I attended the media launch of the Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show tonight at the Pullman Hotel and I can’t wait for the show to begin. The evening started by catching up with many of the Brisbane based food bloggers I know – and a few I’d like to know better.
The event was sponsored by Yalumba Wines and we were greeted by Alastair McLeod, celebrity chef in Brisbane, who has as much of an Australian accent as I do. He’s from Northern Ireland but he’s a dinky di Aussie just like me. He gave a quick rundown on what to expect at the Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show starting the 8th of November.
There will be free samples of food all day long from over 300 producers and only $25 to get through the door. It’s a food lover’s dream event.
Tonight we tasted and sipped and learned about food from the region and why it’s important to support your local producers. We all knew that already, didn’t we? Food that comes from our local region is fresher and that makes it better for us. Plus, supporting local producers helps everyone in our area.
There were wonderful beef skewers from the Pullman Hotel chef that had been deftly massaged with sumac before grilling and they were served with a drizzle of sumac mayonnaise. The beef was tender and flavourful and perfect after eating three samples of cheese, some Fat Hen olive oil infused with lemon myrtle (divine, by the way) and some grilled halloumi kissed with a bit of lemon juice and caramelised balsamic vinegar.
Then celebrity chef Matt Moran said a few words about why he loves the Brisbane Food and Wine Show and then he was off to make his famous Bombe Alaska. We were presented with a layer of cake, a scoop of delightfully tangy raspberry sorbet and it was all cuddled in a blanket of the creamiest meringue that had been lightly torched. Perfect ending, if you ask me.
The highlight of the evening was just before I left. I met a man who was promoting the products of the Granite Belt. He was a big man with a broad smile and he told me that I’d love a visit to his area.
He was happy that I was taking their handouts and did I have any questions about the Granite Belt, the Southern Downs, Stanthorpe or any of their producers. If he didn’t have an answer, he’d get one.
I was thinking, “Wow, what a spruiker for those producers.” Then I wondered, “I wonder what it costs to get someone that knowledgeable.” Yeah, you’re probably ahead of me on this but it was the Mayor of Stanthorpe who came along to promote Queensland’s premier wine region.
I was very impressed and told him I’d write about him on my blog. So Peter Blundell, you did a great job. I’m sure I’m not the only one who talked with you that wants to make a visit to Stanthorpe.
I’ll be at the Good Food and Wine Show with my party shoes on next weekend, November 8-10 and if you’re in the area, I hope I’ll see you there.
Have a great time – it sounds absolutely wonderful!
I love food events like this because I always learn a new cooking trick, a new product or meet wonderfully passionate producers. It’s just a fun day for a food lover. 🙂
Very fun Maureen, wish I could hop a plane to the land down under!
If you two visited I would stop everything and we’d nosh something every single minute! 🙂
Can I come with you?
Oh wait, I’m an ocean and half of the North American continent away.
Guess, I’ll have to enjoy the visit through your post.
If you can get here, I’ll buy your ticket 🙂
Have fun. Looking forward to seeing and hearing about all you learned and ate.
I know I’m supposed to be taking off 5 kilograms and here I am talking about eating my way through a food show. 🙂 tsk
That baked Alaska sounds great, a long way from the mediocre soggy sponge things of my childhood. I’d love to meet Matt Moran. I hope you have a fab time next weekend. GG
I’ll have to put a time limit on myself or I’d be there from start to finish. 🙂
Sounds like fun! Have a swell time. 🙂
I plan to eat my way from one end to the other 🙂
I love my annual pilgrimage to the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show! I bring home so many wonderful goodies and meet so many passionate people and try so many amazing products. I hope you have a wonderful day Maureen- but be careful not to overdo it and wear yourself out if you’re still recovering. How lovely of the Mayor to be so proactive in promoting his region and all the great things it has to offer, I’ll look forward to seeing you blog about the area soon 🙂
Yeah, I’m really impressed that he cares about increasing both tourism and his producers so much that he drove to Brisbane to spend 2 hours with us. He is lovely.
How delicious! I’d so love to come along!
Wouldn’t we have the best time there together??
G’day Maureen! Sounds like a fun night indeed, true!
Always enjoy meeting passionate people and local producers and mayors who love their region too!
Cheers! Joanne
Yes you do and you know why I’m so eager to go.
Sounds like food blogger heaven to me! Have a blast!
I can’t wait for you to visit!
How exciting Maureen, I hope you have a ball
I certainly plan to 🙂
I wish I was going to be in the area – I would love to be there. And what a great tribute to Peter! I’m sure you’ll have a great time and I look forward to hearing all about it xx
I want a mayor like that. 🙂 we DO have Clive Palmer next door in Maroochydore and we used to have Peter Slipper. Traded him for Mal Brough. Gotta love Queensland.
I wish you could be here too!
I think Perth could take a lesson or two from Brisbane’s example!
🙂 come on over!
i will tag along
Yay!
Tasting food for hours would be my dream birthday hehe
Again I wished i was in Australia sounds like so much fun and it would be the best time to meet you all there. =)
What I wouldn’t give to meet you in person. You’re such a special friend.
Sounds wonderful, Enjoy.
I know you are going to have fun!! Enjoy!!
This sounds like it’s going to be quite an event and a wonderful place to spend a weekend. I hope you have a great time, Maureen.
I can’t wait! 🙂