Eat Local Week is back with 9 days of tasting, lunching, feasting and learning from June 25 to July 3. Growers, retailers, producers, vineyards and breweries come together to show off the best of the Scenic Rim’s fine produce right on our doorstep. Last year the Week saw more than 20,000 visitors and over $1m generated into the area
The region feeds millions of Australians all year round with beef, pork, crayfish, milk, cheese and eggs. Seasonally there’s finger limes, peas, rhubarb, as well macadamias, carrots and beans. Brisbanites in the know frequent the weekly and monthly farmers markets as well as the roadside stalls from Tamborine Mountain to the Fassifern Valley and beyond.
Eat Local Week celebrates the people who produce fine food and wine in the Scenic Rim. It’s a great chance for consumers to meet the farmers, winemakers and producers of the region throughout the week. The program features many family-friendly, free and low-cost events as well as sumptuous multi-course feasts prepared by some of Australia’s best chefs.
Tuesday saw the official launch of Eat Local Week at QAGOMA. GOMA Restaurant’s Executive Chef Josh Lopez is also the Eat Local Week Ambassador. In his short address to the assembled guests, he remarked,
“…It’s true that there are amazing soils but it’s about the craftsmanship, the artisanship, that takes something from the good to the extraordinary.”
He delighted the producers and media with some downright delicious canapés including a perfect Scallop Ceviche with finger lime caviar and an olive, roasted capsicum and caramelised onion Pissaladière.
Then there were falling-off-the-bone, organic beef short ribs with smoked beetroot, feta emulsion and a pecan crumble and to end a ‘made before our eyes’ Buttermilk and Honey Pop with toasted macadamia and Tempranillo poached Tamarillos.
The Scenic Rim is also home to 15 wineries and craft brewers. Lucky guests drank Bunjurgen Estate Sparkling Verjuice, Scenic Rim Brewing and Fortitude Brewing Beers, Bird Dog Sparkling Brut and Witches Falls Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache.
Some of the highlights of Eat Local Week include:
Long Table Lunch at the Lime Caviar Company by Cameron Matthews & Javier Codina – 24 June 12:00 pm
Just 16 lucky lunchers will enjoy a delicious 7-course lunch prepared by culinary superstars Cameron Matthews (The Long Apron) and Javier Codina (Moda). The chefs will showcase the best produce and beverages of the Scenic Rim including the juicy pearls of Lime Caviar Co finger limes. The setting? High on the Lime Caviar Company’s farm overlooking the spectacular sub-tropical views from Brisbane to the border.
From Moo to You – Tommerup’s Dairy Farm, Kerry 25 June 7:00 am – 9:00 am
Dave shows how the morning milking is done and Kay leads a guided tour of the dairy and surrounding farm area. You can sample dairy Norco & White Gold Creamery delicacies, displays and hot breakfast featuring farm products.
Mt Barney Lodge Bush Tucker Tracker 25, 26, 28 & June 30 and July 2 10:00 am – 11:30 am & 2pm – 3.30pm
Kids get the opportunity to discover and taste bush tucker where it grows wild.
Winter Harvest Festival July 2 @ 10am-4pm
Eat Local Week’s signature event, the Winter Harvest Festival is held at the Aratula Community Sports Complex. From market stalls to live music and tasting plates to cooking demos, this is a day where the entire Scenic Rim gets to show off.
For details of the dozens of events & a printable program: https://www.eatlocalweek.com.au/
It’s so awesome to see more and more people eating local! This sounds like a festival I would’ve loved to be a part of!