Finalists in State Tourism Awards announced

One hundred and twenty four businesses from NSW are finalists in the 2007 NSW Tourism Awards. The winners will be announced at the NSW Tourism Awards presentation and gala dinner on Thursday, November 15 at Star City Hotel and Casino. To book seats or a table call Showbiz on (02) 8289 8636. Click here to view finalists

Rylstone StreetFeast Set To Break Record

Enjoy eating to your hearts content? Why not join a record number of gourmands who are expected to descend upon the historic Mudgee, NSW, township of Rylstone for the annual ‘StreetFeast’, now in its sixth year, on Saturday 3 November 2007. Framed by Rylstone’s historic sandstone buildings and set under leafy English Plane trees, the main event is a Long Lunch with tables laid out for 350 people. Diners will be treated to a four-course spread of regional food and wine, including olives and olive oil, which thrive in the area. The Rylstone StreetFeast is a FREE event and kick-starts at 10am. Bookings for the Long Lunch are essential - call 0427 628 769.
Rylstone is located on the Cudgegong River 47km south-east of Mudgee and is the gateway to the World Heritage Wollemi National Park, a three hour drive from Sydney.

Contact the Mudgee Visitor Information Centre on 02 6372 1020 or visit www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Announcing new siblings ‘RIVERHOUSE at Howqua Dale’ and ‘The Inspired Traveller’
born from closure of celebrated Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat. Bad news is the closure of Victoria’s celebrated Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat and Cooking School after 30 years. But the good news is that 
Sarah has relaunched the country property as RIVERHOUSE at Howqua Dale – A Sense of Place, where up to twelve guests can stay in a welcoming self-contained guest house set in an exquisite garden.   
Sarah has also launched a new tour company, The Inspired Traveller. For further information on RIVERHOUSE at Howqua Dale and The Inspired Traveller visit www.theinspiredtraveller.com Marieke Brugman, the other former co-owner of Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat, has also launched her own luxury tour company, Marieke’s Art of Living, specialising in India, Asia and yoga tours.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Australian Regional Culinary Competition
The heat has been on at the TAFESA Regency Campus kitchens in Adelaide during Tasting Australia to discover which Australian region serves up the best food and wine in its restaurants.
 There were eight award categories with the overall winning team heading to Cambodia for an all expenses-paid, gourmet tour hosted by Don Hancey, captain of the winning Margaret River team at the inaugural competition in 1997.The gold winner for Best Region was the team ACT Northern Districts (ACT). Silver went to Team Greater Melbourne (VIC), followed by Mt Lofty House, Adelaide Hills (SA), which won Bronze.

BEST REGION:
Gold – ACT Northern Districts (ACT)
Silver –  Team Greater Melbourne (VIC)
Bronze -  Mt Lofty House – Adelaide Hills (SA)
Best Entrée – Team Greater Melbourne (VIC)
Best Main Course -  Team Greater Melbourne (VIC)
Best Dessert -  ACT Northern Districts (ACT)
Best Food and Wine Matching -  Gunyah Kitchen Posse (NSW)
Best Apprentice – Kylie Harris, Team Gold Coast (QLD)

A stellar line up of 16 wineries and six restaurants has been confirmed for the inaugural Hunter Uncorked at Balmoral on Sunday November 4, when the Hunter Valley will be coming to town.  The premium outdoor event, a must do food, wine and jazz extravaganza, is expected to attract over 5,000 people to The Esplanade in Balmoral from 11am to 5pm. The Rock Restaurant, who took out "Best new Restaurant" at the Restaurant and Catering NSW Awards and was recently awarded a hat in the Good Food Guide, will be cooking up a storm.  The Cellar, another fabulous multi award winning restaurant in the Good Food Guide from the Hunter, will be preparing a giant paella pan feast (pictured), and Lazzarini’s will be preparing Italian dishes. Look for the Hunter Valley Cheese Company, Pukara Estate, Love Chai Tea and much more.  Free entry,  a free shuttle service from Spit Junction to the event and more information on www.uncorked.hvva.com.au or by calling 02 4991 4533.

NEXT YEAR ALREADY!

