Sinq Foods Presents · Melbourne 2026
The
Sinq Table
The Great Melbourne Fusion Cook-Off
Ethiopian soul meets Australian spirit across 8 cohort rounds and one Grand Final, professionally filmed and broadcast to the world.
About the Competition
Where Two Kitchens
Become One Stage
Sinq Foods invites Melbourne's food lovers to a first-of-its-kind culinary journey spanning 8 cohort rounds and one Grand Final, where the rich traditions of Ethiopian cooking meet the bold, sun-drenched produce of Australia.
Every dish must honour both worlds: authentic Ethiopian spices, grains, and ingredients combined with the finest Aussie meats and seasonal produce this country has to offer.
Each cohort closes with a communal feast shared by all participants. Because every plate here is a conversation. This is our motto in action: Good Food, Good People, One Community.
Ethiopian Ingredients & Culture
Australian Produce & Meats
Full Competition Pathway
8 Cohorts.
One Grand Final.
Cohort Rounds (×8)
Each cohort follows the same two-stage format. In Stage 1, ten Ethiopian background competitors cook while five non-Ethiopian background participants judge. Roles then reverse for Stage 2. Each cohort crowns one winner who advances to the Grand Final, and every cohort closes with a communal feast shared by all fifteen participants. The entire event is professionally filmed for broadcast.
The Grand Final
The 8 cohort champions compete in the ultimate cook-off, judged by professional chefs and food critics. The Grand Final is the flagship broadcast event of the series, filmed to the highest production standard and shared across all Sinq Foods platforms.
Grand Final Champion Prize
The ultimate winner takes home $5,000 AUD, scored by Melbourne's professional culinary judges and celebrated before a live and online audience.
Inside Each Cohort
How Every Cohort
Round Works
Stage One · Each Cohort
Roots & Recipes
Stage Two · Each Cohort
The Tables Turn
After Every Cohort · A Sinq Foods Tradition
🍽️ The Communal Feast
All 15 participants sit together. Competitors and judges share every dish that was cooked, regardless of scores or outcomes.
Culture is the main course. Stories behind each dish are shared, where the recipe came from and what it means to the person who made it.
The cohort winner is recognised with a Sinq Foods hamper, a framed certificate, and their confirmed place at the Grand Final.
The feast is filmed as part of the episode, capturing the warmth, laughter, and connection that make The Sinq Table more than a competition.
Repeated Across All 8 Cohorts · Roles Always Reverse · Feast Always Follows
Media and Production
Filmed for the World
to Watch.
Every cohort round and the Grand Final will be professionally filmed and edited for release across YouTube and major social media platforms. This is not just a local food competition. It is a story about culture, community, and belonging in Melbourne, told through food and shared with the world.
Professional Production Standards
Multi-Camera Setup
Dedicated cameras on the cooking stations, judging table, and communal feast so no moment is missed during filming.
Bilingual Commentary
The MC provides live narration in both English and Amharic, captured in audio for bilingual episode versions distributed online.
Professional Lighting and Audio
Full lighting and sound production to ensure every dish looks its best on screen and every voice is heard clearly.
Edited Episode Format
Each cohort is edited into a structured episode featuring the competition, the cultural context, the judging, and the communal feast.
Cultural Storytelling Segments
Short documentary-style inserts explain the Ethiopian ingredients used, their origins, and their significance to the community.
Grand Final Live Broadcast
The Grand Final will be live-streamed in full, with the prize announcement broadcast simultaneously across all Sinq Foods channels.
Volunteer Roles
The People
Behind the Table
The Sinq Table is a community event built by community members. Volunteers are the backbone of every cohort round and the Grand Final. If you are passionate about food, culture, and bringing people together, there is a role here for you.
Master of Ceremonies (MC)
The MC is the voice and energy of The Sinq Table. They welcome participants and guests, guide the audience through each stage of the competition, and bring warmth and context to every moment on camera. As the event is broadcast bilingually, the MC must be fluent in both English and Amharic to ensure every audience member feels at home.
