Scenic Rim Eat Local Week 2016 plates up from June 25, with a delicious schedule of food and farming events.
The festival of food and farming is now in its sixth year and showcases the bounty of fresh produce, wine, beer, milk and gourmet products that grow in the region’s fertile volcanic soil.
This year’s festival runs from June 25 to July 3 and features more than 55 individual events – from farm tours, to cheese and wine tastings, to cooking classes and exclusive producer dinners, curated by some of Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s leading chefs.
Eat Local Week culminates in a signature event, the Winter Harvest Festival, on July 2 at Aratula. On this day the region’s producers come to one location to sell their produce. The day features free kids rides and activities, a Tractor Pulling competition, live music and cooking demonstrations by leading chefs.
The Scenic Rim Council has again partnered with Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) for the nine-day celebration, and QAGOMA Executive Chef and current Good Food Guide Chef of the Year, Josue Lopez, returns as Event Ambassador for the second year.
As part of this role Josue will mentor a number of aspiring Scenic Rim chefs through an internship in his busy kitchen. Josue will also host the popular Discovery and Degustation tour of the region.
Scenic Rim Mayor, Cr Greg Christensen, says Eat Local Week has grown from humble beginnings to emerge as one of the State’s premier and authentic food events.
“The event was first established as a way of highlighting the broad range of produce that is grown in in the region, to encourage consumers to source their food and beverages close to home. The event has grown in both scale and popularity but our focus is still very much on retaining the authenticity. Visitors can connect with farmers and have a real farm experience.
“Bring your children and get muddy on a local farm, enrol them in a cooking class, take them on a bush tucker experience, or leave them at home and attend one of many incredible gourmet food experiences. This year the Eat Local Week schedule features new exciting producer lunches, catered by leading chefs.
Cameron Matthews of The Long Apron and Javier Codina of Moda will host two exclusive long-table lunches on spectacular Scenic Rim farms.
Josue Lopez from GOMA Restaurant will host the popular Scenic Rim Discovery & Degustation, inviting guests to tour three farms during the day, before sitting down to a five-course Scenic Rim degustation at the GOMA Restaurant.
Wild Canary Executive Chef, Glen Barratt, will host a Scenic Rim lunch and EAT LOCAL book launch in his restaurant, as will QT Gold Coast Executive Chef Greg Benney in his popular Bazaar restaurant. Book authors Brenda Fawdon and Christine Sharp will attend both lunches.
QLD Food Fellow Alison Alexander and Caroline Jones of Three Girls Skipping will lead a foraging and tasting tour of their favourite Scenic Rim farms.
Josue, Cameron and Javier will also lead cooking demonstrations on July 2 at our signature event, the Winter Harvest Festival in Aratula.
Eat Local Week Ambassador, Josue Lopez, says regional cuisine is a profound concept which has the power to define a community.
“To create a truly regional cuisine using seasonal and locally-sourced produce was a profound revelation to me,” he says.
“I am passionate about showcasing fantastic Queensland produce and my dishes often feature Scenic Rim ingredients. Partnering with Eat Local Week is a wonderful opportunity for me to embrace the world-class produce from this beautiful, fertile region. It’s produce we should all be proud to serve and promote.”