Tasting Australia - Adelaide, 26 April - 3 May
Ian Parmenter and Simon Bryant at the recent launch of Tasting Australia
Some of the biggest names in the Australian food industry will once again converge on Adelaide and regional South Australia for this year's Tasting Australia. This is an iconic event. I was fortunate enough to have attended on four occasions since the launch in 1997 and each time the event lineup was nothing short of outstanding. South Australia has much to offer in terms of food and wine; and Tasting Australia provides visitors with the opportunity to savour a feast of experiences within an eight day festival.
Tasting Australia is the country's premier culinary festival and the expanded program will make the 2012 event the best ever. 'This wonderful festival combines the best of South Australian produce with some of Australia's most talented chefs in activities that entertain, educate and inspire,' the SA Minister for Food and Tourism, Gail Gago said recently. 'Rich and enticing sights, flavours and atmosphere come together to create a distinctly South Australian food and wine event that should not be missed'.
Mark Best, whose Sydney eatery Marque was recently crowned Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine's top Australian restaurant, will join a host of famous foodies who will engage and entertain festival-goers at numerous events. Iconic South Australian foodies Simon Bryant and Maggie Beer, from former ABC television program The Cook and the Chef, will feature prominently on the Tasting Australia program. Bryant says Tasting Australia is the 'must-do event' on the Australian culinary calendar. 'Tasting Australia is the most anticipated event on my food calendar; it's a great opportunity to showcase stunning South Australian produce to the world,' Bryant said. 'It's eight days of collaboration with an amazing array of international and Australian chefs in which we share not just food, but our knowledge and passion with the public'.
Other top Australian chefs coming to Adelaide include the Sydney-based Miguel Maestre, who joined forces with his best mate Manu Feildel at Appertif in Sydney and continues to do guest chef appearances around Australia. Leading Australian chef, restaurateur and media personality Guy Grossi will share his love of Italian culture and hospitality with audiences. His iconic restaurants include Melbourne's Grossi Florentino, Merchant Osteria Veneta at Rialto Collins Street and Grossi Trattoria, Bangkok. Also appearing is New Zealand-born Justin North, chef and proprietor of acclaimed Sydney restaurants Becasse, Quarter 21 and Etch, along with Matt Stone, executive chef at Greenhouse in Perth.
In a first for Tasting Australia, the 2012 festival will feature the Australian Culinary Federation’s (ACF) Battle of the Chefs competition to find Australia’s best chef. Chefs have the opportunity to enter in one of three categories: Restaurant/Fine Dining Chef, Cafe/ Bistro/Pub/ Club Chef and Catering/Convention/Institution Chef. Each competitor will have just two hours to prepare, cook and serve a main course with ingredients selected from a supplied pantry. There will be a 15 minute briefing followed by 15 minutes to select ingredients from the pantry. A challenge!
Preparations are also underway for the BankSA Feast for the Senses, to be held in Elder Park on Saturday, 28 and Sunday, 29 April, as part of the event. Festival organisers and exhibitors are sharpening their knives and corkscrews ready to cater for the tens of thousands of food, wine and beer lovers expected to attend. Festival Director, Ian Parmenter, said an all-star culinary cast is set to entertain and educate food and drink professionals, the media and the general public at the BankSA Feast for the Senses.
Tasting Australia will take place from 26 April 26 to 3 May. For more information and a full program of events, visit the web site. If you have the opportunity to attend any of the events, do... it's all delicious!
Tasting Australia is the country's premier culinary festival and the expanded program will make the 2012 event the best ever. 'This wonderful festival combines the best of South Australian produce with some of Australia's most talented chefs in activities that entertain, educate and inspire,' the SA Minister for Food and Tourism, Gail Gago said recently. 'Rich and enticing sights, flavours and atmosphere come together to create a distinctly South Australian food and wine event that should not be missed'.
Mark Best, whose Sydney eatery Marque was recently crowned Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine's top Australian restaurant, will join a host of famous foodies who will engage and entertain festival-goers at numerous events. Iconic South Australian foodies Simon Bryant and Maggie Beer, from former ABC television program The Cook and the Chef, will feature prominently on the Tasting Australia program. Bryant says Tasting Australia is the 'must-do event' on the Australian culinary calendar. 'Tasting Australia is the most anticipated event on my food calendar; it's a great opportunity to showcase stunning South Australian produce to the world,' Bryant said. 'It's eight days of collaboration with an amazing array of international and Australian chefs in which we share not just food, but our knowledge and passion with the public'.
Other top Australian chefs coming to Adelaide include the Sydney-based Miguel Maestre, who joined forces with his best mate Manu Feildel at Appertif in Sydney and continues to do guest chef appearances around Australia. Leading Australian chef, restaurateur and media personality Guy Grossi will share his love of Italian culture and hospitality with audiences. His iconic restaurants include Melbourne's Grossi Florentino, Merchant Osteria Veneta at Rialto Collins Street and Grossi Trattoria, Bangkok. Also appearing is New Zealand-born Justin North, chef and proprietor of acclaimed Sydney restaurants Becasse, Quarter 21 and Etch, along with Matt Stone, executive chef at Greenhouse in Perth.
In a first for Tasting Australia, the 2012 festival will feature the Australian Culinary Federation’s (ACF) Battle of the Chefs competition to find Australia’s best chef. Chefs have the opportunity to enter in one of three categories: Restaurant/Fine Dining Chef, Cafe/ Bistro/Pub/ Club Chef and Catering/Convention/Institution Chef. Each competitor will have just two hours to prepare, cook and serve a main course with ingredients selected from a supplied pantry. There will be a 15 minute briefing followed by 15 minutes to select ingredients from the pantry. A challenge!
Preparations are also underway for the BankSA Feast for the Senses, to be held in Elder Park on Saturday, 28 and Sunday, 29 April, as part of the event. Festival organisers and exhibitors are sharpening their knives and corkscrews ready to cater for the tens of thousands of food, wine and beer lovers expected to attend. Festival Director, Ian Parmenter, said an all-star culinary cast is set to entertain and educate food and drink professionals, the media and the general public at the BankSA Feast for the Senses.
Tasting Australia will take place from 26 April 26 to 3 May. For more information and a full program of events, visit the web site. If you have the opportunity to attend any of the events, do... it's all delicious!
The Feast for the Senses event takes place in Elder Park on 28-29 April - images courtesy Events SA
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