Food & Wine Festivals in Sydney NSW Australia
By Jane Louise
http://www.foodwineaficionado.com
Castle Hill Showground August 2009
On 30 August 2009 the usual suspects from Sydneycafes.com.au visited the second annual Food and Wine Aficionados Festival in Castle Hill, Sydney. While apparently not quite living up to its first year in visitor numbers, we were nonetheless treated to ‘a gourmet’s great day out’.
The first stop was the food stalls. All the usual festival fare was contrasted with Spanish and Cuban take-away, along with mouth-watering mini pancakes and organic juices.
After eating, it was down to business. Somehow managing to hit the wineries first, I started chatting to the lovely people at Gelland Estate and was more than impressed with their 2008 Viognier.
Next winery of note was Stomp - chatting to Stomp’s Director/Account Manager Meredith, I discovered their young label has already received high praise, appearing in James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia 2010. Keep an eye out for my upcoming review of Stomp Rosé.
After that came New Zealand’s Prenzel - a company producing both alcohol and culinary products. Two words to savour here: butterscotch schnapps.
Being unable to resist purchasing Petersons Champagne House’s Sparkling Pink Blush Rosé, I decided that maybe it was time to check out the food.
Lush Berries appeared dazzling (and huge) in real life; Bondi Chai spiced us up with their chai lattes; Batlow Apples gave a crispy healthy taste of their red delicious apples; Saucilicious proudly dispensed their Saucilicious Mango, Rum Coconut Sauce to the ooohs and aahs of impressed passers-by, and I couldn’t go past Healthy Feast’s mouth-watering gluten free lemon polenta cake.
Before I knew it, I eagerly had my wallet out for World Par-Tea’s chocolate chai and vanilla teas, and yet again for Relish This’s tongue-tingling red capsicum chilli relish. Then it was time to check out the fresh produce, cheeses and olives. Thanks to John Milla from Abilene Grove who patiently explained to me what verjuice was!
With a full belly and a satisfyingly empty wallet, I met up with Sydneycafes.com.au's editor & SEO freak Stewart Dawes. He’d been equally busy riding camels and checking out the farmyard animals from Bowral Farmyard Friends with his young son Jett, who was milking Dad's wallet for every kids attraction on offer - two serves of camel rides, two bungy jumps (pretty steep at ten bucks a pop but the peals of laughter were deemed worth it), a pony ride and other excellent adventures.
We left the festival with the sun setting behind us and a promise to make it again next year.
To be part of the unstoppable Sydneycafes juggernaut email media@sydneycafes.com.au
To contact writer Jane Louise go to www.janelouisethewriter.com
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