The Australia Times

ZUMBO & TIBBALLS SET TO GET TASTEBUDS RACING AT ANNUAL WINTER CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!

13 September 202217 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Michelton Chocolate Festival This Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th August

Mitchelton Wines and The Ministry of Chocolate will again partner to deliver the Mitchelton Chocolate Festival on the grounds of the iconic winery over this weekend!

Bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event, the winter festival will again be headlined by celebrity chefs Adriano Zumbo, Deniz Karaca, Kirsten Tibballs, Kylie Millar and Arnaud Vodounou and will be held on site in Nagambie in the heart of the Goulburn Valley. The celebration of all things chocolate will also showcase the best in local wines and produce together with established, Melbourne-based chocolate companies.

The Ministry of Chocolate owner and head chocolatier Drew Maddison, said that the event would be another step up from last year’s incredibly successful event, expecting to attract more than 8,000 visitors over the weekend which would be a huge boost for local tourism.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Adriano Zumbo and Kirsten Tibballs back this year, as well as many more elevated chefs and industry leaders to be involved in this celebration of all things chocolate. We’ll also be holding the much-anticipated chocolate and wine paring classes in the iconic Mitchelton Tower.”

“The grassy outlook of Mitchelton Wines will again be lined with colourful marquees brimming with mouth-watering treats and the best knowledge of all things chocolate and sweet. Guests will also have the opportunity to walk through one of Australia’s largest and rarely seen underground wine cellars.

**The family-friendly event is free to enter and will include an exciting Children’s Zone complete with jumping castle and petting zoo.

For more information please contact Drew Maddison on 0488 771 992 or visit http://www.micheltonchocolatefestival.com.au

Information & Images Courtesy of The Ministry of Chocolate/Michelton Wines/Circus Media – Taylar Lavars

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

www.theaustraliatimes.com/news

literallyconnie@gmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/tatgourmetmag/

Read on for additional info & pics on the Michelton Chocolate Festival…

Tea Lovers Rejoice!

13 September 202216 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Sydney Tea Festival Serves Up the Best Sunday 20th August

The ultimate celebration of speciality loose leaf tea, the Sydney Tea Festival will sweep the city this Sunday 20th August. Discover, experience and connect with speciality teas from Australia and beyond.

Returning to Carriageworks, the one-day event will feature a new do-it-yourself tea blending station, and an interactive tea ceremony performance, together with a fresh program of workshops and talks hosted by leading industry experts.

THE TEA MARKET

Festival-goers can wander the tea market and taste a huge range of speciality loose teas and tisanes including premium, single origin, organic and rare teas; healthy herbal blends, chocolate, chai, and iced teas; and a range of locally grown and globally sourced teas.

Tasting tea will be a breeze with the festival’s signature porcelain cup appearing again. Valued at $5 and included in every adult ticket, this cup will allow visitors to taste their way through the day.

In addition, food on offer will cater to those seeking both sweet and savoury bites, with a range of food purveyors and trucks boasting global cuisine and tea inspired creations.

Also on the day, visitors can participate in the ‘Tea with a Stranger’ tea ceremony performance, hosted by members of Ueda Sōko Ryū Australia. Festival co-founder, Corinne Smith, describes the interactive experience as a way of facilitating deep connection, openness and communication.

“Tea with a Stranger encourages people to leave their digital self behind and step into the vulnerability of face-to-face human connection facilitated by the sharing of tea,” Smith said.

DETAILS

Date & Time: Sunday 20 August 2017 9.00am – 4.00pm

Location: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh

Cost: Pre-sale adult entry $15.50 (including all fees and charges)

Door-sale entry $20.00 (plus credit card processing fees)

Workshop tickets $48.00 and Talks $15 (including all fees and charges)

Kids Under 12 Free

All tickets include a festival tasting up (valued at $5)

Visit: http://www.sydneyteafestival.com.au/

Social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sydneyteafestival/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sydneyteafestival/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teafestivalsaus

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sydneyteafestival

Information & Images Courtesy of Nicole Warwick – Liquid Ideas/Renee Creer – Tea Festivals Australia – Photographer: Alana Dimou

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Enquiries: literallyconnie@gmail.com

Follow us on Gourmet News Instagram: @tatgourmetmag

Read on for More Pics, Additional Info on Workshops with the Tea Experts, plus Festival co-founder Renee Creer…

2017 DONUT & BEER FEST: WINTER EDITION – THIS WEEKEND!

12 September 202215 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Batman Royale, North Coburg

Melbourne – 19th & 20th August

Australia’s first donut & beer festival is back: bigger, badder & hol(e)ier than ever!

