June 2010

Events

Pure Bier Festival: May 29 - June 6
The Lowenbrau Keller and all Bavarian Beer cafes in Sydney join forces for this four-week festival, which includes German Bier tastings, live music and trivia.

A Taste of Manly Food and Wine Festival: June 5-6
This festival is one of Sydney's largest community-based food and wine festivals and will include international cuisine and wines from some of the top wineries in NSW. The festival will also have interactive games and entertainment for families.

Rutherglen Winery Walkabout: June 12-13
Held over the June long weekend, this event attracts over 20,000 visitors. Armed with walkabout glasses and passports, they descend on the wineries to sample the wines of Rutherglen. The weekend also includes an array of other entertainment and activities, including tastings of rare vintages, live bands, produce markets and special dinners.

Shoalhaven Coast Winter Wine Festival: June 12-14
For this festival 14 wineries from Kiama, Kangaroo Valley, Berry, Shoalhaven Heads, Ulladulla and Termeil will open their cellar doors to show off the cool climate wines of the Shoalhaven Coast.

Cool Flavours of the Southern Highlands: June 12-14
The annual event will be held over the June long weekend and includes a variety of events at 15 venues around the Southern Highlands area. Vineyards, restaurants and food producers of the region will showcase their produce including cheeses, jams, chocolates, mushrooms and cool climate wines.

FlavourFest, Hunter Valley: June 12-14
This new event held at the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin will feature fine food and wine, cooking demonstrations by celebrity guest hosts and live music. Celebrity guests include Tobie Puttock, Janelle Bloom and Pete Evans.

Winter Winery Wander: June 20
Held in Bathurst, the Winter Winery Wander will showcase various produce the cool climate area has to offer. At each winery a chef will await with tastings and background information.

Hunter Valley Wine & Food Month: June 1-27
This is a month-long celebration of Hunter Valley produce, where visitors can taste and smell freshly pressed olive oils, learn to make cheese, dine in award-winning restaurants and sample local wines. Events include cooking classes with local chefs, behind the scenes winery tours, a wine and food fair, a local produce tour and tastings. The festival will also include the Fireside Series, the Winemaker’s Table Series and the Edible Experience.

Yulefest in the Blue Mountains: June 1 - August 31
Traditional Christmas celebrations will be held at various venues throughout the Australian winter featuring Christmas decorations, carols, Christmas treats, as well as traditional Yulefest dinners and luncheons and live entertainment.

Experiences

Five Chefs Dinner celebrates 20 Years: June 3
One of the most renowned charity chef events in Australia will celebrate 20 years since itsinception. Held at the Four Seasons in Sydney, the event will host original chefs Armando Percuoco, Lucio Galletto, Neil Perry and Serge Danserau, as well as new chef Justin North of Becasse. The dinner will feature fine food and wine and unique auction items including a round of golf in the Australian Open Pro-Am alongside chef Matt Moran and a night cruising around Sydney in a limo with MasterChef host Matt Preston. Tickets are $495 and all money raised will directly go to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
 
Mercure Resort Grand Vins dinner: June 4
Three of Accor's executive chefs will team up for this night of cuisine at the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens. Starting at 6.30pm, each chef will present one of the three courses, while the Hunter Valley Wine Society will match each course with wine from the region.

Meet the Makers dinner: June 15-16
A five-course degustation menu with matching glasses of wines will be served at Sails restaurant in Sydney. Tickets are $120 per person and head chef Nathan Darling and the winemaker of Hunter Valley's Peacock Hill Wines winery will be on hand to discuss the menu and wines served.

Oberon's Truffle Hunt: June, July & August
During the cooler months visitors to the Lowes Mount Truffiere can learn about the truffle industry, participate in the harvesting of truffles and taste fresh truffle as well. Hunts will be conducted on Saturday afternoons at 2pm.

News

Swissotel Sydney introduces new culinary team and renewed High Tea service

Swissotel Sydney launched its new High Tea service in its in-house Crossroads Bar in Sydney on May 20. Under the lead of new Executive Chef, Justin Zammit and new Food and Beverage Manager, Brook Sargeant, the renewed High Tea service includes champagne, a selection of loose-leaf tea and coffee, scones with jam and whipped cream, as well as sweet treats like petit cakes, jellies, mousses, creme brulee and also savoury sandwiches filled with salmon and creamed cheese, egg and cress and organic chicken. The traditional tiered service will be available during the week, while the buffet selection, featuring a Swiss Lindt chocolate fountain, will be provided for $39 per person on the weekends.

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Events

Wine Selectors Canberra Lunch at Water's Edge: June 20
Water's Edge restaurant located at Lake Burley Griffin will host the Wine Selectors Canberra Lunch on June 20. A wine educator will lead an interactive tasting of some of Australia’s best wines, accompanied by a three-course lunch. Tickets are $95 for members and $100 for non-members.

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Events

Good Food and Wine Show: June 4-6
Celebrity chefs Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris from Masterchef along with Pete Evans and Manu Feildel are hosting guests of this year's Good Food and Wine Show. Held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre the event includes cheese master classes, gourmet garden cooking schools and tastings of meals cooked in the Show Restaurant by Tobie Puttock, Alastair McLeod and Matt Moran.

