The Scenic Rim will be served on a platter on Saturday (JULY 4) at the Winter Harvest Festival, Eat Local Week’s signature event.
The authentic festival of food and farming will be the biggest yet, with seven cooking demonstrations, live music, free children’s rides and more than 40 stalls selling a range of Scenic Rim fresh produce, baked good, relishes, olives, cheese, meat, hot food, wine and craft beer.
The hotly contested Kalbar and District Community Bank Tractor Pulling Competition returns for the third year and a strong field of teams have signed up for the chance to win a share of $3000 for their community club or sporting team.
A highlight of the day will be the cooking demonstration by Eat Local Week ambassador and QAGOMA Executive Chef Josue Lopez, who will recreate some of the incredible dishes he served at the seven-course Scenic Rim degustation last month.
Scenic Rim musicians Ross Weber, John Harley-Weston and The ERT Trio will perform during the day and this year there will be a dedicated Festival Tent, where guests can hear from Scenic Rim chefs, winemakers and olive producers.
The popular Carrot Beer collaboration of Four Hearts Brewing and Kalfresh Vegetables will be on offer, as will craft beers from Croft Brewing, Beard & Brau Farmhouse Brewery, Fortitude Brewing and Scenic Rim Brewery. Scenic Rim wines from Bunjurgen Estate Vineyard, Ironbark Ridge Winery, Normanby Wines, Sarabah Estate Vineyard and Welgan Estate Wines will also be available for purchase.
Eat Local Week ambassador, Josh Lopez, says he’s excited to be involved in the Winter Harvest Festival and loves the event’s authentic nature.
“The Scenic Rim produces some amazing produce and this festival brings many of the region’s producers together in one venue,” he says.
“This really is an easy way of sampling everything this region has to offer. I’m looking forward to showcasing a selection of the local produce during my cooking demonstration. I will recreate my Butter poached Crayfish and my Coffee & Macadamia Brittle dessert, which were well received at the Scenic Rim degustation at the GOMA Restaurant earlier this month.
“Many people are familiar with the paddock to plate concept, yet for me it’s not good enough just to use those words. I want to put it into practice by engaging with the wonderful produce grown here in the Scenic Rim.
“I’m really proud to be the Eat Local Week ambassador and I hope to see you in the Scenic Rim at the Winter Harvest Festival. I hope through my involvement I can plant the seed, particularly with the younger generation, to be engaged with the produce and to rethink their food. For me sourcing produce that’s local, sustainable and in-season is imperative.”
More than 45 Scenic Rim farmers, producers, chefs and wine and beer makers will be selling their wares throughout the day, including Greenlee Farm, Scenic Rim Olives, Aratula Butchery, Bakers of Aratula, Pamela’s Kitchen, Farmer’s Kitchen, Scenic Rim Lavender, Freshwater Australian Crayfish, Neuendorf Farms, Oliva Di Tabragalba, Dewar Honey, Charlwood Organic Farm, Fassifern Valley Produce and the Boonah Fruit Supply selling a mega showcase of fresh, local produce.
There will be plenty of hot food available, including hand cut chips featuring Scenic Rim potatoes and made by the Boonah Lions Club; mini gourmet burgers, gourmet sausages and kebabs from the Aratula Butchery; steak burgers from the Aratula Community Sports Centre committee; salads, dips and soup from Charlwood Organic Farm; pizzas and gelato from Desley and Pietro Agnoletto; pizzas from Fire ‘n Dough; Pulled Pork Sliders, BLTs, spring rolls, roast pork & gravy rolls from Neuendorf Farms; Lemon myrtle and garlic chicken from Wild Lime Cooking School; and pies, pastries and sausage rolls from the Aratula Bakery.
There’s plenty to keep the kids amused, including a free super slide and jumping castle.
Tickets are $10 for adults and children under 12 are free. The first 500 adults through the gate will receive a free Harvest Bag. Buy your tickets online at www.eatlocalweek.com.au or from the gate.
The Winter Harvest Festival is an all-weather event.