Wok+Wine, Sydney Event

What is Wok+Wine, you ask? Well it involves a wok and it involves wine. And it is quite possibly the world’s most delicious social network. Here’s the deal: 40 people, 40 pounds of jumbo prawns, 40 bottles of wine, one long communal table, a secret location – and that’s it! What comes from this mix of essential ingredients is nothing short of social magic. Some impressive connections, friendships and relationships have been forged through W+W simply because people took a chance and decided to enjoy the head of a prawn instead of throwing it away – rip, lick, bite, suck, as the Wok+Wine phrase goes.

Since the concept was born, only three years ago, Wok+Wine has been held some 90 times in cities spanning every corner of the globe. We were lucky enough to hop along to one of their recent Sydney events and it ended up being one of those special experiences we’ll remember for a very long time. The secret location, revealed to us only 24 hours beforehand, was a space above a printing shop – random, I know. Exposed brick walls and cool street art for Outpost made for a unique and cool venue. We crowded around a long table, drank il Vescovo white (nice drop, by the way), chatted to interesting people we’d never met before, peeled and ate 40 pounds of the tastiest jumbo prawns I’ve ever eaten and, more than anything, just had a good old time. At Wok+Wine, you leave your preconceived notions and expectations at the door, because this is where you come with a blank ‘plate’ and you let the night take you wherever it ends up going. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and find someone who wants to peel you a prawn. You might meet someone who lets you in on their signature Cab Sav marinated mince burger recipe. Or maybe you’ll find yourself in a dodgy pub listening to some very, very bad karaoke while getting lost in some entertaining conversation with new found friends. Or you might not… But that’s all part of the Wok+Wine magic, you just might find something you never knew you were looking for. What I can guarantee is an absolutely fun night doing something completely outside of your comfort zone – and don’t be afraid to go on your own, this is actually what Wok+Wine suggest! Whether it be in a florist or a printing shop, New York or Amsterdam; I totally recommend you experience the social and culinary concept that is Wok+Wine. Go on, go and get your prawn on.