The 11th annual Ginger Flower Festival is planned to run from Thursday, 24 to Sunday, 27 January 2008. Featuring celebrated gardeners and gourmands, this year’s ‘summer series’ showcases the gastronomic genius of internationally recognised chef Philip Johnson, along with top tips from some of Australia’s leading green thumbs. From innovative water-saving advice and gourmet kitchen creations, to the benefits of ginger in everyday living, the 2008 program of events includes an impressive line up of speakers, entertainment and one-on-one advice over four days. Festival activities are free of charge and a full program of events will soon be available when you visit www.gingerfactory.com.au The Ginger Factory is located at 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina. Access from the Bruce Highway is via the Coolum/Yandina exit.

Sense-ational

They even got the weather right for last weekend's kickoff for Tasting Australia, Adelaide's biennial contribution to the promotion and celebration of Australian food and wine. Feast of the Senses was set up along the banks of the Torrens River with dozens of stalls featuring local restaurants, various wine regions and food and accommodation from other states as well as South Australia. Cool music, gondolas on the water and all that fine food contributed to a lazy ambience that is the perfect beginning for what promises to be a standout festival packed with cookery demonstrations, discussions and cookoffs, culminating in a glittering awards dinner on Saturday October 20th.

Wine, Roses and all that Jazz

Visit the Canberra District wineries for Wine, Roses and all that Jazz on 3 and 4 November when the 26 local wineries join together to take the region’s wine to the people. Sample award winning reds and whites, indulge in gourmet food, relax to live music and become acquainted with Canberra’s passionate vignerons. See the website or call the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre for your copy of the Event Program containing what’s on at participating wineries. For more information on the Festival go online to www.canberrawines.com.au or call the Canberra and region Visitors Centre on 1300 554 114.

Pialligo Estate Wines News

After seven months of hard work and patience Pialligo Estate Wines has opened the new cellar door which features a spacious inside dining area and an extended patio with views of the heritage rose garden, the vineyard, Parliament House and Black Mountain Tower in the distance. New chef Tony has designed a delightful spring menu which also includes a delicious brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. On a visit to the cellar door you can also pick up Pialligo Estate’s own olive oil and red wine vinegar. Pialligo Estate Wines is located amidst the nurseries and orchards of Pialligo Village, just ten minutes from the heart of the city. www.pialligoestate.com.au

A HUNTER FIRST AT BALMORAL

The Hunter Valley Vineyard Association will be bringing the best of the Hunter Valley to Sydney on Sunday, November 4, with the inaugural Hunter Uncorked at Balmoral event, which will be hosted at The Esplanade from 11am to 5pm with over 5,000 people expected to attend. The premium outdoor Hunter Valley wine and food extravaganza will showcase wines from 16 boutique and iconic wineries. Wine will be available for purchase by the glass or by the bottle and restaurant meals will be on offer at $15 per plate. This final event on the Mosman Festival Calendar for 2007 promises to follow in the footsteps of last year’s extremely successful Lovedale Long Lunch at Balmoral event which drew crowds of over 10,000 people. For more information visit www.uncorked.hvva.com.au

New website to promote Northern Rivers indigenous tours

A new website and brochure promoting Indigenous tourism for the Northern Rivers was launched by the Minister for Tourism Matt Brown during a visit to Lismore on Wednesday. The web site promotes Bundjalung Cultural Tours, which offers visitors a first hand experience of Aboriginal culture through operators with close ties to the land and involves local indigenous communities from Grafton to Tweed Heads and into Southern Queensland. Tourism NSW has worked in partnership with the Bundjalung Elders Council which wholly owns and operates the tour product and the local Aboriginal communities of the region in providing tourism skills, advice and product development.

GET DIGITAL

Tourism NSW is co-hosting a Travel and Tourism in the Digital Age forum in Sydney with AIMIA on October 22. The forum will examine the way the internet has transformed the tourism industry. Tourism NSW’s Executive Director and General Manager, John O’Neill will be speaking at the event which will include presentations by industry experts, case studies and a panel discussion. All NSW tourism businesses are invited to attend the forum. To register go to www.aimia.com.au/tourism

Regional Flagship Event funding announced


The NSW Minister for Tourism, Matt Brown has announced $412,000 in funding for Tourism NSW's 2008 Regional Flagship Events Program on Wednesday. Twenty-two events across the State received funding, ranging from 16 events which were awarded a one-off grant of $10,000, one event that was awarded triennial funding of $20,000 per year to five events that received ongoing triennial funding. Funds are used for the marketing, advertising and promotion of events. Now in its 12th year, the Regional Flagship Events Program has provided more than $3.9 million to support more than 177 events in regional NSW.

