Winter '26 Pop-Up Scarf Dinners at Lankan Tucker

As part of our Winter '26 seasonal program, we're running three Pop-Up Scarf Dinners at Lankan Tucker in Carlton. Scarf Dinners are a great way to see our training, mentoring and work experience programs in action, while enjoying delicious food cooked by professional chefs.

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Bookings

Bookings are now open, thanks to our partnership with OpenTable. Tickets are $60 per person and include a generous set menu (entrée and main). Your ticket directly funds award wages for Scarf trainees, and supports our restaurant partner to deliver a professional, chef-led dining experience. Together, this creates paid front-of-house work opportunities for the Winter Scarf '26 trainees. 

At these pop-up dinners, you can expect bold flavours, warm service and a relaxed, community-driven atmosphere that reflects the spirit of both Lankan Tucker and Scarf. To accommodate a variety of booking sizes, some guests may be seated at shared tables with fellow diners. While the seating is communal, the dining is not! Each booking will be served separately. 

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Winter Scarf Dinners at Lankan Tucker will run on:

Please email us - bookings@scarfcommunity.org - if you have queries about dietary requirements, communal dining, accessibility, group bookings of 10+, or if you'd like to use a Scarf Gift Card to make your booking. 

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Trainees

Scarf trainees are resilient young people seeking protection and those from refugee and migrant backgrounds who are facing barriers to work. Many have experienced long-term unemployment and for most trainees, Scarf is their first taste of paid employment in Australia. During Scarf Dinners, trainees are supported by mentors as they grow their skills, knowledge and experience running the front-of-house, whilst professional chefs do the cooking.

The young people working front-of-house during Winter Scarf Dinners are trainees in the Winter Scarf '26 10-week Seasonal Program. They will be paid the Restaurant Industry Award wage for their work during these events, and other work experience shifts worked at partner venues during the program.

The Winter Scarf '26 trainees pose after a recent training session. Back row L to R: Naya, Robin, Mou, Freshta. Front row L to R: Sarah Joy, Gopika, Shashi (Not pictured: Sonia and Ajouk). Photo: Roger Ungers. 

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Restaurant Partner

This season, we’re excited to partner with Lankan Tucker, who describe themselves as "A place that feeds people well, supports community, and celebrates culture with every bite. We’ve always done things differently - change makers, rule breakers, flavour first."  Located in Carlton, Lankan Tucker is known for its vibrant Sri Lankan flavours, warm hospitality and playful Melbourne twist on traditional dishes. Founded by Nerissa Jayasingha and Hiran Kroon, the much-loved venue offers seriously good food with zero pretence. For main course you'll be choosing from Slow-cooked, spiced lamb shank with kipfler potatoes, Blackened jaggery chicken, or Creamy coconut pumpkin & green bean curry. All mains are served with coconut rice, pickle, coconut sambol & pappadums. Our suggestion: come with a group so you can try everything!

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See the full menu  

Dietary requirements? Please include any allergies or dietary needs when booking. Scarf Dinners can accommodate most requirements with advance notice. Please reach out to Nele via [email protected] to chat through your needs. 

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Nerissa and Hiran, and some of the delicious food that's recently been on the menu at Lankan Tucker. Photos: Supplied.

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Drinks

As always, we'll have a fantastic drinks list (including non-alc options) thanks to our wonderful Scarf Partners. Expect beverages from Unico Zelo, NON, Stomping Ground, Starward, Archie Rose Distilling Co, Maidenii, Marionette, Bathtub Gin Co, and Daylesford & Hepburn Mineral Springs Co. 

We're also planning another extra special cocktail collaboration this season! Legendary Scarf Graduate Dis (Autumn Scarf '25), who now works in hospitality, is co-designing the cocktail menu with Scarf's Training & Events Manager Nele. Dis, who is also a talented musician, has decided to theme the list 'Veridis Quo' (IYKYK) with cocktails taking inspiration from some of his favourite songs, and highlighting Sri Lankan flavours.

The 'Innerbloom' (which will be served with a colour change) features Archie Rose 'Triple Cut' vodka, Marionette Elderflower liqueur, nil katarolu flower, jasmine, pink grapefruit and lime. It's going to taste amazing and look stunning! We're also pretty excited about the 'Walking on a Dream' which features Milagro Leyenda tequila, Marionette Blue Curaçao, mangosteen, lime and... glitter! There's still some development happening, but we'll aim to share the full drinks list soon! 

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Learn about recent cocktail collaborations with Scarf Graduates Kimiya and Rose. 

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Autumn Scarf '25 Graduate Dis recently helped us run the bar and front-of-house during Do More Than Dine, Scarf's gala fundraising dinner. Photos: Carmen Zammit

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What to expect

By attending a Scarf Dinner, you’re making a real difference to the lives of young people who have faced barriers to work. Professionals do the cooking and Scarf trainees and mentors take care of the front-of-house. Expect delicious food, a top-notch drinks list, attentive service, a fun and buzzy atmosphere and the opportunity to provide valuable feedback as the trainees build their skills and confidence.

A regular diner recently told us:

At Scarf Dinners, there's nothing but good vibes and respect in the room. 

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Find out more about Scarf Dinners & events here.

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Keen to understand how Scarf transforms lives? Check out these graduate Q&A's with Lily, Jesse, Rose, Kimiya and Dis to learn more. 

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Spring Scarf '25 trainee Seniru serving diners during a recent pop-up Scarf Dinner. Photo: Laura May Grogan

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Spring Scarf '25 trainee Marian gains paid work experience during a pop-up Scarf Dinner. Photo: Laura May Grogan

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