Wine dinners can sometimes feel a little predictable: sit down, eat a series of courses, listen to a few tasting notes and head home.
The Paxton Wine Dinner at The Rocks Teppanyaki promises something considerably more entertaining.
For one night only on September 2, the heritage-listed restaurant will combine the theatre of teppanyaki with the wines of South Australian producer Paxton Wines, creating an evening designed as much around the experience as what is on the plate.
Seven wines will be poured across seven courses, with Paxton winemaker Kate Goodman joining the dinner to take guests behind the bottle. It is an opportunity to taste your way through Paxton's range while watching chefs work the teppan in one of Sydney's most distinctive dining settings.
And the menu is built for a little indulgence. Expect premium Australian produce, including Hiramasa kingfish, baby lobster and full-blood Wagyu sirloin, alongside Japanese flavours and plenty of theatrical touches. Even dessert gets the teppanyaki treatment, with Crêpe Suzette flambéed tableside with Cointreau.
That combination is what makes this dinner worth leaving the house for. It isn't simply a chance to drink a selection of wines with dinner; it is an evening where the food, wine and performance all feed into each other, with the teppan providing the action and Paxton bringing the storytelling.
There is also a mystery wine game during the evening, adding a playful element for anyone who likes to put their palate to the test.
At $185 per person, this is the kind of dinner to book when you want your night out to feel like an occasion rather than just another meal. Come for the wine, stay for the Wagyu, the flames and the fun.
The Paxton Wine Dinner takes place September 2 at The Rocks Teppanyaki, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks.