The Grand Final
8 Champions.
One Winner.
After all 8 cohorts have crowned their champions, the stage is set for the Sinq Foods Grand Final. Melbourne's biggest Ethiopian-Australian culinary showdown, broadcast live to a global audience.
This time, the judging panel is made up entirely of professional chefs and food critics, bringing the highest level of scrutiny and credibility to the final plate. The MC leads the audience through the evening in both English and Amharic.
The Grand Final winner receives $5,000 AUD, the Sinq Foods Grand Champion trophy, and the honour of representing what this competition stands for at its very best.
👨⚖️ Grand Final Judging Panel
🏁 Grand Final Lineup
The Pantry
What Goes
On the Plate
🇪🇹 Ethiopian Ingredients
- Berbere spice blend
- Niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter)
- Teff flour and injera flatbread base
- Mitmita chilli powder
- Korarima (Ethiopian cardamom)
- Fenugreek seeds
- Tej (Ethiopian honey wine)
- Ayib (Ethiopian fresh cheese)
- Split red lentils (misir)
- Clarified ghee
🇦🇺 Australian Produce and Meats
- Lamb shoulder and rack
- Beef brisket and eye fillet
- Barramundi and ocean trout
- Free-range chicken
- Bush tomatoes
- Warrigal greens (native spinach)
- Macadamia nuts
- Finger limes
- Seasonal root vegetables
- Victorian dairy (cream and butter)
How It Works
Competition Format
Registration and Cohort Assignment
Participants are assigned to one of 8 cohorts. Each cohort has ten Ethiopian background competitors and five non-Ethiopian background judges. Ingredient briefs, rules, and filming schedules are shared ahead of each event day.
Stage 1 of Each Cohort — Roots and Recipes
The ten Ethiopian competitors cook their signature fusion dishes on camera. Judges score on taste, cultural authenticity, creativity, and presentation. The top five Ethiopian competitors are named and advance to the judging seats.
Stage 2 of Each Cohort — The Tables Turn
The former judges now cook. The top five Ethiopian winners from Stage 1 take the judging panel. One overall cohort winner is crowned, receives their Sinq Foods hamper and certificate, and confirms their Grand Final entry.
The Communal Feast — After Every Cohort
All fifteen participants sit together and share every dish cooked that day. The feast is filmed as part of the episode. Stories are told, cultures are exchanged, and the spirit of One Community comes to life every single round.
The Grand Final — 8 Champions, Professional Judges, Live Broadcast
After all 8 cohorts, the champions face each other in the flagship broadcast event. A panel of professional chefs and food critics deliberates on camera. The MC hosts proceedings in English and Amharic for the live and online audience.
Grand Final Awards and the Grand Feast
The champion takes home $5,000 AUD and the Sinq Foods Grand Champion trophy. The entire community — all cohort participants across the full series — is invited to the Grand Final communal feast. One table. One community.
Registrations Are Open
The Sinq Table Begins Today
Registration is open now · Cohort 1 date to be confirmed with registered participants
Get Involved
Register Your
Interest Today
Registrations are open as of today. Whether you want to compete, judge, or volunteer, fill in the form below to secure your place. All submissions go directly into the Sinq Foods Odoo system and you will be contacted with your cohort confirmation and full event details shortly after applying.
Registrations are processed via sinqfoods.com.au and stored securely in your Odoo event management system.
Registration Received
Thank you for registering to compete at The Sinq Table. Our team will review your application and be in touch within 5 business days to confirm your cohort placement.
Volunteer applications are processed via sinqfoods.com.au and managed through your Odoo HR and Events modules.
Application Received
Thank you for volunteering with The Sinq Table. We genuinely appreciate your time and passion for this community. Our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your role and schedule.
