Museums of History NSW announces multisensory communal dining experience,Dream Feast, part of 2026 Vivid Food.
Media release Posted Monday 18 May,2026
Museums of History NSW presents Dream Feast, a five-senses dining experience from 2 to 5 June at The Mint, as part of Vivid Sydney's 2026 Vivid Food Program.
Prepare to be indulged with an unforgettable five-course feast with paired drinks, offering a contemporary take on how our tastes have changed and developed through the 19 th century to today.
In partnership with Museums of History NSW, Sydney-born, New York-based ARLO Communal, led by Tobi Fox and Cal Fernie, bring their signature style of combining food artistry with culture and storytelling.
ARLO Communal has an impressive pedigree in the world of fine dining. Fox leads the culinary vision, drawing on experience at Michelin-starred Estela in New York, as well as Cafe Paci, Fratelli Paradiso and 10
William Street, Sydney. Creative direction is shaped by Fernie, whose portfolio includes collaborations with iconic fashion brands such as Schiaparelli, Paco Rabanne and Helmut Lang.
Includes, inserted into the front binding, a booklet of c.11 diaphanie samples: “Vitrauphanie P.R. Paris 1937-38”.
Dream Feast draws inspiration from the Caroline Simpson Library Collection, Australia’s richest collection of items documenting two centuries of domestic life from pattern books and trade catalogues to dining and table
setting trends, menus from long gone restaurants and much more.
The specialised menu combines familiar favourites from the past with a contemporary spin – think, bone marrow toast, deconstructed Bombe Alaska and an original fine dining interpretation on the traditional lobstervol-au-vent.
A hidden gem in the city, The Mint will be the backdrop for this exclusive event. Built in 1816, the historic site will be transformed into an immersive dining space. Outdoor animated projections will illuminate the
sandstone walls, drawing on patterns and textures from the library collection, while a newly commissioned trip hop–inspired soundtrack will be live-mixed by Munasib, an Australian-born Bengali DJ, radio host and curator.
24 plates with art nouveau designs printed as onlays onto grey surface of cards, white blank versos.
English edition of ‘Decken und wande fur das Moderne Haus’ published 1906 in Stuttgart by Julius Hoffmann.
Introduction by Dodd & Oulton explains that “having purchased the English copyright of Herr Gradl’s work from Mr Julius Hoffmann, we have pleasure in introducing it to English decorators and the architectural profession, at the same time we desire to add a few practical directions as to how the designs can be applied …. We hope we may be pardoned for reminding the purchaser of this book that “Duresco” is the one unique material most suited to these designs, and it is our interest in the material that has induced us to go to the trouble and expense of procuring the great boon which we certainly consider Herr Gradl’s work to be for the decorative trade…”
“Duresco” was manufactured by the Silicate Paint Co of Charlton, London and Dodd & Oulton were retailers for this company in Liverpool.
Full text available online at Internet Archive *** Local Caption *** Digitisation Services Provider: Holly Schulte.
Date: 15/08/2009
Includes a loose four-page hand-written list of the designs.
Full text available online at Internet Archive
An album of 121 colour renderings of ceramic tile designs from North Africa. It was produced by a member of the 64e R.A.N.A. (regiment d’artillerie de nord afrique). The album is accompanied by a four page hand-written list and classification keyed to the illustrations, giving tile origins, dimensions, “situation” (where found) and country location. Drawn principally in Algeria and Tunisia, the illustrations are copied from a wide variety of sources including Le Bardo at Tunis, le Palais du Bez at Constantine, the Mosque de Sidi Aberrahman at Tunis, and at villas such as Mercier at parc Gottlig, Lucie at El Biar, Jeanne d’Arc and Stephann in Algeria. Cathedrals, hotels and even a fountain on a street corner are represented. The artist has taken pains to note when certain tile designs show up frequently in an area, and, also, to note when the origin of a tile design is unknown. Some Spanish and Italian tiles found in such places as the Collection Fayolle at Algers appear. The water-colors (and/or body-colors) vary in size: for the most part there are three or four to a page, with the largest of these being anywhere from 22 x 22cm to 11.5 x 11.5 cm. The smallest are about 5 x 5 cm. Each drawing has been mounted into the album with slotted paper tabs so that it can be easily removed. In a few cases, drawings appear on both sides of the paper. The colors are very rich and the designs executed with skill and artistry. An amateur production of great passion and attention to detail. [Bookseller’s note].
Dream Feast brings food, visuals and music together to transform The Mint into a sensory experience that celebrates Sydney’s creative communities while bringing history vividly to life.
WHAT: Dream Feast
WHERE: The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney
WHEN: 2, 3, 4 + 5 June 2026
WEBSITE: mhnsw.is/dreamfeast
Picture credit: Caroline Simpson Library Collection, Museums of History NSW
ABOUT THE CREATIVES
Museums of History NSW cares for, and provides access to, significant historic places, collections and archives in NSW and is responsible for promoting knowledge and appreciation of history. It is a statutory body, principally funded by the NSW Government.
ARLO Communal
Tobi Fox, Head Chef / Culinary Director, ARLO Communal
Tobi Fox began his culinary journey in Sydney’s top restaurants, including Café Paci, Fratelli Paradiso and 10 William Street, before refining his skills in New York City’s dynamic food scene at
the Michelin-starred Estela under renowned chef Ignacio Mattos. Tobi now leads a series of global pop-ups, bringing his expertise to kitchens worldwide. His collaborations include prestigious venues such as Early June in Paris, Numeroventi in Florence, Tasca Pete in Lisbon, and Bar Buci in Sydney.
Cal Fernie, Creative Director / Executive Producer, ARLO Communal
Cal Fernie brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career in the fashion industry and creative arts. With expertise in event management and styling, he’s instrumental in curating ARLO’s visual and experiential identity. His diverse portfolio includes collaborations with iconic fashion names such as Laila Gohar, Schiaparelli, Paco Rabanne, Haider Ackermann, Helmut Lang, and the CFDA Fashion Awards.
Munasib
Australian-born Bengali DJ/radio host and curator, Munasib has curated performances at the Ace Hotel Sydney, SXSW Sydney and Powerhouse Lanes and taken the stage at Splendour in the Grass, Sydney Opera House, Australian Fashion Week and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. A previous member of tastemakers Astral People and current member of South Asian creative collective Kerfew. She was the host of House Party on Triple J and a past Mixup resident. She is also the brains behind Spice Trail, a performance night that debuted in 2024 at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Live.
About Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney, one of the world’s leading multi-artform festivals, transforms Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. In 2026, the festival will bring the city to life, both night and day for the first time, inspiring global audiences and driving cultural exchange. From 22 May to 13 June, the festival’s pillars of Light, Music, Minds and Food will create shared experiences, attract domestic and international visitors, and support the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy’s target of a $91 billion visitor economy by 2035. Proudly owned and managed by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney showcases NSW’s cultural vibrancy and positions it as aglobal leader in artistic innovation.