Rutherglen Winery Walkabout: June 12-13
Victoria's largest wine event will be held over the long weekend in the Rutherglen region. While tasting wines from the region, visitors can try to collect stamps from all 20 wineries and win a collector's series bottle of Muscat. Each winery will offer different entertainment and activities including reserve tastings of rare vintages, live bands, produce markets, unique breakfasts and special dinners.

Trails, Tastings and Tales Food and Wine Festival: June 12-14
Further a field the Glenrowan wine region will hold a food and wine festival over the June long weekend. With a historical focus, visitors can observe blacksmithing demonstrations and historical wine making equipment from last century, have a look at an original 1915 Model T Ford at the Granite Range Estate, taste season regional produce and wander along native bush walking trails.

Experiences

Mulgrave Farmers Market: June 6-27
At the Mulgrave Farmers Market visitors have the chance to learn from the best gourmet pie chefs in Australia and participate in free cooking demonstrations and workshops. Mouth watering combinations such as slow roasted veal in lemon butter, suckling pig and apple and Bultarra Saltbush lamb with wild rosemary gravy are just some of the offerings on show in Mulgrave in June. 

'Beer and Beast' Sunday Lunch: June 27
Chef Matt Merrick’s version of a traditional Sunday roast is on offer at the Terminus Hotel in North Fitzroy, featuring a four-course feast showcasing the best of Victorian produce with beers matched to each course from local microbreweries. Rare Breed Tamworth Pork, English Leicester Lamb, Berry Creek cheese and chocolate from the Yarra Valley will be served in front of an open fire.

Sunday Roast at maze Grill: June 27
This will be a rare opportunity to dine at Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant for lunch. A family style serving feast with all the trimmings will be paired with perfect wines at the Crown Metropol in Southbank. 

Arrosto at Terra Rossa: June 1-29
Terra Rossa Restaurant Bar in Flinders Lane will be celebrating the end of nut season with a three-course dinner menu focused on Myrtleford walnuts and chestnuts from Stanley. Head chef Stan Delimitrou will match nutty produce with duck, rabbit, quail and cheese from the restaurants own cheese room every Tuesday night in June.

Produce

Chocolate

Gourmet Meals

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Events

A Taste Of Coolum: June 25-27
A weekend of food, wine and golf at Hyatt Regency Coolum, this three-day event will feature over 40 winemakers from all over Australia and a series of events including four Winemaker Dinners, the Annual Winemakers Cup Golf Challenge and an afternoon of food, wine and entertainment known as Chefs Alfresco.

News

Salt Grill by Luke Mangan opens on Pacific Dawn
P&O Cruises and Australian chef Luke Mangan launched the 'Salt Grill by Luke Mangan' restaurant on board the Brisbane-based super liner Pacific Dawn, on May 29. The open kitchen restaurant will be a key addition to the extensive refitting of Pacific Dawn, with a menu that features Luke's favourites including crab omelette with miso mustard broth and liquorice parfait with lime syrup. This will be the second 'Salt Grill by Luke Mangan' restaurant onboard the cruise line's ships. The first debuted on Pacific Jewel in December 2009 and a third will open on Pacific Pearl in December this year. Pacific Dawn's refitting will also see the main restaurant, Palm Court, undergo a facelift, the addition of a child-free Oasis retreat and a refurbishment of the spa.

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Events

Australia - England Rugby Test Match Luncheon: June 11
From 12.30pm to 4.00pm the Australia - England Rugby Test Match Luncheon will be on in the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. For $185 per person guest can have lunch with guest speaker Sir Colin Meads.

2010 FIA Westpac Food & Beverage Industry Awards: June 25
This year's awards will be held at the Hyatt Regency Perth and will recognise the achievements of the food and beverage industry in eight categories including best retail product, best food service and best overall business. The cost of $235 per person includes pre-dinner drinks, a gala dinner, the awards ceremony, as well as samplings and entertainment throughout the evening.

Brownes EveryWoman Expo: June 25-27
The Brownes EveryWoman Expo will showcase the latest in cosmetics, fashions, health and beauty, as well as wines and foods. Experts will assist with fashion and makeup tips, nutritional advice and weight management programs. Visitors will also encounter the Channel 7 Fashion Stage, the Celebrity Kitchen and the Harbour Town Mix 94.5 Listeners' Lunch.

York Gourmet Food and Wine Festival: June 26-27
Held in York Town Hall, the festival will showcase various food and wine produced from areas such as the Swan and Avon Valleys, Nannup and Kukerin. Products to sample include olives, wines, yabbies, cheese, vodka, jams, pickles, spicy sausages, exotic spices, as well as sauces, chocolate and biscuits. Upper Crust Classes and Catering will present three free cooking demonstrations per day.

Experiences

Cooking classes with Patrice Falantin: June 15-July 15
The executive chef will host classes at Sen5es in Perth teaching how to prepare, cook and serve three-course French cuisine meals. Various classes will be available with group sizes from 12 to 30 people and from $120 to $150.