Partner With Us
Become a Sponsor
of The Sinq Table
The Sinq Table is more than a food competition. It is a broadcast media series celebrating multicultural Melbourne, distributed across YouTube and major social platforms to a growing community audience. Sponsoring The Sinq Table puts your brand at the heart of an authentic, culturally rich story that resonates deeply with Melbourne's diverse communities.
Your Brand's Reach
- Logo on event signage and printed materials
- Named acknowledgement by the MC during the event
- Brand mention in social media event post
- Logo on broadcast video
- Dedicated sponsor segment in episode
- Grand Final presence
- Logo on event signage and printed materials
- Named acknowledgement by the MC on camera
- Logo displayed during broadcast episode
- Brand mention across all social platforms post-event
- 2 complimentary seats at the cohort communal feast
- Dedicated sponsor segment in episode
- Prominent logo placement on all event materials
- Dedicated sponsor segment in the broadcast episode
- Logo featured in YouTube video intro and description
- Featured brand post across all Sinq Foods social channels
- 4 complimentary seats at the cohort communal feast
- Named on the prize presentation at cohort close
- Series-wide logo presence on all filmed content
- Dedicated sponsor feature in every episode
- Co-branding across all Sinq Foods social platforms
- Speaking opportunity at one cohort event
- 6 complimentary seats at every communal feast
- Presence at the Grand Final awards ceremony
- The Grand Final is named after your brand
- Logo on all Grand Final broadcast content
- Brand presented alongside the $5,000 prize ceremony
- Dedicated segment in the Grand Final episode
- 8 complimentary seats at the Grand Final feast
- Featured across all platforms during Grand Final campaign
- Tailored partnership package for councils and government bodies
- In-kind support arrangements considered
- Council logo on all event and digital materials
- Acknowledgement aligned with grant acquittal requirements
- Full reporting provided post-series
- Community impact documentation available on request
Sponsorship Enquiry
Fill in the form below and the Sinq Foods team will be in touch within 3 business days with a full sponsorship prospectus and next steps.
Enquiries are processed via sinqfoods.com.au and managed through the Sinq Foods Odoo system.
Enquiry Received
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring The Sinq Table. We will be in touch within 3 business days with our full sponsorship prospectus and a personalised package proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions
Answered
Have a question about the competition, the format, or how to get involved? The most common questions are answered below. For anything else, reach out to the Sinq Foods team directly.
No professional experience is required. The Sinq Table is open to passionate home cooks and community members. What matters most is your love of food, your connection to your culture, and your willingness to cook for and alongside others.
Non-Ethiopian background participants begin each cohort as judges in Stage 1, experiencing Ethiopian-Australian fusion food with fresh eyes. In Stage 2 they step into the kitchen and cook using the same Ethiopian ingredients themselves. This role-reversal is central to what makes The Sinq Table a true community event rather than just a competition.
All Ethiopian ingredients and Australian produce and meats are supplied by Sinq Foods for each cohort. Competitors do not need to source or purchase any ingredients. A full pantry brief is shared with all participants ahead of their cohort date.
Yes. Every cohort round and the Grand Final are professionally filmed for broadcast on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other Sinq Foods channels. All participants will be asked to sign a media consent form as part of their registration. If you have specific concerns about filming, please contact our team before registering.
Each participant competes in one cohort only. If you are crowned the cohort winner, you advance to the Grand Final. This ensures every cohort features fresh participants and maintains the integrity of the competition across all 8 rounds.
Dishes are scored across four categories: taste and flavour balance, cultural authenticity and ingredient use, creativity and presentation, and overall dish concept. In the Grand Final, professional judges apply the same criteria with the addition of technical cooking skill as a fifth scoring category.
Select the role that interests you most and briefly describe your background in the experience field of the volunteer form. Our team will review your application and may suggest an alternative role if there is a better fit. No volunteer position requires prior experience in a food competition specifically.
The $5,000 AUD prize is awarded directly to the Grand Final champion and paid via bank transfer within 14 business days of the Grand Final event. Full prize terms and conditions are included in the competition rules document sent to all registered participants.
