What to do when a friend says I have free tickets to a foodie event, would you like to come on Sunday?….Hmmmm, let me think about that. Yes! Food and free ticket. Doesn’t get much better.
What are we seeing?
Master Chef Live. Billed as a live theatre and cooking festival, running over 3 days in December, it’s the first time the reality TV series has branched out in to this sort of thing. With cooking demonstrations, an extensive list of top Australian Chefs, junior master chef, hands on cooking classes and more food samples from producers than is possible for one City Hippy Farm Girl’s tummy. I have to say it was fun!
Some stand outs of the day were.
Brasserie Breads (top picture) 25 minute lesson on sourdough making. I have long wanted to do one of their classes and it just hasn’t happened for various reasons. Now, I’m not sure that I need to. I was able to get lots of little tips in that condensed lesson, that I am as ‘keen as mustard’ to try out when making my next batch of sourdoughs.
Geoff Hudson from The Italian Gardener (Italian vegetable and herb seed from Franchi Sementi, est 1783), was a likeable and knowledgable fella that just makes you want to go stick your fingers in some dirt and start gardening. Specialising in heirloom varieties from Italy, he had a vast array of seeds that made me yearn for a garden even more…one day, one day. (The website has an extensive selection of Italian vegetable treasures, along with an organic section.) In the mean time I am going to try my hand at a few chillies in a pot and I couldn’t resist buying some tomato seeds that may find their way down to my mother’s garden. (With a few fruit firmly set aside for me!)
The Little General was selling some knock out olive oils. Sam Mancini (on left) is the one pictured on the great looking bottles as a two year old. As a kid, The Little General was what he was affectionately known as. Locally produced and based in Griffith, in the Riverina area. This is a family run business that seems to be doing some great things with their olive crops, as this olive oil really was a delicious drop. I couldn’t resist buying a bottle as it was begging for some home made sourdough to be dunked in it…dunk me, dunk me.
There were two other stand outs of the day. One them being Rochester Ginger, a non- alcoholic ginger drink that came in two flavours, or two levels of gingery deliciousness. So I was quite happy to find out that one of their stockists was just local to me. I think this particular one may find itself being drunk quite a bit over Christmas, I do love anything with a hint of ginger.
Mayfield Chocolates is quite possibly the best chocolate I have tasted in quite awhile. Incorporating some distinctly Australian flavours in these tasty little numbers such as, Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey, Macadamia, Lemon Myrtle, Wattleseed, QLD Rum, and Kakadu Plum. An Australian company that is based out of Brisbane. If you live in the surrounding areas good luck trying to stay away from these once you have had a taste. Lucky for me, I don’t live in the area, (and for now I will ignore the fact that they have a n Express Post Trackable postage option….it’s for the best.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
Sounds like a great day out! Brasserie Breads are one of my food heroes…
LikeLike
I was really happy to get a lesson in. I love the differences that everyone has with their sourdoughs. All ready that lesson has improved my baking.
LikeLike
It looks like a lot of fun. I have never watched an episode of Masterchef, but I would have been happy to go to that event.
LikeLike
It was a lot of fun. Something for everyone.
LikeLike
Ahh yes I meant to go back to the Little General stand as I have a yet unopened bottle of their olive oil and wanted to know a bit more behind it 🙂
LikeLike
There is something quite appealing about asking someone to get “The Little General” out of the cupboard when you are cooking 🙂
LikeLike
Ah Rochester Ginger drinks! I used to buy this when I was in the UK, they were great on a cold night when you could really savour their intense bite. Also amazing mixed up with my favourite tipple, a dark rum, wedges of squeezed lime and poured over ice.
Sounds like an informative and fun day. Was there loads of people?
LikeLike
Not a crazy amount of people. Just a nice amount.
Dark rum, and a little lime with the ‘chester sounds like a good tipple indeed.
LikeLike
What a delightful way to spend a summer day!
I’m always waiting for someone to say,” I have an extra ticket- want to go?”
And _ I’m still waiting!
Glad to see you had a yummy good and informative time!
LikeLike
Ah Heidi, maybe that ticket is just around the corner!
LikeLike
What a fantastic day you had Brydie, I’ve really been enjoying reading through everyone’s posts. Mmmm, that olive oil ‘Little General’ is great, would have been cool to find out more about a lot of the products on display. Nothing like a food show for a foodie huh.
LikeLike
It was really good finding out about the back grounds of certain products, and was great seeing so many enthusiastic people doing their ‘thang’. There was a LOT of Zumbo love there too!
LikeLike
Looks like such a great event!
We were asked to have a stall there but it has been a crappy season so far and so it didn’t work out. I would have liked to go and walk around though. It looks oh so inspiring.
Love Kate (Daylesford Organics)
LikeLike
Hopefully next time you will be able to have a stall Kate.
It was pretty inspiring, although I had to restrain myself from spending a sack full of money.
LikeLike
Oh wow, that all looks good!
LikeLike
An easy fun way to spend a day, with the added bonus of a happy belly at the end of it!
LikeLike
Happy belly…gotta love that! It all sounds like so much fun, thanks for reporting back with your findings 🙂
LikeLike
Happy to do these sorts of things, for ‘research’ you see 😉
LikeLike
I don’t know if it was the sourdough masterclass or just the ever evolving spirit with which you embrace sourdough, but your batch yesterday was amazing. Perfectly crispy and savoury on the outside and tangy and beautifully textured within; an absolute triumph. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Lucky I didn’t give you the over proved undercooked one then. Terrible!
LikeLike
I love all your photos ! What fun and learning too, perfect combo 🙂
LikeLike
Wow – looks like a great day was had. I’m very keen to try those chocolates – I’ve heard some very good things about them
LikeLike
Practically heaven on earth for a gal like you, non? The only ginger drinks I have tasted are Greens Ginger wine (great if you are already tanked) and those ginger drops from the health food shop to help with engorged boobs when breastfeeding! The Rochester sounds like a much better option 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: chevre, it’s a little bit goaty « Cityhippyfarmgirl
Pingback: What’s in season Sydney? « Cityhippyfarmgirl