franceso Mannelli came out and spoke to the group about how he came to work at Mode, his passion for good, honest food clearly translating onto the plate.

With bellies full of great food and wine, it was time for the Winter Feast to come to an end.

Mode Kitchen & bar crafted a Secret Foodies menu that will no doubt inspire guests to cook up their own winter favourites, or at least return to Mode for more incredible dishes.  Check out photos from the event here.

Secret Foodies also offer private events for groups of 20ppl+. For more information and to book, click here.

Mode Kitchen & Bar
Ground Floor, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
199 George Street, Sydney NSW

Open 12pm-10:00pm