One of Adelaide’s most talked-about restaurants is about to become almost unrecognisable, with Esmay set to be transformed into an immersive dining experience celebrating the people and produce behind Australian food.
As part of Nature Festival, The Living Table will take over the Hackney restaurant this Saturday, October 10th, turning its dining room into a living installation where the same seasonal produce will move from sculptural displays to the plates.
Executive Chef Alanna Sapwell will create a bespoke shared lunch inspired by the seasonal harvest, while artist and floral designer Sky Allen of Arcadia Aquatic transforms the restaurant using fruits, vegetables and botanicals sourced from participating growers.
Rather than simply decorating the space, the ingredients used throughout the installation will become part of the meal itself.
“For me, this event is about bringing guests closer to the people, produce and stories behind the food,” shared Alanna. “The restaurant will become part of the experience, with ingredients moving from the installation to the table and ultimately onto the plate.”
The two-hour lunch will bring together farmers, growers and producers from South Australia and beyond, giving diners the chance to hear directly from the people growing the ingredients they are eating.
Conversations will explore everything from growing distinctive varieties and adapting to changing environmental conditions to preserving the diversity that gives Australian produce its flavour and sense of place.
Regenerative farmer and journalist Kenrick Riley will also join the afternoon, sharing his perspective on the future of farming and the importance of strengthening the connection between farmers, chefs and diners.
And there will be plenty happening behind the bar, too. Guests will be served three cocktails showcasing native Australian ingredients and regional produce, created in collaboration with entrepreneur and Indigenous cultural leader Daniel Motlop.
Each cocktail will explore ideas of Country, culture and connection through flavour, adding another layer to an afternoon built around the relationship between people and the land.
The event comes at a particularly exciting time for Esmay, which was recently named South Australia’s Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.
Led by Alanna, the Hackney restaurant has quickly developed a reputation for its highly personal cooking, warm hospitality and menus built around hyper-seasonal produce and close relationships with growers.
The Living Table takes that philosophy outside the plate, creating an experience where the restaurant itself becomes part of the meal.
With limited places remaining, the event offers a chance to experience Esmay in a completely different way while meeting some of the people shaping the future of Australian food.
The Living Table at Esmay
When: Saturday, October 10th, 12:30pm to 2:30pm
Where: Esmay, 95 Hackney Road, Hackney
Price: $170 per person
For more information, click here.
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