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Navarra Venues proudly collaborated with Viva Leichhardt to curate an unprecedented line-up of talented chefs and foodie personalities on the culinary stage at this year’s Norton Street Italian Festa. Attracting more than 180,000 visitors the Italian Festa is one of Australia’s largest annual street festivals. Held in Leichhardt on the last Sunday in October, it is free to enter, family friendly, and offers an immersive Italian cultural experience. Visitors can purchase a huge variety of Italian cuisine from food stalls and restaurants, watch cooking demonstrations on the culinary stage, purchase beverages from vendors, enjoy live entertainment, look at vintage and new Italian brand cars and motorbikes, and engage in many more activities.
It made complete sense for Le Montage by Navarra to be a Gold Sponsor of the Italian Festa. The venue in Lilyfield is right next to Leichhardt. It overlooks the picturesque Iron Cove Bay, on the popular The Bay Run, and is owned by an Italian family. The Navarra family story embodies a quintessential Australian migrant success story. Le Montage is respected in the local business community as a significant local employer and a large capacity venue that supports suppliers. Le Montage is a genuine part of the Little Italy Sydney story.
Navarra Venues is committed to good quality food and creates menus that have an authentic Sicilian/Italian influence. Group Executive Chef Lorenzo Nava shared some of his kitchen secrets during his live cooking demonstrations, including his signature dish – octopus carpaccio.
The hosts for the culinary stage included actor and professional MC Salvatore Coco and TV chef Anna Simon. DNA Entertainment kept the music pumping and energy levels high. Showtime Production Services ensured the on-stage presenters were wired for sound and assisted with great camera angles for live streaming. There was a visit from Sydney FC men’s and women’s team players as Navarra Venues is a proud Premium Partner of Sydney FC. Italian-Australian influencer and podcaster Massimo Corrente made a guest appearance on stage for pasta making.
Audiences of the culinary stage were treated to seven engaging food showcases and sessions of gastronomic delights. Pino Locantro from Locantro Bakery presented some iconic Italian pastries. Gabriele Franco from award winning restaurant Le Botte D’oro did a cook off with Anna Simon.
Navarra Executive Chef Lorenzo Nava, in addition to cooking his octopus carpaccio, collaborated with three special guests; celebrity chef Stefano Marvello from Italian Cooking Experience to make tortellini and a delicious pasta sauce; farmer come butcher Tim Perram from Hunter Valley Premium Meats to slow cook a beef short rib; and Master Chocolatier Jodie Van Der Velden from Josophans Fine Chocolates to produce an incredible Two Worlds Collide chocolate tiramisu dessert, combining Lorenzo’s Tiramisu served in an edible chocolate coffee cup created by Jodie.
The last cooking demonstration of the day “Un Spuntino!” featured Nick Angelucci from BBQ Aroma making pizzas and Franc Gionta from Amatos Liquor Mart making refreshing cocktails to pair with different pizzas. The final element of the Culinary Stage was announcing the winners of the 2025 Italian Festa Salami Competition.
Festival goers had an extraordinary opportunity to queue for a free VIP seated experience at the Le Montage by Navarra Culinary Stage. Each of the seven cooking demonstrations welcomed 60 lucky guests, 420 in total, to enjoy a quality food item and beverage, served to the tables by Navarra staff. Some cooking demonstrations also resulted in additional food samples being offered to the audience.
Courtesy of supporters like Marketplace Leichhardt there were prize giveaways.
Le Montage by Navarra also had a food stall which was a huge hit. Our Italian chefs delivered a live Italian pasta bar selling freshly made Paccheri Marinara and Casarecce with Beef Cheek Ragu. For something sweet to follow, the stall offered Executive Chef Lorenzo’s Tiramisu and a Limoncello Tiramisu.
The CEO of Navarra Venues, Sal Navarra, stopped by the Culinary Stage precinct, greeted guests and said: “I am exceptionally proud of the outstanding experiences our team has created, prepared, and delivered for guests. It is a true display of Navarra hospitality and culinary artistry at its finest.”
