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Archived Snippets - July 2008
Australian Regional Tourism Convention
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TOAST THE COASTGeelong’s Wine and Food Festival, Toast to the Coast, on 1st & 2nd November 2008 is a great excuse to visit this part of Victoria. Indulge in wine and food as 18 venues open their cellar doors over the “Melbourne Cup long weekend”. This celebration of Geelong’s cool climate wines is spread across the three diverse wine regions of Geelong– Surf Coast, Moorabool Valley and The Bellarine. The regions hold hidden treasures and unexpected surprises, not to mention great wine and food. The event offers something for everyone – from gourmets and winelovers to beer connoisseurs, with hand crafted microbrewery beers becoming a natural extension to the wine tasting experience. Each Toast to the Coast venue has its own personality. Some have a reputation as "the place for lunch". Others are the ideal for relaxing on the lawns or to meet up with friends and family. There is plenty of good local produce on offer and some the best spots to settle down with a world class wine and enjoy the view. More details: www.toast2coast.com
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GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
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FARE AFFAREThe Good Food Affare, to be held at Castle Hill Showground, NSW, from 21-23 November 2008, is shaping up to be the ultimate event for food lovers to taste, buy and experience the best organic and regional produce and wine. Not just a produce market, It will also present some of Australia’s most celebrated foodies who will cook seasonal favourites for the many visitors. Domayne's talented style team from will transform the Showground’s collection of Agricultural buildings and sheds into a chic-rustic fantasy that will include the Skye Gyngell Restaurant, three Info-tainment stages and places for tasting workshops for children. Watch for updates or consider being a stallholder at this unique inaugural event. For more details contact Project Manager Mary Atkins of Food Factotum at info@foodfactotum.com.au
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WE ARE NOT ALONE
"Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL) is a national initiative run by the FoodRoutes Network, and the BFBL coordinator for PA is the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA). BFBL Greater Philadelphia is coordinated by White Dog Community Enterprises, and partners are Farm to City, The Food Trust, and Reading Terminal Market. Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL) Week is an annual celebration of the availability, unparalleled freshness, and economic and environmental benefits of food grown within 150 miles from farm to plate. The BFBL Chapters of Southeastern PA are hosting over 24 fun, food-filled events from July 12th-20th that support and promote the countless ways community members can strengthen their regional food system. All of the events are family friendly and most are FREE! For a complete listing of events visit Local Food Philly." Why tell you? It's over, it's in America – but what a great ideas! And one that could easily be adopted here.
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CONGRATS TO KAILISSue Currie from Kailis Organic Olive Groves in WA, has emailed to say that their organic extra virgin olive oil was awarded Best Organic Food Product at Organic Expo 2008. They will be exhibiting at the Organic Expo from Friday July 25-27, so if you are visiting the Expo make sure to drop by their stand (no 76) at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour and sample their multi award-winning, certified 100 percent organic olive oils. They were also awarded Judges Choice Award at Organic Expo 2008. Kailis is used to winning awards, having won Gold, Silver and Bronze at The Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition; the Diploma of Excellence and Gran Mention Diploma at the International Olive Oil Competition, Armonia, in Italy; winners of BiolPack 2008, at the IFOAM International Congress; plus numerous domestic awards. www.kailisorganic.com 08 9201 9066 www.organicexpo.com.au
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HOW MUCH MORE REGIONAL CAN YOU GET?
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THE NEW F-WORDSThe Australian Organic Roadshow featuring ‘farm to fork’ arrives in Adelaide Hills on Friday 1st August. This news comes from the excellent BFA www.bfa.com.au (Biological Farmers of Australia) newsletter. On that day South Australian organic growers and stakeholders can come together, collaborate and be informed on all things organic when the BFA roadshow (now held in eight national locations annually) arrives in this region renowned for fine food production and home to a strong local hub of organic operators. Short “farm to fork” talks will cover everything from primary production to trade and retail, presented by successful business managers and leaders in the region. The roadshow will be held at local bio-dynamic success story, the b.-d. Farm Paris Creek dairy, providing opportunity for all interested to network and obtain the freshest organic information, first-hand. A farm tour will follow a local, all-organic lunch.
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QUEUE FOR Q!
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TROPICAL TITLESThe big winner in the 2008 Restaurant & Catering Queensland HOSTPLUS North
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COUNTRY COOKING
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CLASSY QUEENSLAND
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TASSIE TRUFFLE TIME
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CAIRNS IS COOKING!
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Regional Flagship Event funding –
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Beef, bells and bottle treesCelebrate what makes Miles on Queensland’s Western Downs special at the first ever Beef, Bells and Bottle Tree Festival in September.
