Queensland’s bountiful Bundaberg region produces much of the fruit, vegetables, seafood, meat and dairy that feeds the nation. It’s a big job and Bundy locals want to tell Australia and the world about it. Taste Bundaberg (June 11-20) is one of the country’s best celebrations of all things fresh. Destination Food 2021 is also in Bundaberg (August 2) and brings together Australia’s passionate food professionals to discuss agritourism and the future of food.
Taste Bundaberg (formerly Winterfeast) allows growers, producers and fishers the chance to show off what they do best across ten days of tasting and toasting. From pop-up polo to farm tours, signature dinners to high tea, Taste Bundaberg is food fun.
Destination Food coming to Bundaberg confirms what we’ve all known for years; not only is the region delicious but the producers are entrepreneurs ready to take on the world. The one-day conference brings together the industry to network, share ideas and the opportunity to develop culinary experiences across Australia.
Taste Bundaberg
The table is set. The wine, beer and cider are chilling. Bundaberg is ready for its biggest party of the year. With just days until the big event, a number of delectable moments have already sold out. It might be too late to ‘Banquet on the Bridge’ or ‘Long Lunch on Water Street’ but tickets are still available to some of the delectable dining dates.
High Tea at Bert’s
Enjoy an afternoon full of high tea delights at Bert’s. Showcasing local ingredients in mouth-watering sweet and savoury treats with delicious drinks. Call 0403 493 694 to book.
Date: Saturday 12 June, Sunday 13 June
Time: 1 – 4pm
Cost: $49
Location: Bert’s Restaurant, 163 Bourbong Street.
Jo Jo’s Bundaberg Food & Drink Tour
Discover the region’s award-winning drinks in this guided tour. Meet our friendly distillers, brewers and creators, while exploring behind-the-scenes. Finish your afternoon at our iconic Hummock Lookout as the sun sets over our iconic farmlands with a drink-in-hand.
Date: Wednesday 16 June & Friday 18 June
Time: 12.30 – 6.30pm
Cost: $88
Location: Various locations.
The Taste of One Little Farm
Blooms and bounty take centre stage in this behind the scenes tour of One Little Farm. Hear direct from a fourth-generation farmer as you are given a unique perspective on their world of farming, seasonal produce and stunning floral arrangements.
Date: Saturday 19 June
Time: 9 – 11am
Cost: $25
Location: One Little Farm, 3/133 Bargara Road.
Tickets and more here
Destination Food
Climate Change. Gastrodiplomacy. Sustainability. Regenerative Agriculture. Agritourism. Culinary Placemaking.
Food goes far beyond what we eat and cook. The culture of food, indeed the very future of food itself is an ever-evolving debate that concerns every person on the planet. Australia’s first food conference, Destination Food first tackled some of the meaty questions in 2018. On August 2, Bundaberg will host the second Destination Food Conference with a line-up of food professionals discussing culinary tourism and more.
As Australians are now exploring their own backyard like never before, they are seeking memorable food and drink experiences. Farmers, producers, restaurateurs and those involved in regional tourism are each promoting the opportunities to discover their food stories.
Sustainable food evangelist Joost Bakker is headlining Destination Food 2021. On a mission to further Australians understanding of the future of food, Joost will deliver the keynote, appropriately called ‘The Future of Food’.
As a sustainable restaurateur, TEDx speaker, botanical artist and designer Joost has created a number of Greenhouse Projects to highlight the possibilities of considered food production. He will showcase the latest Greenhouse project – a self-sustaining, closed-loop, two-bedroom home that shelters, feeds, and provides energy for its inhabitants. It has been called “a blueprint for the homes of the future”.
Destination Food Founder and Curator Holly Galbraith says, “I am so excited that Joost is joining the speaker line-up. He has been designing and operating carbon neutral venues for decades-long before it became fashionable. Joost’s thinking is totally future-focused and his creative ideas are exactly the kind of thing Australian operators need to learn from and embrace if we’re going to stay competitive with other top tier food destinations.”
Bakker joins a stellar line-up of Australian food tourism experts including Steve Rosa, Group Manager Tourism & Economic Development, Destination Southern Highlands, Anne Moroney and Chef Mark McNamara, Regional Development Australia, Barossa, Dr Najmeh Hassanli from the University Technology, Sydney and Eric Pateman from Edible Canada.
Destination Food will also host a ‘Taste of Bundaberg farm tour and artisan lunch’ the day prior to the conference. This educational tour will allow delegates to meet local food tourism operators and experience the destination’s delights firsthand.
Destination Food – 8.30 am – 5.00 pm, Monday 2 August 2021. Bundaberg Multiplex Sport and Convention Centre. Tickets and more information here