Australian tastes inspire the world’s palates 

A record number of 53 Australian food and beverage exhibitors have displayed their wares at Anuga 2007 the world’s largest food and beverage trade fair in Germany (13-17 October). More than 6000 exhibitors from 95 countries displayed their products to buyers from more than 150 countries. Exhibitors included Wild Hibiscus Flower Company, Ferguson Australia, producers of high quality seafoods such as sashimi grade lobster meat and pacific oysters, and the Wine and Truffle Co, the largest producer of the French Black Truffle in the southern hemisphere. The value of Australian food and beverage exports in 2005/6 was $23.8 billion. In 2006-07, Austrade assisted 225 food and beverage companies make 234 export deals worth $235 million to EU countries. Forty-three of these companies were new or irregular exporters.

ORANGE WINE WEEK GEARS UP TO GO

Orange Wine Week kicks off on Friday October 19 with the Orange Wine Show Public Tasting and continues for 10 days with 70 events in all and a finale at the Botanic Gardens.  Official event highlights include: the Wine Show Public Tasting, Friday October 19 - Showground Pavilion; The Producers Table, Monday 22 – Showground Pavilion; The Night Market, Friday 26 October; and InSite Out, the finale event at the Orange Botanic Gardens, Sunday 28 October. Bookings on 02 6360 1990 or download a program and booking form from www.tasteorange.com.au

Slow Guide to Melbourne

Released this month, the Slow Guide to Melbourne is a new and inspirational lifestyle guide for people who want to slow down and live it up. The book is divided into three sections – Character, Be and Do. The Taste chapter focuses on slow food and lists cafes, restaurants, farmers' markets and fresh produce. The Slow Guide is published by Affirm Press, a new Melbourne-based company dedicated to creating books that have a positive impact on the community. For more information visit www.slowguides.com.au

NEW CHEF FOR TERROIR

The highly awarded Terroir Restaurant at Hungerford Hill has appointed Hayden Ellerton as its new Head Chef. Ellerton trained under the legendary Peter Doyle at Cicada then worked at both Celsius and Est. Terroir Restaurant offers a contemporary Australian menu matched with Hungerford Hill’s award-winning wines and wines from many of the greatest wine regions in the world. This marrying of wine to menu resulted last week in Terroir being named by the NSW Restaurant and Catering Association’s as having the ‘Best Wine List’ in regional NSW.

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN

The town of Young - best known as the Cherry Capital of Australia - celebrates the cherry season and harvest again during The National Cherry Festival from 30 November – 2 December. Details: 02 6382 5996

THREE CLASSY PLACES

Learn about where food really comes from and gain a new respect for the environment with three new cooking schools in regional Victoria.

Bella Vedere is a renowned restaurant in the Yarra Valley that has built its reputation on organic seasonal produce sourced locally as well as from its on-site kitchen gardens. www.bellavedere.com.au

Peaceful Gardens Organic Cooking School
in the foodie town of Koonwarra in Gippsland educates people about organic and sustainable food principles in a relaxed farmhouse environment. www.peacefulgardens.com.au


Spice Island, in Phillip Island, has begun a cooking school with the aim of showcasing Gippsland’s fabulous local produce in a very contemporary environment. www.spiceisland.com.au

TOP YOUNG CHEFS

Daniel Sharp, 19, and chef teammate Vicki Ferrell, 20, both from Albany, Western Australia, are the National Winners of the 2007 NESTLÉ GOLDEN CHEFS HAT AWARD. The talented team took out first prize in the annual award, achieving silver and two gold medals for culinary excellence. Sixteen talented young chefs chosen from 230 regional level competitors, cooked their way into the final heat on Tuesday 25 September at Sydney’s Ultimo Institute of TAFE, with teams representing every State and Territory, (except Tasmania). As recipients of the NESTLÉ GOLDEN CHEFS HAT AWARD, national winners Daniel and Vicki will share a prize of an international culinary training trip to the 2008 World Culinary Olympics valued at $12,000.