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Events

BankSA Sea and Vines Festival: June 13-14
The 18th annual BankSA Sea and Vines Festival in McLaren Vale will be held on the 13th and 14th of June. Attracting crowds every year, more than 20 wineries match their wines to seafood delights. Additional non-seafood, children and vegetarian meals, as well as entertainment will be offered.

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Events

Tasmanian Red Wine Weekend: June 12-13
On the Tasmanian Red Wine Weekend Tasmania's vignerons and wine makers gather together and showcase up to 80 different wines including pinot noirs, gamays, cabernets, merlots, sparkling reds and roses. Held in the Mercure Hadleys Hotel in Hobert, guest can taste wines and chat with the winemakers from 12pm until 5pm for $15 per person.

Quamby Estate Gourmet Weekends: June 25-27
At the end of June the Quamby Estate near Hagley will host a gourmet weekend including a full day wine tasting tour in the Tamar Valley, an exclusive meal at Launceston's Stillwater Restaurant and a full day Providores tour offering varied and unique produce.

The Nant Distillery Winter Dinner: June 28
On June 28 The Nant Distillery invites guest to showcase some of their finest whiskies with matching Tasmanian produces. The dinner will be held on Nant Estate near Bothwell in a restored Old Mill and will cost $48.00 per person.

Tastings at the Top: June 26-28
Held every year at the Cradle Mountain Lodge 'Tastings at the Top' is one of Tasmania's premier food and wine events. The three-day festival celebrates fine food and wines featuring wine and cheese tastings, degustation dinners, cooking demonstrations and fresh produce markets combined with Spa treatments at the Waldheim Alpine Spa. Sydney's Peter Bourne known as "The Wine Man" and Nick Haddow, owner and artisan cheese maker from Bruney Island Cheese Co, will jointly host the event.

Experiences

Simon Bryant raids Burnie's Farmers Market: June 5
The chef from the ABC TV series The Cook and the Chef, Simon Bryant, will be available for a close up cooking experience on June 5 at Wivenhoe Show Ground, Burnie's Farmer market. Starting at 9am the chef will walk along the stalls and teach what to look for when shopping for local and fresh produce. Afterwards he will share his recipes at a cooking demonstration using the selected products.

A Tale of Two Islands: June 6
Australian Chef Daniel Alps and New Zealand's award-winning chef Martin Bosley will come together at the 'Daniel Apls at Strathlynn' in Hobart on June 6. For $195 per person the two chefs will create a luncheon with fresh Tasmanian produces matched with local cool climate wines.

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Events

Tropical Garden Spectacular & Top End Sustainable Living Festival: June 5-6
At the Tropical Garden Spectacular and Top End Sustainable Living Festival in Darwin's George Brown Botanical Gardens visitors can learn about sustainable practices around the home, in gardens and daily lifestyle. The festivals will have plenty of entertainment and activities including recycled sculptures, garden displays and experts, as well as slow food demonstrations and tasting.

Experiences

Under a Desert Moon: April - October
Kings Canyon Resort in Watarrka National Park awaits guests with its alfresco six-course dinner, matching Australian wines and soft music. At costs of $148 per person no more than eight couples will be served fine food including beef tenderloin with foie gras and truffle oil, barramundi bouillabaisse with scallop, scampi and slipper lobster in a saffron bisque, as well as vermicelli laksa and a lemon myrtle and kiwi fruit sorbet.

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Events

The Manawatu Wine & Food Festival: June 12-13
Wineries and boutique food suppliers from the lower half of the North Island will showcase their produce at Awapuni Function Centre in Palmerston Nouth in this winter’s festival. For $20 per person music from local musicians like The Sue Pugmire Jazz Combo and the Strings 'n' Things, as well as Cafe style food and refreshments are provided all day long from 10am to 4pm.

Matariki Gourmet Hangi: June 27
A sumptuous hangi dinner will be served at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia on June 27 to celebrate the annual Matariki (Maori New Year). Prepared by international chef Peter Gordon the dinner will also include entertainment by stars among them Hollie Smith, Anika Moa and Don McGlashan. Beginning at 3pm the event will cost $100 with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the Ruakatauri Music Therapy Centre for children.

Matariki Hospitality Industry Awards: June 27
The 2010 Matariki Hospitality Industry Awards on June 27 will honour the excellence of hospitality in the north region. The awards will be held at Forum North in Whangarei and can be joined for $40 per person including lunch, wine and entertainment. Among others the most outstanding Northland winery, the food and beverage supplier of the year, the Innovation Northland chef of the year, the Northland hospitality ambassador and newly the Northland restaurant of the year and Gastro pub of the year will be rewarded.

Experiences

Winemaker's Dinner: June 2
On June 2 The Coffee House Restaurant & Café in Christchurch will host a three-course winemaker’s dinner featuring wines from the local Waipara Valley’s Greystone Wines winery. Angela Clifford from Greystone will talk about the sampled wines, while head chef Hannah Lancaster will talk