This post was originally published on February 5. It has been updated with new information.
Noma chef René Redzepi shook up the culinary world when he announced he was relocating his award-winning restaurant from Copenhagen to Sydney for 10 weeks starting in January 2016. He also nearly broke the Internet: Reservations for the 56-seat pop-up sold out in 90 seconds, and there are currently some 27,000 people waitlisted for reservations. He took over Traveler's Instagram, too. Now in the midst of the ten-week post, which ends April 2, Redzepi added another twist to operations Down Under by announcing he's reviving his MAD food festival for one day at the Sydney Opera House.
Founded by Redzepi in 2011, MAD is a non-profit dedicated to expanding the knowledge of food. Called MAD SYD, the Sydney event on April 3 will thus far feature chef and restaurateur Kylie Kwong, chef David Chang of Momofuku, chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana, African activist farmer Chido Govera, and social researcher Rebecca Huntley, in addition to Redzepi himself. And while the symposium in Sydney will last just one day, Redzepi will also host the fifth edition of the festival in Copenhagen in late 2016.
Kwong told Condé Nast Traveler she will be sharing her story and experiences at MAD SYD, and speaking specifically to the way Redzepi has influenced her own exploration of new directions in cooking.
"For we chefs, it’s a great experience to have René here, ‘on the ground’ with us, sharing his endless passion, energy, knowledge, and encouragement," says Kwong, a Sydney native. "At MAD, one of the main aims is to express the importance of how the future of food influences our lives and our thoughts. Having MAD here in Sydney is amazing in that René is bringing the world to our doorstep and inviting us to engage and be a part of these bigger conversations around ‘food futures’ and a chef’s part in it."
Redzepi has spoken often about a chef's role as it develops into a position of influence. "Such responsibility requires education, an elevation of awareness, and social maturity," he has said. "MAD wants those who attend the symposium to return to their kitchens and communities and reflect on what they have seen and heard. There are new questions we now know to ask, so we can become more inquisitive, imaginative, and knowledgeable."
Hoping to snag a ticket for Sydney? Stay alert: On Tuesday, February 9, the organization will release more information on the theme, timing, and ticket prices, as well as a registration link for tickets. Updates will also most likely come through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
With additional reporting by David Prior.
