One of Australia’s most innovative and exciting celebrations of ‘real food’ is bigger and better in 2014. The Sunshine Coast Real Food Festival brings together the region’s finest food products and services at the Maleny Showgrounds on September 13 and 14.
Festival organisers are expecting over 10,000 lovers of good produce and artisan food products over the 2-day fiesta of ‘real food’. Now in its fourth year, the Festival has an extended program of discussions, exhibitors and workshops in six dedicated venues at the Maleny showgrounds.
With much of the exhibitor spaces already filled, excitement is building for the biggest Real Food Festival yet. As well as the huge number of producers, artisanal food retailers and manufacturers exhibiting, many of the Sunshine Coast’s most loved restaurants and cafes will be represented.
This now annual gathering brings together smaller producers and larger manufacturers to showcase the very best that the Sunshine Coast produces.
The Real Food Festival has launched successful artisanal producers and provided a spotlight on the outstanding food and unique environment of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
There will also be a full program over the two days of chef presentations, conversations, interactive workshops and cooking demonstrations. This year one of Australia’s most acclaimed chefs, Christine Manfield and Spicers Tamarind Retreat’s Daniel Jarrett will cook with Kym Burnell-Jones of Bonnie Beef Growers and Bede McKenzie of Maleny Avocado Oil.
Carole Williams of Cheeselinks will divulge the secrets of making cheese at home. Kacey Walker of Walker Farm Foods and Cameron Matthews of the Long Apron at Spicers Clovelly Estate will work a little culinary magic with nomadic free-range chicken.
Discussions and presentations will run from raw food diets, gluten free cooking to keeping chickens. Brisbane Fairfax Food Editor, Natascha Mirosch will lead a panel discussing the merits of restaurants with their own kitchen gardens with Cameron Matthews, Urbane’s Alejandro Cancino and Chris White of Hungry Feel. David Gillespie, author of ‘Sweet Poison’ will pose the question “Is sugar that bad?” while Dan and Steph of My Kitchen Rules will reveal the tricks to successfully create homemade sausages.
And the little gourmands will also be well catered for in the Little Sprouts Kids Area with face painting, Old MacDonald’s Travelling Farm and a ‘Dig Your Dinner’ space. There’s also the chance to pot plants using biodegradable coffee cups as part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Schools initiative.
Festival Director, Julie Shelton said the festival is “a joyful celebration of good food and a unique gathering of the Sunshine Coast food community – what a fantastic opportunity for local food-related businesses to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of the rich diversity of what we produce here.”
The Festival will also feature an outstanding program of local musicians, insights into home brewing and an exclusive dinner hosted by Christine Manfield wraps up the weekend at Spicers Tamarind Retreat.
Sunshine Coast Real Food Festival will be held on September 13 and 14 at the Maleny Showgrounds at 13 Maleny-Stanley River Road from 9am to 4pm daily. Entry is $20 for an adult daily pass and children under 16 are free.
For more information: http://realfoodfestivals.com.au/