Sinq Foods Presents · Melbourne 2026
The
Sinq Table
The Great Melbourne Fusion Cook-Off
Ethiopian soul meets Australian spirit across 8 cohort rounds and one Grand Final, professionally filmed and broadcast to the world.
About the Competition
Where Two Kitchens
Become One Stage
Sinq Foods invites Melbourne's food lovers to a first-of-its-kind culinary journey spanning 8 cohort rounds and one Grand Final, where the rich traditions of Ethiopian cooking meet the bold, sun-drenched produce of Australia.
Every dish must honour both worlds: authentic Ethiopian spices, grains, and ingredients combined with the finest Aussie meats and seasonal produce this country has to offer.
Each cohort closes with a communal feast shared by all participants. Because every plate here is a conversation. This is our motto in action: Good Food, Good People, One Community.
Ethiopian Ingredients & Culture
Australian Produce & Meats
Full Competition Pathway
8 Cohorts.
One Grand Final.
Cohort Rounds (×8)
Each cohort follows the same two-stage format. In Stage 1, ten Ethiopian background competitors cook while five non-Ethiopian background participants judge. Roles then reverse for Stage 2. Each cohort crowns one winner who advances to the Grand Final, and every cohort closes with a communal feast shared by all fifteen participants. The entire event is professionally filmed for broadcast.
The Grand Final
The 8 cohort champions compete in the ultimate cook-off, judged by professional chefs and food critics. The Grand Final is the flagship broadcast event of the series, filmed to the highest production standard and shared across all Sinq Foods platforms.
Grand Final Champion Prize
The ultimate winner takes home $5,000 AUD, scored by Melbourne's professional culinary judges and celebrated before a live and online audience.
Inside Each Cohort
How Every Cohort
Round Works
Stage One · Each Cohort
Roots & Recipes
Stage Two · Each Cohort
The Tables Turn
After Every Cohort · A Sinq Foods Tradition
🍽️ The Communal Feast
All 15 participants sit together. Competitors and judges share every dish that was cooked, regardless of scores or outcomes.
Culture is the main course. Stories behind each dish are shared, where the recipe came from and what it means to the person who made it.
The cohort winner is recognised with a Sinq Foods hamper, a framed certificate, and their confirmed place at the Grand Final.
The feast is filmed as part of the episode, capturing the warmth, laughter, and connection that make The Sinq Table more than a competition.
Repeated Across All 8 Cohorts · Roles Always Reverse · Feast Always Follows
Media and Production
Filmed for the World
to Watch.
Every cohort round and the Grand Final will be professionally filmed and edited for release across YouTube and major social media platforms. This is not just a local food competition. It is a story about culture, community, and belonging in Melbourne, told through food and shared with the world.
Professional Production Standards
Multi-Camera Setup
Dedicated cameras on the cooking stations, judging table, and communal feast so no moment is missed during filming.
Bilingual Commentary
The MC provides live narration in both English and Amharic, captured in audio for bilingual episode versions distributed online.
Professional Lighting and Audio
Full lighting and sound production to ensure every dish looks its best on screen and every voice is heard clearly.
Edited Episode Format
Each cohort is edited into a structured episode featuring the competition, the cultural context, the judging, and the communal feast.
Cultural Storytelling Segments
Short documentary-style inserts explain the Ethiopian ingredients used, their origins, and their significance to the community.
Grand Final Live Broadcast
The Grand Final will be live-streamed in full, with the prize announcement broadcast simultaneously across all Sinq Foods channels.
Volunteer Roles
The People
Behind the Table
The Sinq Table is a community event built by community members. Volunteers are the backbone of every cohort round and the Grand Final. If you are passionate about food, culture, and bringing people together, there is a role here for you.
Master of Ceremonies (MC)
The MC is the voice and energy of The Sinq Table. They welcome participants and guests, guide the audience through each stage of the competition, and bring warmth and context to every moment on camera. As the event is broadcast bilingually, the MC must be fluent in both English and Amharic to ensure every audience member feels at home.