Premier launches Super Market

The Willunga Town Square was officially opened by the South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, on October 13. The event also marked the relocation of the Farmers' Market and the unveiling of the new logo and banner designed by James Bobridge (left: James receives his prize from the Premier for winning the contest with the best design). The Fleurieu Peninsula is emerging as another great food and wine region in Australia. Premier Rann descirbed this market as one of the best farmers' markets in Australia, and judging by the large crowd and fifty stalls, it clearly lives up to this claim.

For more images, click here.

Sucess breeds success

The Wine and Cheese Bar in Bright, Victoria is building on its success for being awarded Alpine Shire, Business of the Year by opening new premises in a beautifully appointed shop on the Great Alpine Road (directly opposite the Bright Brewery). If you have a passion for trout fishing and exploring the Alpine wilderness, they can make the experience something special.

CONGRATULATIONS

ROCK Restaurant, located at the Poole’s Rock Winery in Pokolbin, was awarded a Chef’s Hat at the prestigious Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2007 – a first for the Hunter Valley for some time. Says executive chef Andrew Clarke. “We are passionate advocates of fresh, seasonal and regional ingredients and are proud to be able to bring this food to the Hunter.”

TASTE NORTHERN RIVERS!

NSW food industry representatives are invited to the launch of the Northern Rivers showcase on Monday, 22 October from noon to 3.30pm, at NSW Parliament's Strangers Dining Room. This showcase is the latest in a series that has previously featured Orange, the Hawkesbury and the Southern Highlands. The aim of this initiative is to raise awareness among Sydney-based specialty retail, food service, food and wine media, and culinary tourism operators about the amazing range and outstanding quality of food and beverage products available from the State's regional producers and processors.
To attend, contact AnneMarie Dibowski, NSW Department of State and Regional Development, 02 9338 6665 or email annemarie.dibowski@business.nsw.gov.au

James Halliday ON line

Keenly anticipated each year by winemakers, collectors and wine lovers, the bestselling James Halliday Australian Wine Companion is recognised nationally as the industry benchmark.
For more than 15 years Australia’s leading wine authority James Halliday has compiled detailed tasting notes on thousands of Australian wines annually, each with vintage-specific ratings and advice on optimal drinking, as well as each wine’s closure, alcohol content and price, creating a vast archive of invaluable information on Australian wines and wineries.
For the first time, this information is to be available online in a fantastic new project from James Halliday and Hardie Grant Books -  www.winecompanion.com.au - with information on Australian wines and wineries spanning the past 15 years. Never before has such a wealth of knowledge on wine been so accessible.
Members may log-in and access thousands of detailed tasting notes and ratings for wines by James. Non-members also have plenty to access, including information on the best wines and wineries for 2008, Australian wine industry information and details on every winery in current operation in Australia.

Travels with Thai Food

The latest book from Helen Brierty and Annette Fear of the Spirit House on the Sunshine Coast, "Travels with Thai Food", (New Holland, rrp $35) is a celebration of Thai food in all its complexities and flavours. It uses easy-to-find Asian ingredients to create innovative variations on Thai food that you can create in your own kitchen. The 80 recipes are based on their tag-along tours to Bangkok and the street food encountered with helpful tips for Thai travellers on how to recognise the various food stalls, what they sell and how to order. The Spirit House operates both an award-winning restaurant and a very popular cooking school. Their fragrant Thai-inspired food won a Queensland Tourism and National Tourism Award in 2006. Six daily classes are conducted every week in their purpose built, 'hands-on' cooking school. More information: www.spirithouse.com.au 07 5446 8977

Shannonvale comes to Port

Award-winning Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery has opened a wine tasting and sales centre in Port Douglas. Tony and Trudie Woodall have created a great place to taste their award winning wines and discover the complexity and quality of fruit wines. Current in the Shannonvale range are lychee, grapefruit, mango, paw paw, pineapple, guava and passionfruit and no, they aren’t sickly sweet at all! More information: www.shannonvalewine.com.au 07 40984000

WORLD LOVES TASSIE LAMB

Aurora Lamb, the new 60 day grain-fed lamb produced in Tasmania using strict stress management techniques, is experiencing strong export growth in Asia and Russia, with growing demand to feature it on menus in leading restaurants such as M on the Bund in Shanghai and Singapore’s legendary Raffles Hotel. The lamb, which is grazed for up to 60 days on a high protein diet of fourteen natural grains, drinking only the purest Tasmanian water, follows its launch earlier this year to Australian chefs, who are now serving it in local restaurants such as Restaurant Balzac, Otto, Assiette (all Syd), Isis (Bris), the RACV Club (Melb), Morilla Estate (Hob) and the Adelaide Convention Centre.