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Winter Food Fests
Bendigo and its surrounds will be abuzz with heart-warming food and wine experiences taking place from July through to October. Highlights include: the ninth annual Deep Winter Wine Dinner (Saturday 19 July) at Emeu Inn Restaurant in Heathcote, an area famous for its premium Shiraz: and Rare Reds Unearthed (Saturday 30 August) which brings together wineries in the Bendigo region that don’t currently have a cellar door outlet. Then in October, the region hosts two of its biggest food and wine events: the Heathcote Wine and Food Festival (4-5 October) followed by Bendigo Heritage Uncorked (11-12 October), an annual festival that showcases Bendigo’s wine, quality restaurants and grand gold rush architecture. Durif, a rare French grape variety, will be celebrated at the Durif of Rutherglen centenary weekend (2-3 August) in Rutherglen in Victoria’s pristine alpine High Country. Included among the weekend highlights will include a sumptuous seven-course degustation black tie dinner featuring nine sparkling, table and fortified Durif wines which will take place in the great hall of All Saints Estate (2 August) and a Muscat Masterclass (3 August). Delicious food and wine from the Alpine Valleys will also be on offer at the 2008 Mountain Fresh Festival taking place at Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham (18 - 23 July). Take some time to taste your way around the Alpine Valleys as the region’s winemakers and food producers gather to showcase their wares at Hotham Central for the Taste Alpine event (Saturday 19 July). Alternately, take part in the ‘Home Spa Remedies with Alpine Valleys Produce’ Master Class (Monday 21 July), where you can learn how to make your own home spa recipes to use for body care and pampering. For further information:
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FOOD FOR SALEThe same source reveals that online bidding for tables at more than 40 Victorian restaurants will begin on August 26 as part of Kitchen Garden Week (October 6-13), with proceeds going to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. Winners and nine guests will take their seats during Kitchen Garden Week and be treated to a four-course meal with matching wines, and an opportunity to meet each restaurant's head chef. Participating restaurants include: Vue de monde, Grossi Florentino, The Press Club, Three One Two, Longrain, The Botanical and Royal Mail. In an excellent move to interest youngsters in fine food, executive chefs will also be paired with local Kitchen Garden Program primary schools. Chefs, including Shannon Bennett, Guy Grossi and George Colombaris, will assume a mentoring role by visiting their partnered schools to see the Kitchen Garden Program in action, working with the children during a kitchen or garden class.
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SPRING HAS SPRUNGAnd now it's time to enter your products in the Spring 2008 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show coming up in September, 2008. Entries close - Friday 25 July 2008 and judging dates are Monday 1 - Wednesday 10 September 2008. Individual Competitions will be as follows: Those who wish to find out more information or to receive a copy of the Schedule and Application for entry can visit the website www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au or contact eblack@rasnsw.com.au or 02 9704 1199.
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CHANGE FOR MAJOR FOOD EVENTTasting Australia, the nation’s premier food, wine and beer festival will now be held in Autumn instead of Spring, allowing visiting media, food and drink professionals and the public at large a chance to experience the best South Australia has to offer at vintage time. The next Tasting Australia event will be held from on 6-13 May 2010. In the past eleven years since Tasting Australia has become one of the nation’s most influential and best attended gastronomic festivals, hosting hundreds of Australia’s and the world’s top chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, food, wine and travel media and has attracted a wide cross-section of the food-loving public to Adelaide and South Australia.
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ORANGE TRUFFLES? C'EST IMPOSSIBLE, N'ESt PAS?In 2002 Greg and Loretto Good in cool climate Millthorpe, in the Orange region of NSW, inoculated 800 oak trees hoping for truffles. They are being rewarded as the trees have been producing truffles since 2005 and this year the Goods with the help of a kelpie cross dog purchased for $5 from a Sunday market have been harvesting French Black Tony and the Good’s are teaming up to provide a hands’ on harvesting experience followed by lunch at Tonic on Saturday July 12. And, no, it’s not titled ‘First Harness Your Pig’. Enquiries regarding this Millthorpe Truffle Experience can be made by calling Tonic Restaurant on 6366 3811. Enquiries to Millthorpe Truffles can be made by phoning 0418 637 315 or email greggood@bigpond.net.au This region's truffle season is expected to finish by mid-August.
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ARE YOU THE BEST?Don’t miss your opportunity to be named the “best of the best” in Australian Fine Food. The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) is now accepting entries for the Spring 2008 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show. One of Australia’s premier industry events, the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show recognizes and rewards innovation, diversity and excellence in agricultural production. The September Show judges entries in Regional Food, Deli Meats, Olive Oil, Aquaculture, Branded Beef and recognizing emerging industry and consumer trends a Branded Lamb Competition has been introduced for the first time in 2008.Closing date for entries is Friday July 25 2008. For more information on the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show and entry details please visit: www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au, or contact the Wine, Dairy & Fine Food Coordinator on (02) 9704 1199.
