EATspeak: Food and Wine festival

Friday, May 20, 2011

Noosa Food and Wine Festival 2011

Each of the Australian Food and Wine Festivals offer something unique but I have to say there is something very appealing about strolling out of a session and onto the beachfront just a few metres away. Noosa really is a particularly beautiful patch of the eastern Australian coastline, the weather is gorgeous in May and the vibe is always very relaxed (well at least for those not cooking or presenting!). It is the one festival where people take along their families and tag a couple of days onto the weekend in order to spend some quality time together - something that is often lacking in a chef's life.

Yoshihiro Narisawa, Carlo Cracco, Tetsuya Wakuda and Matt Preston above with Tets, Matt, Andre Chiang, Ben Shewry and Mark Best below talking food trends and cracking themselves up over Michelin Stars v's the San Pell top 50.

On the far right is the gorgeous Fiona Nilsson - group publisher of food titles at News Limited with her sister and friend

The urban cook himself - Mr Mark Jensen

Matt ("I know I'm cute but what about the baby?")Wilkinson with newborn Finn

Shin Maeda from Sake Restaurant and Bar in Brisbane with Lindy Thompson

The gorgeous main beach at Noosa complete with yachts, surfskis, sandcastles and sunsets.

Sandcastle lit with candles and the most sensational sunset ....

Javier Codina, Lindy T and Pablo Tordesillas

Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans

Simon Thomsen

Larissa Dubecki

Necia Wilden and John Lethlean

The lovely Simon Marnie

The restaurant reviewers panel or perhaps.. as Simon puts it - "Australia's most wanted"

Jana Frawley discussion traditional versus social media, also joined by John Lethlean and Fiona Donnelly below

Lady Lizette of the Warialda Belted Galloways with Lindy T

From Creations de Narisawa in Tokyo - Chef Narisawa accompanied by Shin Maeda from Sake Restaurant and Bar Brisbane

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Hilton Brisbane Food and Wine Masterclass Weekend 2010 and THAT cravat

Yep, more pics from the vault. It seems like an eternity yet it was only 10 months ago... Although it has been running for some time it was my first attendance of the Brisbane based masterclass. Melbourne, Adelaide, Noosa and now Sydney get a regular going over by myself but for some reason I have always left Brisvegas off the list - I won't be so remiss next time.

The marvellous Alison Alexander and her team poured every ounce of their energy into the small but excellent festival and as well as being informative and interesting, it was a heck of a good time. The locals know how to put on a good spread and look after their fellow foodies. It seems it is usually held every other year so hopefully I can make it in 2012 - keep a look out for details.

OK, so a few snaps to give you a little taste. Above - The incredible energiser bunny that is Mr Adriano Zumbo (see below for his sweet "schnitzel" and 'wagyu' made from red jelly, white chocolate, wasabi peas etc) myself and the divine Mr Luke Nguyen and Below -yours truly with Crack-up McLeod.