More  information: www.auroragourmetproduce.com

LOVE FOOD?

You’ll enjoy the Falling in love with Food seminars, held during National Nutrition Week (14^th-20^th October), that I thought might be of interest to you. Hosted by Nutrition Australia and marked for Saturday 20^th October the full day program, held at the Koograh Community Centre, will boast an impressive line-up of leading nutrition experts presenting creative ideas on ‘preparing and sharing food’, which will be this year’s theme. Demonstrations will illustrate easy, healthy and everyday meal ideas that can be enjoyed with family and friends whether at home, school or work.
 More info www.nutritionaustralia.org

Oz goes Asian

Wild Lime Cooking School introduces wild food taste sensations to traditional Asian fare. Located in the beautiful Beaudesert Shire, the school’s October 20 class uses native Australian food in fusion with Asian and Mediterranean cuisine in innovative and delicious ways. Learn to cook with wild finger limes, lemon myrtle, warrigal greens, macadamia, kangaroo meat, mints and peppers, bush tomatoes - flavours of the bush. All just one and a half hours scenic drive from Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
More information: www.worendo.com 07 5544 8104

Caloundra licks the best

Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has everyone licked when it comes to home-made gelati. Gelateria Milano and Colin James Fine Foods won over the judges at the Royal Queensland Show taking out a number of awards. Gelateria Milano owners, Franco Negri and Camilla Peverati, backed up their success from last year with gold medals for their double chocolate and choco cream gelati and new flavour, hazelnut. Pistachio was awarded silver again, along with eight other new flavours - choco chilli, white chocolate, delizia, cookies & cream, amaretto, malaga and gianduia. Fresh milk, fruit, whole nuts and other ingredients are all found locally.
More information: www.caloundratourism.com.au 1800 700 899

Floriade in full bloom

Spring is in full bloom in Canberra, the nation's capital. Not only is Canberra one of Australia's great food and wine regions, it is renowned for its spectacular annual flower festival, Floriade. This is not a regional food event, but is such a treat that it deserves special mention. There is nothing to compare with it throughout Australia, and surprisingly, there is no charge for entry or for parking. It is worth making the trip to the Capital to experience this show, but don't wait too long. The blooms only last for about a month. Click here for more images.

Pettavel wins Again

Pettavel Winery & Restaurant were awarded ‘Best Modern Australian - Regional Restaurant’, for the second year running, at Restaurant & Catering Victoria ‘Awards for Excellence’ held at Crown’s Studio 3 in Melbourne, on Monday night. 
Pettavel Executive Chef Matt Dempsey accepted the award on behalf of Pettavel, thanking General Manager Robyn Fitzpatrick, owners Mike and Sandi Fitzpatrick and Pettavel staff. The ‘back to back’ win for Pettavel, is a testament to the hard working team who pride themselves on providing a consistently high quality dining experience for their guests.

BONVILLE TRIFECTA

Congratulations to Bonville International Golf Resort  for claiming three awards at the Restaurant & Catering Association Awards for Excellence held on September 24 at Star City Casino in Sydney. The Awards bring together the successful Winners of each category from all the 6 regional areas of NSW (Hunter, ACT/Southern, Blue Mountains/Central West, Central Coast & Northern) to determine the Best of the Best. Bonville’s 3 awards were:

• Caterer at an Event
• Wedding Caterer in a Function Centre
• Caterer of the Year (Major Award

FINE FOOD REPORT

Click here to read Sally's report of Fine Food Australia, 24 September, 2007

"I have to report it is the finest ever, stretching throughout SIX halls of the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour, Sydney."

Win a dinner for you and five friends!

