2025 was a year of big firsts and bold flavours, with plenty of ‘are we dreaming?’ moments along the way. There is much to love when you are part of an industry as dynamic as events catering in Sydney – one of the world’s great cities, home to the best in the business and a powerhouse of creative collaborators. Every week brings different corporate and social events, new milestones, new menus and new memories. As we reflect on the year, here are some of the highlights that we loved most.
Our First Home: Saltbox
Cook & Waiter has been in business for quite some time (read to the end for more on this), and in June 2025 we reached a major milestone: the launch of our first dedicated event venue, Saltbox. Don’t get us wrong, we absolutely love catering to premium events offsite and we’re proud to be event caterers for venues such as ACO On The Pier and many more – we wouldn’t change any of that for the world. But we also wanted a place to call home, and Saltbox’s position within the Wunderlich Lane lifestyle precinct, where Surry Hills meets Redfern, brings a fresh spark to Sydney’s event scene, and a fabulous new challenge for our team. Our launch events – first for family and friends, then for industry – went off with a bang, cementing the future direction of Sydney’s newest event space.
SALTBOX REEL
Brand Moments with Big Wow
We have a reputation for working with the best brands and 2025 was no exception. Our inaugural event at Saltbox was for Dior Sydney and the launch of the Fall 2025 Collection. Saltbox was reimagined as a temporary Dior boutique – all theatrics, all for show – inspired by Japanese kimono aesthetics. It was a heady mix of high fashion and fine food, and a career-highlight moment for our entire crew.
View this post on Instagram
Chef Crushes And Dream Menus
We relish rolling up our sleeves alongside Australia’s great chefs, and this year we struck catering collaborations with some of the very best.
- Sydney icon Kylie Kwong joined forces with us on a menu for the Pinterest Leadership Forum at Machine Hall; Kylie curated an incredible long table dinner and we brought it to life on the plate, to the delight of guests and their very happy taste buds.
- We teamed up twice with Sydney titan Joel Bennetts: first for the launch of luxury residential development Kirribilli Harbour (swoon), then for a fabulous wedding at Machine Hall, with Joel designing the shared menu and our team executing it in true premium catering style.
- Longtime friend Danielle Alvarez invited us to help launch Dine Out with Uber Eats, where diners could score in venue deals at some of Sydney’s favourite restaurants. Great deals, great collaboration, great fun.
- When Joel Bickford asked if we wanted to partake in Christmas à la Moët & Chandon, there was only one answer: “Yes, Chef!” A festive flurry of French chic and creative culinary experiences made for one very sparkling collaboration.
KIRRI BILLI HARBOUR REEL
UBER EATS REEL
MOET & CHANDON POST
Runway Ready at Australian Fashion Week
Being the official catering partner for Australian Fashion Week at Carriageworks was more than just a moment we loved best; it was a week we loved best. From early call times to lightning-fast turnarounds, our team worked behind the scenes all week – chopping, prepping, plating and keeping pace with a schedule that moved as quickly as the outfit changes. The result: impeccably fed guests, very happy clients and a crew that could probably now quick change in a commercial break.
View this post on Instagram
Saddling Up for F3 Polo
Social, high energy and action-packed – that’s us, and it also perfectly describes F3 Polo, the faster paced, three aside version of traditional polo. So, we were perfectly aligned to be the official catering partner for F3 Polo Sydney at Centennial Park’s Mission Fields, serving a day of sport, music, fashion – and, naturally, fabulous food and drinks. We rode fast, we hit hard, we played smart … and we plated even smarter.
F3 POLO REEL
Ten Year Legends in Our Crew
We’re a team of superstars (even if we do say so ourselves) and our collective light shines bright because of the individuals who bring their best to every shift and every event. In the past year we celebrated two team members – Jacob and Pai – who have each sparkled in the Cook & Waiter orbit for a decade, a testament both to their dedication and to a workplace that feels like family and inspires long-term loyalty.
PHOTO OF PAI / JACOB
A Decade of Cook & Waiter
That brings us nicely to our final highlight: celebrating 10 years in business as one of Sydney’s go-to names in premium catering. That’s ten years of popping Champagne corks, showstopping events, bespoke menus tailored to every venue and client, and creative collaborations with some of the most exciting brands, chefs and hosts in the country. We launched a branded bottle of sparkling wine as “The Ten” to mark this milestone, and we’ve popped quite a few of those corks since. As we reflect on the highlights of the past year – and the past decade – there have been many of those ‘we-can’t-quite-believe-it’ milestones. And we’re already dreaming up what the next ten years will bring.
THE TEN BOTTLE
Looking Ahead: What’s Coming Next
Our team has been working hard behind the scenes, and we have exciting announcements rolling out across 2026 regarding the business and even bigger developments, as well as new experiences, new menus and a few surprises with our favourite partners. Watch this space and come hungry.