Due to popular demand, Donut Fest returns to Melbourne this August with a brand new Winter Edition.

Inspired by the donut festivals of America, our Donut Fest has a local twist. How to make something more Australian? Just add beer! Aside from an official bar hosted by Manchuria, the festival welcomes a range of craft brewers to their local line-up of local and independent donut vendors. There will even be a doughnut-friendly beer made from sessional ale with a touch of caramel malt developed exclusively for the festival by Kooinda Brewery!

DONUT FEST: WINTER EDITION 2017 Line-up

Sweet Vendors: Doughnut Time / Lukumades / Nuts About Tella (Nutella donut burgers)

The Hungary Boy / Honey Dee / Ostrich and the Egg / Dip’d (mini donuts)

Ahhh, Donuts! / Dandee Donuts / (hot jam donuts)

Uncle Donut / Jamm’d / St Gerry’s / Goldelucks (gold croissant donuts/“dossants”)

Krumbs (glow in the dark donuts)

Penny for Pound / Jamm’d / Señor Churro / Simply Gluten Free and more…

Savoury Vendors: Giant Springs (spring rolls) / El Jefe (South American) / Hangi Boys (traditional New Zealand cuisine) / Gnocchi Bar (glutenfree vegan gnocchi donuts) / The Real Jerk (Carribean) / Twisted Mac (mac ’n’ cheese) and more…

Beverage Vendors: Kooinda Brewery / Square Keg / Gageroads / Stomping Ground / Odyssey Craft Brewing (beer)

Those Girls (hot apple cider) / Wimmera Hills (mulled wine) / Welshman’s Reef (wine) / Manchuria (beer, wine, spirits, cocktails)

Koffee Kartel (coffee) and more…

Yet Donut Fest is not just another food market; they take the festival part of the name to their fried food-laden hearts by showcasing varied entertainment all weekend long.

THIS HOLEY EPIRENCE INCLUDES:

Live music
Donut eating competitions with prizes
Best Donut Award judged by a panel of experts
People’s Choice Best Donut Award
Miniature Donut Museum with a Donut Wall and art installations that take after L.A.’s wildly popular Museum of Ice-cream
Savoury Food Vendors experimenting with a homage to the donut shape
Beer and cocktails exclusively developed to complement donuts
Donut styles from around the world: Argentina, Greece, Hungary, South Africa, America, Denmark, Australia, and even Nutella donut burgers to Glow in the Dark donuts!

Donut Fest likes their donuts iced, but there’s no need for festival-goers to be. Winter warmers on-site include hot chocolate, mulled wine, plenty of outdoor heating and cheery festoon lighting. The huge new venue – the industrial warehouse of Batman Royale – means Donut Fest will be housed partially inside and undercover. Also kids under 12 can join in the fun with free entry.

Donut Fest: Winter Edition is on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August 2017 at Batman Royale, 14 Gaffney Street, North Coburg.

Two sessions each day – 11am to 3pm and 4pm to 8pm both days.

Early Bird Tickets (just $10) are on sale now, full price $15 (kids under 12 free).

Tickets include fast entry and a taster of the official festival beer.

BOOK TICKETS NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/

**read below re: cashless payment system if buying tickets on the day

Information & Images Courtesy of Donut Fest/Inka Creative – Dee McNamara

facebook: facebook.com/donutfestau

instagram: @donutfestau

twitter: @donutfestau

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Enquiries: literallyconnie@gmail.com

Follow TAT Gourmet News on Instagram: @tatgourmetmag

Read on for info on the fest’s cashless payment system, chosen charity FairShare, founder Ngoc Le and more pics…

Melbourne Foodies Keep Sunday 19th November Free for the East Malvern Food and Wine Festival!

13 September 202210 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Mark your diaries because the 2^nd annual East Malvern Food & Wine Festival returns to East Malvern’s picturesque Central Park on Sunday 19 November 2017, from 10:30am to 5:30pm!