Sound tempting?  de Groots Media, the company behind www.bestrestaurants.com.au is offering a $1,000 Dinner for Six competition to its members but now that the  September spring competition has been launched, even non-members can enter 

Prizes up for grabs include: 
NSW – $1,000 Dinner for six at Mezzaluna, Sydney
Getaway for two to Shoal Bay Resort & Spa
Double tickets to Sydney Symphony
VIC – $1,000 Dinner for six at FOG Restaurant, Melbourne
QLD – $500 Dinner for four at Baguette Restaurant, Ascot, Brisbane
ACT – $500 Dinner for four at Lobby Restaurant, Canberra
TAS – $500 Lunch for four at Coal Valley Vineyard, Cambridge, Tasmania
Other Prizes
• 12 month subscription to Winestate Magazine
• Movie Passes from Paramount to see “A Mighty Heart”
• Perfect Gift Certificates for restaurants and lifestyle experiences

Details and entry forms  at: www.bestrestaurants.com.au

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS PUDS

Newcastle company, Pudding Lane, recently exhibited successfully at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair London, where the buzz words were Food Miles and more importantly Carbon Foot-prints ! In Australia we talk about “paddock to plate”, but the meaning is the same, no matter where in the world you are. By using a “boiled-in-resusable-cloth” method for their luscious puds and sending them off in highest grade recycled cartons, they are excited to realise what they have been doing all along because it was good and sensible is actually environmentally sound. Pudding Lane uses no automated processes, no production lines, no electric steam ovens, and do not use plastic basins, plastic bowls or moulds to shape the puddings, meaning that each and every pudding is different. www.puddinglane.com.au

Diary Date

It's a long way off, and we will remind you closer to the date, but as it's billed as the 'sixth annual expo for the cafe industry' it's worth flagging April 13 and 14, 2008, at Randwick, NSW. We'll tell you more later but if you need advance info contact Sean Edwards on 0419 287 608 or sean@cafebiz.net 

WATCH FOR THE WINNER

Regional chefs and apprentices are preparing for the LifeStyle Food Channel Australian Regional Culinary Competition at Adelaide TAFE SA's Regency Campus from October 15 to 18, hoping to win the top prize of a culinary and cultural tour through Cambodia.  Tasting Australia is the only competition to recognise, develop and promote professional cookery in regional areas. The Best Apprentice Award offers the chance to work with Shannon Bennett at Vue de Monde in Melbourne.  (Matt Dempsey & Caleb Fleet pictured)

IRRESISTIBLE GLUTEN FREE WHEAT FREE* FOOD SHOW

The Irresistible Gluten Free Wheat Free* Food Show will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October 2007 10am - 5pm at the  Melbourne Exhibition Centre (opposite Crown Complex). It promises to be an exciting Food Expo featuring the great range of foods and goods available to people interested in gluten free, wheat free diets, general good health, for those with coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other food intolerances. It is an Expo for the general public and food industry and health professionals and will feature over 130 exhibitors including specialty gluten free food manufacturers, restaurants and cafes, gluten free cookbooks, even gluten free beer!To recognise and support the special needs of the patrons attending, only gluten free food permitted at the Show.

Spring Fever in the Granite Belt

The annual Granite Belt Spring Wine Festival season kicks off on Friday in style when the industry’s ‘good and the great’ give their DJs an outing to the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. Visit, taste, celebrate and educate your palate:  The 2007 Granite Belt Spring Wine Season includes sixty events held over six weeks beginning Friday 28 September. For accommodation bookings or full event information see www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au  or phone 1800 SO COOL.    
           

ORANGE COMES TO THE BEACH

Even the weather was smiling at last Sunday September 16th’s Taste Orange event, the final in a week of ‘country comes to town’ festivities at Bondi Beach.

Fittingly the final day featured local Orange District producers giving away tastes of their food and wine, selling products, answering questions and generally being fine ambassadors for one of NSW’s loveliest and most productive areas. Here’s a little glimpse of what went on

But if you missed Bondi’s extravaganza, don’t be too disheartened. This is not the end of it all. In late-October (from October 19-28) it’s the city’s turn to travel west and experience an even bigger and better series of events – dinners, winery tour, cookery classes demonstrations, markets and a general knees-up in the town itself during Orange Wine Week.
Want more information? www.winesoforange.com.au and www.orangefoodweek.com.au

TASTE THE HASTINGS

From 19 to 28 October 2007 Greater Port Macquarie, NSW, will celebrate its burgeoning food and wine scene with ‘Tastings of the Hastings’, a festival of degustation dinners, cooking demonstrations, a produce market on the mountain, coffee roasting tours, and the region’s biggest farmers' market on Sunday 28 October. Highlights include:

