PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, 19 June 2018 Gascoyne Food Festival 2018 Tickets on sale now for winter s lust-have foodie event When: 5 August - 8 September Where: Carnarvon, Exmouth, Dirk Hartog Island and Mount Augustus Information: www.gascoynefood.com.au Tickets: Carnarvon Visitors Centre (08) 9941 1146 or go to https://www.carnarvon.org.au As cold weather descends on Perth, the Gascoyne is once again gearing up for another gourmet food extravaganza in the sun. The Gascoyne Food Festival is the ultimate winter getaway, promising incredible local produce served up by Western Australia s top chefs in some of the world s most idyllic locations. Visitors will enjoy a refreshed approach to events this year, with new additions and changed formats in store. As always there is something for everyone, with events held across the region including Dirk Hartog Island, Exmouth, Mount Augustus and Carnarvon, all showcasing amazing local meat, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables. Following in festival tradition a top line-up of chefs will be joining the festival, with the largest contingent heading to Carnarvon for the Taste of Gascoyne BBQ and Long Table Lunch events. The chefs will experience the region up-close and personal with visits to local growers and producers before creating restaurant-quality dishes for guests. Chef, caterer and entrepreneur Stuart Laws will be overseeing the flow of activity in the kitchens in Carnarvon, as well as putting on Australia s Biggest BBQ at the World s Biggest Rock at Mount Augustus for the second time. The Gascoyne produces some of the best food in the world that WA chefs are so lucky to have direct access to. I am really excited to show this year s group of top chefs some of my favourite produce and work together to put on another incredible festival, said Stuart. Visitors can take advantage of a range of opportunities to join in the festival from the 5th August to the 8th September. Events include family-friendly dining with live entertainment at the Taste of the Gascoyne Sunset BBQ in Carnarvon, fine-dining at the Long Table Lunch at the stunning Bentwaters Plantation and free food sampling at the Gascoyne Growers Markets. Food By The Chef s George Cooper will be cooking up a storm on Dirk Hartog Island during the Gourmet Island Escape events featuring several delicious dining experiences for visitors. 1 of 5
In Exmouth, Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort will be joining the line up again and hosting a fine dining experience, Where the Outback Meets the Reef. Plus new addition to the festival, Froth Craft Brewery, will be be hosting a Range to Reef Beergustation. Both events sourcing the best of local produce to serve to their guests. Wrapping things up will be Australia's Biggest BBQ under Australia's Biggest Rock at Mount Augustus on the 8th September with Chef Stuart Laws. An iconic event at a truly magical location, offering guests a night to remember, followed by a complimentary breakfast the next day as they head out on the open road. Michael Nixon, Chairman of the Gascoyne Food Council says that the region s commitment to promoting it s horticultural, pastoral, fishing and tourism industries through this key industry event, the Gascoyne Food Festival, is stronger than ever. The Gascoyne Food Festival has grown from a 60 person lunch in Carnarvon to a region-wide celebration of the amazing fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood on offer, largely because year on year we offer the best of Western Australian lifestyle. That being fresh, local food served up in a natural, unpretentious setting in support of our hard-working rural community, said Michael. It is a huge amount of work putting on this festival and we have a tireless team striving to make it happen because it is such a huge boost for local business and driving awareness of our hardworking horticultural, pastoral, fishing and tourism industries, he said. More Information: See page 3 for sponsors See pages 4 for Festival Program For images please click here to go to the Event Photos folder in drop box. Media Contact: Please contact Georgia Thomas on 0431444918 or georgia@fresh-creative.com.au Website: http://www.gascoynefood.com.au Facebook: GascoyneFoodCouncil Instagram: @gascoynefood 2 of 5
Sponsors 3 of 5
Festival Program Dirk Hartog Island Gourmet Island Escape: 5th- 10th or 8th-10th August On Dirk's Dinner Plate Long Table Lunch: 9th August Join the team at Dirk Hartog Island during August 2018 for the Gourmet Island Escape, discovering the islands unique wilderness and the Gascoyne regions incredible fresh produce with Shark Bay prawns, scallops, snow crabs, whiting and pink snapper. Fresh fruit & veg is flown direct from Carnarvon to produce the freshest of taste for the freshest seafood in Australia, creating a true ocean to plate experience. More information and bookings: http://www.dirkhartogisland.com Carnarvon: Taste of Gascoyne Sunset BBQ: 9th August Chef Stuart Laws from Showcase Events WA in collaboration with the Gascoyne Food Council will be preparing a sunset BBQ that truly showcases the best produce the Gascoyne region has to offer. This family-friendly celebration will be held in a new location this year in the main street of Carnarvon, featuring Asado style Meedo goat and Meecham lamb, plus Kailis Cod, Mareterram prawns, local fruit and vegetables alongside some special dishes created by local community groups to represent their cultural background. Long Table Lunch: 10th August The Long Table Lunch starts at 12 pm and is set in the heart of productive horticultural country on the Gascoyne River at Bentwaters Plantation. Hosted by the Gascoyne Food Council this lunch will be celebrating our local Gascoyne fare and farmers by showcasing their produce through a tapas style menu. Top WA chefs will be visiting the region and meeting the farmers before each cooking a dish to reflect their passion for the local produce to the guests. Gascoyne Growers Market Saturday: 11th August Come down and enjoy the vibrant and festive atmosphere of the Gascoyne Growers Markets on the Saturday morning from 8 to 11.30am. There will be tastings and cooking demonstrations from chefs, live entertainment and fresh fruit and vegetables to purchase whilst enjoying a fresh coffee and a Church Burger. Located at the Civic Centre Courtyard in Robinson Street, middle roundabout of the main street. Sue Helmot Art Exhibition: 6 to 18 August, Carnarvon Library and Gallery Sue Helmot is local artist whose paintings embody a love of the Gascoyne landscape and a desire to capture its beauty. From the Source A Landscape of Food takes you on visual journey from Mount Augustus where during rainfall events water is shed and then begins to flow downstream in the Gascoyne River. Along the way, the rangelands are grazed by livestock. When it reaches Carnarvon it replenishes the aquifers where it is converted into fruit and vegetables on the Gascoyne Delta. The river then discharges into Shark Bay triggering the spawning of a variety of seafood. More information and tickets: www.carnarvon.org.au 4 of 5
Exmouth: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort - Where the Outback Meets the Reef: 11th August Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort s event will start with drinks by the pool and delicious canapés. Guests will then enjoy dinner under the stars with a sit down meal showcasing our local and regional produce including bush and natural spices, emu, kangaroo and our regional fresh seafood, paired with carefully selected wines. More information and tickets: Phone 08 9949 0000 and email reservations@mantaraysningalooresort.com.au Froth Craft Beergustation - Range to Reef: 16th August Head to the award-winning Froth Craft on August 16th for a Beergustation featuring the best local produce from the rangelands to the sea. The venue features restaurant, micro-brewery and music with a kitchen serving up delicious food and bar pouring artisan craft beer brewed on-site. More information: https://www.frothcraft.com Mount Augustus: Australia's Biggest BBQ at the Worlds Biggest Rock: - 8th September Enjoy delicious outback beef, cooked on Australia s biggest BBQ (made specially for this event) served with fresh local produce, in an extraordinary setting. Come take a close look at the rich palette of the Mt Augustus countryside with its massive ancient rock surrounded by a huge diversity of plants, animal and bird life. Toast the beauty of the heart of the Gascoyne, the brilliance of local expertise and the art of Mother Nature. More information and tickets: http://www.mtaugustustouristpark.com/events.html 5 of 5