Learning to cook has never been easier.
During Eat Local Week there are opportunities galore to discover new ways to use fresh Scenic Rim ingredients in your kitchen.
Aspiring Masterchefs of all ages are catered for during the bumper week of food-related events.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Week is about connecting consumers with the producers of the food, wine and beer that they love.
It’s also about encouraging consumers to source ingredients that are in season and are produced close to home, reducing the distance the products have travelled to the plate.
These are all concepts that motivate Tamborine Mountain chef Terri Taylor. She’s behind the Tamborine Mountain Cooking School, which operates from her home kitchen.
For the past four years Terri has welcomed groups of up to 12 people into her home to share the secrets she gained over years working as a chef in leading commercial kitchens
During Eat Local Week Terri will lead intimate cooking classes every day on July 1, 2,3, 4 and 6, preparing and eight-course banquet with a variety of cuisines, using Scenic Rim produce.
When the hard work is over students will be invited to sit down and enjoy the feast. The classes run from 10am to 2pm daily and are being offered as an Eat Local Week half-price special for $60.
If the thought of inviting your children into the kitchen fills you will horror, do not despair – Kate Raymont from Hinterland Harvest Catering is here to help.
The popular Scenic Rim caterer is back with her cooking classes for children. During the two-hour class participants will learn how to use fresh, Scenic Rim ingredients to make healthy, yummy meals. The class ends with a taste test and students go home with new skills and some great, easy-to-follow recipes.
Kate says the secret to cooking with children – and keeping your cool – is to create plenty of opportunities for hands-on experiences.
“It’s often very loud and last holidays I had a class with nine boys in it which was interesting,” says Kate, who also leads cooking classes at the Wild Lime Cooking School in the Lost World Valley.
“You have to keep them really interested. I always create really hands-on recipes with plenty of things they can do and get their hands dirty.”
During Eat Local Week Kate says her classes will have a focus on Scenic Rim Dairy, with the menu to feature cheese twists, cheese soufflés and a healthy breakfast smoothie.
“Some of the older kids want to learn more technique so I thought with the mini soufflés we can have some kids whipping egg whites and folding them through. The breakfast smoothie is a great option for kids who don’t like to eat too much in the morning. I always try to have a focus on healthy eating.
“I send the kids home with a book of recipes which I try to make easy enough for them to do at home. I’m often stopped in the local supermarket by parents who say, ‘My child did your class and we’ve made your pumpkin soup five times.’ That’s really rewarding to know they take the recipes home and actually make them.”
Kate’s Kids Kitchen Kapers classes are being offered at Beaudesert, Boonah and Tamborine Mountain and cost $12. They are for children aged eight years and over. Bookings are essential.
At Tamborine Mountain on Sunday June 29, renowned organic chef, Brenda Fawdon, will speak at a Literary Tastings event at Marks & Gardner Gallery & Secret Garden.
Ms Fawdon is the proprietor of Brisbane’s Mondo Organics – Australia’s first licenced organic restaurant – and the author of Whole-Hearted Food. The event includes a cooking demonstration using local produce, an author talk and food tasting, as well as a glass of award-winning local wine.
The cost is just $25 and bookings are essential.
On the same day at O’Reillys Canungra Valley Vineyard, attend an entertaining cooking demonstration inspired by the popular TV show, The Cook & the Chef.
In this instance the chef is David Husbands and the cook is Paul Sproul and together they will prepare a delicious, social lunch featuring Scenic Rim produce. Each course will be paired with wines from the O’Reillys range. Tickets are $65 and bookings are essential.
For something more relaxed, try Sarabah Estate Vineyard’s Pizza Making Sundays. Tour the market garden, pick some seasonal produce and take it to the bistro kitchen and make your own pizzas. The experience costs just $20 and includes a soft drink for kids and wine tastings for adults.
On Sunday July 6, join Binna Burra Mountain Lodge chef Colin Ford as he cooks a recipe handed down by Marjorie Groom, the wife of Lodge co-founder Arthur Groom. After the free demonstration you are invited to stay for a barbecue on the Coomera Terrace, featuring matched wines from Sarabah Estate Vineyard. The cost is $25 for the BBQ, bookings via Binna Burra Mountain Lodge.
Finally here’s a chance to entertain your teenagers at Mt Barney Lodge. Sign them up for the Wild Pizza sessions. Participants will forage for native ingredients to top their bush pizza, which will be cooked in the camp oven, along with lemon myrtle billy tea.
The cost is $25pp and the session runs from 5pm to 7.30pm on Saturday June 28.
Download the entire Eat Local Week event calendar at www.eatlocalweek.com.au
SATURDAY JUNE 28
Wild Pizza, Mt Barney Lodge
5pm to 7.30pm for participants aged 13 to 17 years
Cost is $25pp
SUNDAY JUNE 29
The Cook & the Chef
O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard
11.30am to 2pm
Cost is $65pp and includes lunch and matched wines
Marks & Gardner Literary tastings with Brenda Fawdon
Marks & Gardner Gallery and Secret Garden
2.30pm
Cost is $25pp and includes food tastings and a glass of local wine
Pizza Making Sundays
Sarabah Estate Vineyard
June 29 and July 6, 11am to 4pm
Cost is $20pp and includes pizza and a soft drink plus wine tastings
TUESDAY JULY 1
Home Cheesemaking Workshop
Towri Sheep Cheeses, Allenview
Cost is $150pp and includes lunch, cheese tasting and instruction from Carolyn Davidson
Kids Kitchen Kapers with Kate
Beaudesert & Boonah
Cost is $12pp for children over eight years
Tamborine Cooking School
July 1 to 4 & 6
Cook and enjoy an eight-course banquet with Terri Taylor
Cost is $60pp and includes lunch
THURSDAY JULY 3
Kids Kitchen Kapers with Kate
Tamborine Mountain
10am to noon for children aged eight years and over
Cost is $12pp
SUNDAY JULY 6
Marjorie Groom Recipe-inspired Cooking Demonstration & BBQ
Chef Colin Ford will lead a demonstration with Leighton Pitcher, using a recipe by Marjorie Groom, the wife of Arthur Groom, Binna Burra co-founder.
Followed by a BBQ on the Coomera Terrace, accompanied by Sarabah Estate Wines.
Cooking demonstration is free, BBQ is $25pp
Bookings on 5533 3622