• ‘Market on the mountain’ at Comboyne with local producers including Comboyne Culture Cheese 
• Cooking demonstrations and tours at ‘The Company Farm’, which provides fresh produce to Rockpool and Sailors Thai restaurants (amongst notable others), on a magnificent property overlooking the river
• A dinner under the moonlight at ‘Cassegrain Winery’, a special dinner at ‘Rawdon Island School House’ and a degustation dinner at ‘Compass Restaurant’
• Organic hand-made chocolate making demonstrations at ‘Blue Poles Cafe and Art Gallery’ in Byabarra
• Local roaster ‘Peak Coffee’ will conduct tours and demonstrations 
• Bush-tucker tours with an Aboriginal elder at Sea Acres Rainforest, followed by a lunch at the recently re-furbished café featuring bush produce

For more information on Tastings of the Hastings call 02 6581 8633. For a Free Holiday Planner and CD to Greater Port Macquarie contact the Visitors Information Centre on 1300 303 155 or book on-line at www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au 

SAY CHEESE

Renowned cheese expert Will Studd's knowledge of cheese is encyclopaedic and so is his new book Cheese Slices, a follow-up to his award-winning 1999 book Chalk and Cheese, which charted an extraordinary odyssey through the world’s cheese-producing regions. This new richly illustrated reference book is the essential guide to the world’s great cheeses, explaining where and how they are made and providing valuable information on buying, storing and eating cheese. Published by Hardie Grant Books in September 2007, Cheese Slices also looks at the revolution in Australian cheese-making over the past 20 years. Variously described as a hero of the food industry, a cheese legend, a tireless enthusiast for good cheese and even a “cheese terrorist”, Will Studd has helped raise the bar for specialist cheese in Australia in the past two decades. The book’s publication coincides with the ABC’s release of Cheese Slices Volume 3 DVD – his third television series devoted to artisan and farmhouse cheese. 

2007 NSW Tourism Awards

The 2007 NSW Tourism Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner will be held on Thursday, 15 November 2007 in the Grand Harbour Ballroom, Star City Hotel and Casino in partnership between Tourism NSW and the Tourism Industry Council NSW. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased through Showbiz. Tel: (02) 8289 8636. Submissions for the Awards closed on 4 September 2007, and finalists will be announced on 5 October 2007

Spring comes slowly in West Gippsland

The Slow Food West Gippsland convivium will be hosting the first annual Slow Food Spring Festival from 1 -14 October this year. There's something for everyone from hands-on bread baking and wood fired oven building workshops to art exhibitions and wine dinners, even a touch of Vietnam when Cannibal Creek Vineyard hosts a Vietnamese lunch prepared by two graduates from Mr Jimmy Pham's KOTO, the Hanoi training restaurant for Vietnamese street and disadvantaged youth. Peppermint Ridge Farm has an organic vegetable gardening workshop, there's a Hunting & Gathering degustation dinner at The Outpost Retreat in Noojee, sourdough breadmaking at Hope Farm Bakery, and Jack’s at Jindivick will play host to a ‘Food Inspired by Art’ dinner where each course has been inspired by modern artists. For more details: 03 5945 0400 or visit www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au

LOVEDALE CALLING

The inaugural “A Taste of Lovedale” is being billed as a festival, a celebration of the spirit that is Lovedale!! Enough reason, surely , to head for the Hunter Valley, NSW, yet again. This superb country yields an amazing array of top quality wines, tantalizing restaurant cuisine, fine art and music, olives and other products and “A Taste of Lovedale” promises to bring them all together in the beautiful Wandin Valley country estate on November 24, 2007. Ten individual wineries will be serving wine by the glass, and visitors can chat to the wine makers and property owners before selecting their wine and food from the four participating restaurants. Multiple produce stalls will offer a range of local products from olives to chocolates and soaps, all available for purchase on the day and there'll be fine art from four of the area’s leading artists, and live music with the Hunter Valley 25 piece orchestra throughout the day. Want more? Wine and food master classes will also be held throughout the day, as well as small scale wine making demonstrations, and a petting zoo for the kids and a community canvas for budding young artists. For more information 02 4930 7387 or 02 4930 7317 or www.lovedalehuntervalley.com.au/events

OLIVE NEWS

The annual award-winning Festival of the Olive at Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta, is based on the humble olive and this year is planned for the weekend of October 20 and 21. It is inspired by the fact that the oldest European olive tree (olea europaea) in Australia is found in the gardens of Elizabeth Farm where it has been bearing fruit since 1805. Visitors on the day will learn a hundred and one uses of the humble olive and enjoy a day learning from celebrity chefs, as well as olive oil tastings, a market for specialist merchants and suppliers,  music, kid's activities and Mediterranean food . Information: 02 8239 2211.