Last year more than 3000 Melbourne foodies and wine lovers came together for an amazing day in the park, sipping and savouring over 100 wines and an extensive array of cuisines from specially invited local and regional culinary exhibitors and artisan producers.

East Malvern Food & Wine Festival in Central Park. Photos by Fiora Sacco copyright reserved 2016

This year will showcase a vast range of exquisite wineries from more than 15 Bendigo and Heathcote regions including Balgownie Estate, Tellurian Wines and Farmer and the Scientist. There will also be a new local craft beer and cider producer alley featuring Two Birds Brewing, Barrow Boys Brewing, Bad Shepherd Brewing Co and Captain Vanzibar. So come and enjoy a unique and intimate experience, meet the passionate winemakers and brewers and learn about, taste and purchase their premium award-winning wines and ales.

Feast on local Melbourne favourite food trucks and pop-up restaurant stalls including Richmond Oysters & Seafood Tapas, Riserva, Nepal Dining and That’s Amore Cheeses, and bring your shopping baskets and stock up on the best of Victorian produce, including locally produced cheeses, gourmet condiments, bespoke Christmas puddings and other festive season fare from artisanal producers such as NOGO Sauces, Tolpuddle Goat Cheese and Farm Foods, Josh and Sue, and many more.

We also have a full day of family and children’s entertainment planned, including roving entertainers, live music performances and magician master classes.

Don’t forget to bring your fur kids too and treat them to gourmet doggie morsels from the Canine Wellness Truck.

Entry is FREE and wine tasting glasses and ticket packages are available starting at $20, including a souvenir wine glass and tasting tickets.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Sunday 19 November 2017, 10:30am – 5:30pm

What: East Malvern Wine and Food Festival

Where: Central Park, Corner of Wattle Tree and Burke Roads, East Malvern

More information: www.eastmalvernfoodandwine.melbourne

Social Media:

www.facebook.com/eastmalvernfoodandwine

>#EMFWfestival

@eastmalvernfoodandwine

Information & Images Courtesy of East Malvern Food and Wine Festival/Matt Fraser – Cardinal Spin

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Follow us on Instagram: @tatgourmetmag

Read on for Additional Information & Pics…

Smooth Festival of Chocolate in the Rocks

13 September 20229 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

The Rocks Sydney – Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th August 2017

10am to 6pm daily

The sweet cravings of chocolate lovers everywhere will be thoroughly tested this weekend at Smooth Festival of Chocolate in the Rocks! Chocolate indulgences will include gelato, popsicles, doughnuts, brownies, cheesecake, double choc cookie ice cream sandwiches, tiramisu, doughnuts, profiteroles, chocolatey desserts, nutella and salted caramel temptations, plus more treats at every turn! Then there’s the double choc cookie ice cream sandwiches…and the must try ‘smooth Chocolate Ale’, a collaboration by Endeavour Beer and Sydney Chocolate, crafted exclusively for the fest.

Exhibitors:

This year’s line-up includes amazing offerings from Black Star Pastry, Gelato Messina, Serendipity Ice Cream, Jasper & Myrtle, The Profiterole Project, The Dessert House, Dessert Jars by Rocco, The Vogue Café, Piazza D’Oro.

For the full exhibitor list, regularly updated: https://www.smooth.com.au/events/smooth-festival-chocolate-exhibitors

Highlights at this year’s festival include:

The Lindt Lounge, Cooking Demonstrations, The Baci Chocolatier’s Quarters featuring: a Pop Up Baci Chocolate Shop and over 10 artisan chocolatiers, Mr Black Espresso Martini Bar, The smooth Star’s Stage, The smooth Relaxation Station, Zumbo Ski Lodge, The Cellarmasters Touring Cellar Door, the ”Bone Shaker” moving chocolate masterpiece, and The Sydney Props Specialist Jungle Laneway.

Information & Images Courtesy of: Smooth Festival of Chocolate in the Rocks

www.smooth.com.au/smooth/festival-of-chocolate/

**Read Natalie Salvo’s article – 2016 Fest:

https://theaustraliatimes.com/magazine/gourmet/issue/411/#40

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Email: literallyconnie@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @tatgourmetmag

Read on for Additional Information & Pics…

Herald the End of Winter with a Celebration of Light & Play

12 September 20228 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

QV Melbourne’s Laneway Series launches with Light / Play

First Australian work from Danish artist Tine Bech

25th August to 10th September

QV Melbourne is thrilled to announce the QV Laneway Series: a seasonal program of ongoing interactive outdoor events, festivals and activations in the QV Square and surrounding laneways.