The Grand Final
8 Champions.
One Winner.
After all 8 cohorts have crowned their champions, the stage is set for the Sinq Foods Grand Final. Melbourne's biggest Ethiopian-Australian culinary showdown, broadcast live to a global audience.
This time, the judging panel is made up entirely of professional chefs and food critics, bringing the highest level of scrutiny and credibility to the final plate. The MC leads the audience through the evening in both English and Amharic.
The Grand Final winner receives $5,000 AUD, the Sinq Foods Grand Champion trophy, and the honour of representing what this competition stands for at its very best.
👨⚖️ Grand Final Judging Panel
🏁 Grand Final Lineup
The Pantry
What Goes
On the Plate
🇪🇹 Ethiopian Ingredients
- Berbere spice blend
- Niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter)
- Teff flour and injera flatbread base
- Mitmita chilli powder
- Korarima (Ethiopian cardamom)
- Fenugreek seeds
- Tej (Ethiopian honey wine)
- Ayib (Ethiopian fresh cheese)
- Split red lentils (misir)
- Clarified ghee
🇦🇺 Australian Produce and Meats
- Lamb shoulder and rack
- Beef brisket and eye fillet
- Barramundi and ocean trout
- Free-range chicken
- Bush tomatoes
- Warrigal greens (native spinach)
- Macadamia nuts
- Finger limes
- Seasonal root vegetables
- Victorian dairy (cream and butter)
How It Works
Competition Format
Registration and Cohort Assignment
Participants are assigned to one of 8 cohorts. Each cohort has ten Ethiopian background competitors and five non-Ethiopian background judges. Ingredient briefs, rules, and filming schedules are shared ahead of each event day.
Stage 1 of Each Cohort — Roots and Recipes
The ten Ethiopian competitors cook their signature fusion dishes on camera. Judges score on taste, cultural authenticity, creativity, and presentation. The top five Ethiopian competitors are named and advance to the judging seats.
Stage 2 of Each Cohort — The Tables Turn
The former judges now cook. The top five Ethiopian winners from Stage 1 take the judging panel. One overall cohort winner is crowned, receives their Sinq Foods hamper and certificate, and confirms their Grand Final entry.
The Communal Feast — After Every Cohort
All fifteen participants sit together and share every dish cooked that day. The feast is filmed as part of the episode. Stories are told, cultures are exchanged, and the spirit of One Community comes to life every single round.
The Grand Final — 8 Champions, Professional Judges, Live Broadcast
After all 8 cohorts, the champions face each other in the flagship broadcast event. A panel of professional chefs and food critics deliberates on camera. The MC hosts proceedings in English and Amharic for the live and online audience.
Grand Final Awards and the Grand Feast
The champion takes home $5,000 AUD and the Sinq Foods Grand Champion trophy. The entire community — all cohort participants across the full series — is invited to the Grand Final communal feast. One table. One community.
Registrations Are Open
The Sinq Table Begins Today
Registration is open now · Cohort 1 date to be confirmed with registered participants
Get Involved
Register Your
Interest Today
Registrations are open as of today. Whether you want to compete, judge, or volunteer, fill in the form below to secure your place. All submissions go directly into the Sinq Foods Odoo system and you will be contacted with your cohort confirmation and full event details shortly after applying.
Registrations are processed via sinqfoods.com.au and stored securely in your Odoo event management system.
Registration Received
Thank you for registering to compete at The Sinq Table. Our team will review your application and be in touch within 5 business days to confirm your cohort placement.
Volunteer applications are processed via sinqfoods.com.au and managed through your Odoo HR and Events modules.
Application Received
Thank you for volunteering with The Sinq Table. We genuinely appreciate your time and passion for this community. Our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your role and schedule.