SYDNEY SELL OUT

Fine Food & Hotel Australia is now full. Well, what they mean is that bookings for stands is chock-a-block. Industry people can still get in of course when the stand-out show with over a thousand exhibitors opens from 24-27 September at Sydney's Darling Harbour. It will be a huge event providing food and beverage buyers, especially restaurateurs and chefs with their best chance all year to see new ideas and source new suppliers. In addition to local visitors there will be over 2000 international buyers. Austrade will be hosting a lounge for these very special guests. This year, for the first time, there will be a free internet café on the show floor sponsored by new industry website www.ehospitality.com.au Free visitor registration is available at www.finefood.com.au

LONG TERM DIARY NOTE

An email newsletter from Open House magazine (www.openhousemagazine.net) reports that  after more than 40 years, ICTF is being replaced by FoodService Australia, the first event next May to be known as FSA Expo 2008. Run by the Food Service Suppliers Association of Australia & New Zealand, the event is dedicated to the foodservice industry and covers food, beverage, bakery, coffee, hospitality and equipment. "FoodService Australia is a more powerful and succinct name that clearly positions the expo to its target audience, foodservice industry professionals," says FSAA+NZ president Terry Randall. The event has relocated to the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre and runs from May 12 to 14. Registrations are already being accepted online.

QUEENSLAND DOINGS

Redcliffe Seafood Festival – 13 to 14 October
There’s something fabulously fishy going on at Redcliffe. Trawl through educational displays, entertainment and side show of activities and taste seafood fresh from the bay, and wines, straight from local vines. 
(More information: 07 3262 6855)

Greek Fest Townsville – 13 to 14 October
It’s all Greek. Celebrate Greek culture through music, dance, entertainment and games. And don’t forget the food – from souvlakia and spanakopites to stewed octopus, be transported back to Greece at this flavoursome festival. (More information: www.greekfest.com.au)

Gamekeepers Dinner – 20 October.
A must do for wine and food lovers alike with five delectable courses featuring game meats, new and vintage wines and entertainment. Commences at 6.30pm and cost is $90 per person. Ballandean Estate Wines, 354 Sundown Road, Ballandean. More information: Leeanne Gangemi  07 4684 1226, www.ballandeanestate.com

Sirromet Long Lunch – 10 November.
Lunch seated underneath the shaded boulevard at one table about 250m long, overlooking the budding, tenderly nurtured vines, meandering Bald Rock Creek and the majestic granite outcrops. Cost includes four course lunch, roving entertainers, souvenir wine glass and glass of wine of arrival. Seven Scenes Vineyard, Ballandean. More information: Judy Watters 0417 637 445

BRISBANE HEATS UP

Things are set to sizzle when some of Australia’s best chefs will come together to heat up the kitchen with live demonstrations at the Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show this November. Celebrity chefs include Curtis Stone Tobie Puttock, Matt Moran, Ben O’Donohue, Alistair McLeod and Anthony Telford at the third Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show, to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 9 – 11. The Queensland Government will also be showcasing the finest gourmet food products from the local area. Tickets are available from August 6 through Ticketek on 13 28 49 or www.goodfoodshow.com.au 

CHEERS FOR CHEESE 

From 21 May to 18 November 2007, Bega Cheese www.begacheese.com.au will donate ten cents from every block of Bega Cheese sold to provide much needed financial support to drought stricken communities around Australia. Bega Cheese, located in the Bega Valley, NSW, is owned and operated by 100 local dairy farmers. It has been a part of the Australian landscape since 1899 and is a company that is passionate about Australian farming. Like Australian farmers across the country, Bega Cheese and its dairy farmers have experienced the devastating hardship that comes with drought. But with hardship comes the amazing ability for rural communities to unite and lend a hand. The funds will be distributed nationally by the Country Women’s Association of Australia (CWAA) – to families and communities affected by drought. Bega Cheese expects to raise in excess of Au$600,000 and will make an advance donation of Au$100,000 to expedite the assistance to the community.If you know of other companies making a difference to drought-affected communities, please let us know.