To launch the series, QV has commissioned globally acclaimed Danish artist Tine Bech to complete her first Australian work, which will be the centrepiece of a new interactive program of events called Light / Play. The celebration of light and play will herald the end of winter from Friday 25 August – Sunday 10 September.

With a PhD in ‘Play’, Tine Bech is a multidisciplinary artist who creates innovative interactive art that encourages participation and most of all, play.

Tine’s new work, entitled Colour Me Beautiful, will create a playful new environment for social interaction, experienced for the very first time at QV Melbourne. Tine Bech will visit Melbourne to premiere the new artwork, and will engage with Melbourne audiences as they interact and respond to her work.

Featuring five colourful runways leading to a vivid landscape of images, Colour Me Beautiful invites the public to play and perform. The interactive installation will capture images of audience members on each runway; live posting them onto a 5.8 metre by 3.2 metre multicolour screen. The work invites Melburnians and visitors alike to walk the coloured grass runway, strike a pose and be captured in a bright maze of colour. Participants in the work will each receive a link to their images to share their experience with others. Tine’s intention for Colour Me Beautiful is to exemplify and extend the play inherent in human connection through social sharing.

Transforming both the environment and human behaviour through the creative possibilities of play making, Colour Me Beautiful will transform the open air QV Square into an interactive digital art playground.

What: Light Play: an end of winter program of interactive events at QV Melbourne. Escape the last cold days of winter with an innovative and playful celebration of light and play – where colour, art, performance, music and food come together. FREE.

Where: QV Square, Level 2, QV Melbourne, corner Swanston and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne

When: 25 August to 10 September, 2017
Colour Me Beautiful is available for participation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with other activities and event times varying.

For more information visit qv.com.au

>#QVLightPlay
www.qv.com.au

Information & Images Courtesy of Rain Fuller/Fuller PR

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Follow us on Instagram: @tatgourmetmag

READ ON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PICS and a Q&A with Danish Artist Tine Bech…

BEN’S SUPERNATURAL Turns Melbourne’s Fast Food Scene on its Head!

13 September 20222 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

BEN’s Supernatural puts a healthy spin on Melbourne’s fast food offering with the Chapel Street store now open…

Born through founder, Casey George-Jolson’s personal mission to provide her family with good, wholesome and ultimately, delicious food. BEN’S Supernatural offers uncompromising, unprocessed and unbelievably good food – fast.

BEN’S – which stands for Balance, Energy, Nutrition and Sustenance, not only serves nutritionally balanced food, it sets to revolutionise the healthy food offering in Australia. Every menu item developed by Executive Chef David Selex (formerly of Melbourne’s Florentino and London’s Nobu, Vong, The Mews of Mayfair and Kensington Palace) has been approved by Head Nutritionist, Bannie Williams of The Healthy Ingredient.

Led by Selex, the BEN’S team have developed their extensive menus around five key pillars – 1. Whole, Natural and Unprocessed Foods, 2. Nutrient Dense, 3. Balance and Moderation, 4. Transparency and 5. Ethical and Socially Conscious.

From topped English muffins and protein packed vanilla pancakes for breakfast, to pizzas and unique burgers including the Ivan Lentil (spiced lentil patty, hummus, lettuce tomato and herbed yoghurt) for lunch and dinner – now the carb- conscious community can enjoy a range of historically carb-dense dishes, without having to settle on taste or quality.

The Grab-and-Go menu is sure to satisfy those who are little time poor. Breakfast and lunch options are on offer throughout the day including breakfast bowls, salads and ten home-made wrap options including the Cauliflower Rice and Beef (sliced 100% grass fed beef, spiced cauliflower, coconut, chives, red onion and herbed yoghurt).

For the carb-conscious, BEN’S master baker, David Flukes, spent 18 months perfecting the best tasting low-carb burger buns, wraps, pizza bases and English muffins. By choosing BEN’S low-carb burger buns or wraps, on average customers will be consuming 59% less carbs, in comparison to a regular slice of white bread, which contains between 12-15g of carbs.