Partner With Us
Become a Sponsor
of The Sinq Table
The Sinq Table is more than a food competition. It is a broadcast media series celebrating multicultural Melbourne, distributed across YouTube and major social platforms to a growing community audience. Sponsoring The Sinq Table puts your brand at the heart of an authentic, culturally rich story that resonates deeply with Melbourne's diverse communities.
Your Brand's Reach
- Logo on event signage and printed materials
- Named acknowledgement by the MC during the event
- Brand mention in social media event post
- Logo on broadcast video
- Dedicated sponsor segment in episode
- Grand Final presence
- Logo on event signage and printed materials
- Named acknowledgement by the MC on camera
- Logo displayed during broadcast episode
- Brand mention across all social platforms post-event
- 2 complimentary seats at the cohort communal feast
- Dedicated sponsor segment in episode
- Prominent logo placement on all event materials
- Dedicated sponsor segment in the broadcast episode
- Logo featured in YouTube video intro and description
- Featured brand post across all Sinq Foods social channels
- 4 complimentary seats at the cohort communal feast
- Named on the prize presentation at cohort close
- Series-wide logo presence on all filmed content
- Dedicated sponsor feature in every episode
- Co-branding across all Sinq Foods social platforms
- Speaking opportunity at one cohort event
- 6 complimentary seats at every communal feast
- Presence at the Grand Final awards ceremony
- The Grand Final is named after your brand
- Logo on all Grand Final broadcast content
- Brand presented alongside the $5,000 prize ceremony
- Dedicated segment in the Grand Final episode
- 8 complimentary seats at the Grand Final feast
- Featured across all platforms during Grand Final campaign
- Tailored partnership package for councils and government bodies
- In-kind support arrangements considered
- Council logo on all event and digital materials
- Acknowledgement aligned with grant acquittal requirements
- Full reporting provided post-series
- Community impact documentation available on request
Sponsorship Enquiry
Fill in the form below and the Sinq Foods team will be in touch within 3 business days with a full sponsorship prospectus and next steps.
Enquiries are processed via sinqfoods.com.au and managed through the Sinq Foods Odoo system.
Enquiry Received
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring The Sinq Table. We will be in touch within 3 business days with our full sponsorship prospectus and a personalised package proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions
Answered
Have a question about the competition, the format, or how to get involved? The most common questions are answered below. For anything else, reach out to the Sinq Foods team directly.
No professional experience is required. The Sinq Table is open to passionate home cooks and community members. What matters most is your love of food, your connection to your culture, and your willingness to cook for and alongside others.
Non-Ethiopian background participants begin each cohort as judges in Stage 1, experiencing Ethiopian-Australian fusion food with fresh eyes. In Stage 2 they step into the kitchen and cook using the same Ethiopian ingredients themselves. This role-reversal is central to what makes The Sinq Table a true community event rather than just a competition.
All Ethiopian ingredients and Australian produce and meats are supplied by Sinq Foods for each cohort. Competitors do not need to source or purchase any ingredients. A full pantry brief is shared with all participants ahead of their cohort date.
Yes. Every cohort round and the Grand Final are professionally filmed for broadcast on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other Sinq Foods channels. All participants will be asked to sign a media consent form as part of their registration. If you have specific concerns about filming, please contact our team before registering.
Each participant competes in one cohort only. If you are crowned the cohort winner, you advance to the Grand Final. This ensures every cohort features fresh participants and maintains the integrity of the competition across all 8 rounds.
Dishes are scored across four categories: taste and flavour balance, cultural authenticity and ingredient use, creativity and presentation, and overall dish concept. In the Grand Final, professional judges apply the same criteria with the addition of technical cooking skill as a fifth scoring category.
Select the role that interests you most and briefly describe your background in the experience field of the volunteer form. Our team will review your application and may suggest an alternative role if there is a better fit. No volunteer position requires prior experience in a food competition specifically.
The $5,000 AUD prize is awarded directly to the Grand Final champion and paid via bank transfer within 14 business days of the Grand Final event. Full prize terms and conditions are included in the competition rules document sent to all registered participants.