Event masterminds AZB Creative have been hard at work creating the interior of this year’s MasterChef Dining & Bar Pop Up Restaurant, opening its doors in Sydney tomorrow.
Following the great success of the first MasterChef Dining & Bar, Alex Zabotto-Bentley and his team of designers and stylists have been working hard to make this year’s execution even bigger and better and they’ve shared a glimpse behind the scenes with us today. It’s a mammoth task, with two iconic locations (in Sydney at Circular Quay, and Melbourne, for the first time, on the rooftop of the Crown).
Lovers of the popular TV show can expect to walk into a sophisticated restaurant which combines iconic elements from MasterChef into a design that feels permanent, premium, comfortable, exciting and alluring. The AZBcreative team has designed a structure which is in harmony with its surrounds and the environment, ensuring the impressive space translates effectively between the very different locations in each city.
With a limited season of only 3 weeks in each city, these are not just any pop ups! Inspired by Victorian pavilions with large domed roof structures, the MasterChef Dining & Bar experience will have panels of clear, light-diffusing roof, that allow the external environment, buildings, views and the night sky into the experience of the diners, whilst also allowing the passing public a glimpse inside.
AZBcreative specialise in designing semi-permanent solutions. MasterChef Dining & Bar will feature a huge, centralised, fully functioning kitchen complete with Italian tiling, beautiful upcycled raw Oregon counter tops, marble, hand blown lighting and AZB signature touches such as oversized geometric floor paneling and detailed styling. The full team of 8 staff have been working on the concept since December last year, and expect to contract another 40 people to install and execute the intricate and bespoke design structures.
“This year will see more access for a wider audience of guests, with a larger dining space and a public bar which can cater for up to 150 guests,” said Alex. “It was important for us to raise the bar again this year with an even grander interior space to entertain more people, particularly since we are located in such iconic spaces with huge visibility. We want to transport our guests to a MasterChef space, while giving them a collection of premium dining spaces where they can enjoy the high calibre of food on offer.”
Diners will get a clear view into the kitchen, where all the action is.
The MasterChef Dining & Bar pop-up restaurant, presented by American Express, alfa romeo and Lipton, is open for a limited time only. Sydney opens tomorrow (13 August) until 1 September and Melbourne from 1-20 October.