BEN’S vegan, pescatarian, paleo and gluten-free friends certainly haven’t been forgotten, with an array of alternative options to tickle the tastebuds, including toasted coconut tofu, grilled or herb-crumbed fish and a tasty gluten-free range that may trick patrons into thinking it’s the fully-loaded relative.

BEN’S Supernatural is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week from 7.30am Monday – Friday and 8.30am Saturday & Sunday.

BEN’S Supernatural Fast Food 670 Chapel Street
South Yarra, VIC 3141
03 9826 1106

www.benssupernatural.com | Social: @benssupernatural

Information Courtesy of Ben’s Supernatural/Kayla Baggio – Kate & Co

Images Courtesy of Gareth Sobey Photography

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Read on for Further Information…

New Culinary Hub for Melbourne’s Outer North East

13 September 20221 August 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Eastridge Entertainment Precinct opens new gateway to the Yarra Valley

Eastridge Entertainment Precinct (EEP) is the first premium culinary hub in the outer-north east area, with the precinct housing three new venues – Carne Grill, The Precinct Bar and The Bosses Boots Café.

Located at the door to the Yarra Valley, the precinct as a whole will act as a gateway to the area, not only for local residents, but for the millions who travel to and from the Yarra Valley annually.

Carne Grill, seating up to 240 guests, is the jewel in the precinct crown, where stylish dining meets rambunctious feasting. The premium feasting style menu focuses on the finest local pork, beef, lamb, poultry and seafood, flame and charcoal grilled to perfection. The hero ‘Let Us Create the Feast’ set menus are available for four people or more, from $25 per person, and include carnivore and seafood options. ‘The Big Board’ allows guests to choose from three of 11 main options, and comes with two sauces and hand cut chips. If sharing isn’t your thing, try the pasture fed dry aged rib eye, 1kg T-bone, whole crayfish, or a pasta dish, with sides of course. The wine list is proudly 7/8 Australian, with a third of the varietals sourced from the local Yarra Valley region.

The Precinct Bar is an oasis for drinks, no matter what the time of day, with an extensive list of cocktails, local craft beer, and wine, served with a side of bar snacks for those who are peckish.

At The Bosses Boots Café, open for breakfast and lunch seven days per week, home baked breads are hero, sandwiching gourmet ingredients like miso glazed pork belly, pickled cucumber, shaved carrot, and watercress; and New York deli ciabatta with mortadella, sopressa, smoked ham, cheddar and green pickle. For breakfast think wild mushrooms on brioche, wilted kale, smoked ricotta, and fried eggs. Salads, burgers and grazing platters are also available, plus cold spun juices and smoothies. A rustic picnic pack is also available to grab and go.

Eastridge Entertainment Precinct 1 East Ridge Drive
Chirnside Park VIC 3116

Information & Images Courtesy Eastridge Entertainment Precinct/Carne Grill/Kayla Baggio – Kate & Co

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Follow us on Instagram: @tatgourmetmag

READ ON FOR EEP CONTACT DETAILS & FURTHER INFORMATION…

Let Your Gluten Free Cravings Run Wild This Weekend!

13 September 202231 July 2017 by Connie Lambeth

SYDNEY GLUTEN FREE EXPO

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th August

9:00am – 4:00pm daily

ROSEHILL GARDENS

**Family Friendly/Free Parking/Kids Activities

www.glutenfreeexpo.com.au

The biggest collection of Gluten Free food providers, gluten free food trucks, experts and celebrity chefs will gather at Rosehill Gardens on August 5th and 6th for the Gluten Free Expo.

This event is $18 entry and there’s a goodie bag for the first 2500 people through the door each day!

The Expo offers a great opportunity to discover, taste and buy everything that’s new in gluten free foods as well as pick up a bargain with many show specials.

With gluten free beer and burgers to granola and delicious pasta options, there will be options for every gluten-free craving.

There will be cooking demonstrations on the Coles stage and a dedicated education stage where visitors to the Expo can find out what’s new, with expert dietitians and medical practitioners sharing the latest developments in diet, coeliac disease management and research.

There will also be a number of chefs on the Coles stage, including Masterchef contestants, cooking up some delicious gluten-free dishes.

Information & Images Courtesy of Gluten Free Expo

Follow: @glutenfreeexpoau

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times Gourmet News – Food/Wine/Hospitality/Events

Follow: @tatgourmetmag

READ MORE ON THE SYDNEY GLUTEN FREE EXPO…

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