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GASTRONOMY MATTERS'Cry the Beloved River: A loaf of bread, a glass of wine, a piece of coal: Living well and sustainably in the 21st Century' is the title of the 16th Symposium of Australian Gastronomy which will convene in the Hunter Valley, NSW, from Sunday 26th October until Wednesday 29th October 2008. The Symposium will draw attention to the Hunter as a river valley and examine its past, present and future with reference to sometimes incongruous industries. From sustenance for the indigenous population, then a transport system for the logging industry leading to the development of river ports, in the 20th century industrial emphasis shifted to mining, agriculture, market gardening, viticulture and now in the tourism and regional specialty foods. Each activity has had an impact on the river and provide a fertile ground for points of discussion regarding our ability to live well and sustainably. The ongoing problem of avoiding elitism whilst expounding the desirability of fresh and flavoursome food for all will also be a topic for discussion. The Symposium promises to be thought provoking, informative, entertaining and downright good fun – with a dash of in-depth academia thrown in for good measure. The programme runs over two full days, beginning at a small producer’s fair and including the presentation of academic and general papers, a bus trip to lunch and a dinner in what is arguably a very unusual venue! Details and registration can be viewed on-line at www.huntersag.com.au
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DIARY DATESComing up soon: 2008 NSW Tourism Awards, Thursday, 20 November, Star City Hotel and Casino. www.tourism.nsw.gov.au/awards
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A BIOLOGICAL FIRSTAustralia’s first no-oxygen mill will be on show at Brisbane Organic Roadshow Friday 11th July, proving organic processors are well ahead in the trial of innovative, all-natural food technologies. Certified organic miller and BFA Roadshow sponsor, Z Mills, will launch Australia’s first no-oxygen, zero light and low-heat mill. The Alligrator mill uses up to thirty percent less energy than its conventional equivalents while retaining grain roughage, essential oils, minerals and fibre that substantially increase the nutritional value of processed grain product staples such as flour.
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Australian Regional Tourism Convention
Registrations are now open for regional tourism’s biggest event, the Australian Regional Tourism Convention which will be held from 9-12 September in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. Themed Taking Tourism into the Future, the program includes case studies from across Australia and field trips to the Murray River, Kangaroo Island and the Barossa. Field trips will focus on the management, marketing and sustainability of destinations and how industry, government and private sector partnerships can build a destination’s appeal.The convention’s keynote address will be given by John Anderson, who will share his incredible story about Contiki, which has grown to one of the biggest travel brands in the world. Other program highlights include workshops to discuss issues impacting regional dispersal and service and an interactive panel discussion about the future of distribution with representatives from media, marketing and industry. For full program details and to register go to 
Don't miss the opportunity to attend the 2008 Central Coast Business and Innovation Expo to be held on Wednesday and Thursday 13th and 14th August at Tumbi Umbi on the NSW Central Coast. Thursday's business briefing session hosted by DSRD will be of particular interest to owner-operators looking to the future and regional opportunities for the Central Coast over the next 10-15 years. This session will include a panel of representatives from Gosford and Wyong Councils, Business Central Coast, Central Coast Area Consultative Committee and the local media. More details www.thebrew.com.au
A newsletter from White Dog Enterprises in the US announces the 6th Annual Buy Fresh Buy Local Week: July 12th-20th.
Right up there for originality with the various places that bottle rain water, now you can have snow in your beer! Snowy Mountains Brewery founder Kevin O’Neill used his first snow sighting at Charlotte Pass in late June to good effect, stocking up on the precious resource for his first batch of beer since the start of new snow season. It's such a good idea that he says the ritual will become an annual event. O’Neill was inspired to start his own brewery when he took refuge in a Snowy Mountains resort watering hole after a day on the slopes four years ago and wondered where the local brew was. Finding none, he set about creating one of the country’s most respected micro-beers, going on to win national awards and critical acclaim. The German-style Charlotte Hefeweizen scooped the major award for Australia’s best wheat beer at the Australian Hotel Beer awards last October, while the Crackenback Pale Ale was named one of Australia’s Top 20 Beers in The Herald Sun this month. For more information on Snowy Mountains Brewery, visit 
Discover the best Queensland produce, winter vegetables in peak production, tender beef and succulent seafood, quality wines and fragrant sweet strawberries at Food and Wine on Q from July 21 to August 1. Woks will fire up for Noodles on Q on Monday evening 21 July at QPAC. Six Brisbane restaurants will each present a delicious taste of Asia in a noodle box filled with seasonal Queensland produce perfectly matched with a glass of fine Queensland wine, $15pp (no bookings necessary) Lunch on Q provides an opportunity to sample some of Queensland’s best produce and wine presented by Brisbane’s leading chefs. Participating restaurants will offer a selection of mains and desserts accompanied by a glass of local wine for $30pp. 
Queensland Awards for Excellence was Barefoot Art Food and Wine on Magnetic Island, which took out the Best Alfresco Restaurant and Best Themed Restaurant for 2008 awards as well as winning the highly coveted Restaurant of the Year title. Betty Blue and the Lemon Tart also took home Best Breakfast Restaurant and Best Café Restaurant. Hobbo’s Hut was announced Best Family Establishment as well as Best Seafood Restaurant. The winners of the North Queensland awards will go on to compete in the State Awards to be held in Brisbane on September 15 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Congratulations all!
Hungry for a taste of good old-fashioned country cooking? Discover camp oven cooking competitions, damper throwing competitions, billy boiling speed tests and camp oven food stalls and live country music at Milmerran in south-east Queensland on October 4 - 5. More information: Jeff Hannaford 
chefs will be paired with local Kitchen Garden
Program primary schools. Chefs such as Shannon Bennett, Guy Grossi and George Colombaris
will assume a mentoring role by visiting their partnered schools to see the Kitchen Garden
Program in action, working with the children during a kitchen or garden class. Stephanie Alexander said Kitchen Garden Week would raise much-needed funds for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation’s support of the Program in participating
Victorian schools and the imminent Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Pilot Project. The week concludes with the inaugural national Kitchen Garden Program Conference on Monday 13 October, open to all teachers, educators, public
health professionals, parents and interested individuals from around Australia. For further details visit 
Be quick to book and don’t miss out on seeing, hearing and tasting the latest in food and wine this year at Brisbane's Masterclass Weekend, to be held on 26 & 27 July at Hilton Brisbane. Wines from around the world, truffles from Western Australia and the best beef, fish and lamb for the chef’s demonstrations are on the way to the Hilton kitchens for tasting. The cooking sessions will incorporate prime Queensland produce, including Bethonga Gold pineapples, Granite Belt mushrooms, Banyard Farm quail, Gallozola blue vein cheese from the Atherton Tableland as well as Hervey Bay scallops, custard apples and spanner crabs. Wines from Ballandean Estate and Boireann will also be featured in tastings. Bookings are essential. Full program details available on 
Smell it in the crisp Tasmanian air – winter has brought truffles to this island state. Historic Georgian mansion, Peppers Calstock, is just 20 minutes from the Truffles Australis farm, where specially trained dogs use their keen sense of smell to locate the 
tasty treasures which grow on oak roots about 20cm beneath the ground. Providing the perfect day trip from Peppers Calstock, tours of the Mole Creek farm can be arranged by appointment, where visitors can wander the oak plantations, learn the full story of the Tasmanian truffle industry and even watch the dogs at work on a hunt. Truffles are on the menu too at the retreat – and guests can enjoy truffle mash, fresh truffle omelet for a decadent breakfast, and more. More information can be found at 
CONGRATULATIONS! to Cairns International's kitchen team which has won 12 awards at the 2008 Culinary Arts Competition. Team captain Donald Graham was named best overall chef at the three-day event, with a personal tally of three silver and two bronze medals, while Ruby Lo and Annalise Mittra each won gold. 
2009 applications open
Applications are now open for funding under the Tourism NSW Regional Flagship Events Program. Tourism event organisers in regional NSW are encouraged to apply for funding under next year’s program. Funding is available for established tourism events that have the capacity to attract large numbers of visitors and reflect the character and culture of their region.
Annual, one-off grants of $10,000 and triennial grants of $20,000 each year for three years are available to assist organisers with marketing and promotion of their event. Regional events starting between 1 January and 31 December 2009 are eligible for the grants.
Information about the Regional Flagship Events Program and a copy of the expression of interest form is available here. Event organisers have until Friday, 25 July 2008 to lodge an expression of interest, which is the first stage of a two part application process. Tourism NSW has streamlined the application process to make submissions for funding easier this year. Training workshops on event management and marketing in regional NSW will also be run by Tourism NSW. 
The outstanding food and wine on offer in Victoria’s regions will be showcased at festivals throughout the cooler months this year. Port Fairy on the Great Ocean Road’s Shipwreck Coast presented ‘A Celebration of Food and Wine’ on July 4-6, dazzling visitors and locals alike with a gastronomic array of exhibitions, markets, celebrity chefs, cooking classes and sumptuous winemaker dinners.
Truffles from since May. Most weeks see about one kilogram unearthed. Tony Worland from nearby Tonic Restaurant is a champion of what they couple are doing for truffles and truffle fanciers, and is just one of a number of leading chefs to have discovered Millthorpe Truffles. 
VISIT MUDGEE – WITHOUT LEAVING TOWN
SYDNEY HAS GUSTO AGAIN