About Us...
- Jill Dyson,
- Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia
- Jill has been running FoodPath in the Southern Highlands of NSW with her partner Nick since April 2010. They have grown the business to a level where they now include a range of activities including tours, workshops and collaboration with others (cooking schools, wineries, etc). Jill grew up in a large family on a sheep station near Crookwell but for the past 13 years has lived in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW. During the past 8 years Jill and Nick have got to know the local producers and continue to promote and support these local small businesses. They have organised and run many food related activities including taste education workshops and producer visits. It was after they organised a successful tour for a group of chefs from some of the best restaurants in Sydney that they realised they could turn their interest into a business - and this led to the setting up of FoodPath - Culinary Tours with a Difference. Now Jill and Nick are working closely with Southern Highlands Tourism and Wingecarribee Council to help raise the profile of their area as a food destination where everyone will benefit - tourists, local consumers and the producers themselves.
About Us...
Nick Padol, Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia.
Nick with his partner Jill have been running their business FoodPath in the Southern Highlands since April 2010. His motivation was to share his knowledge about food by taking others on a journey to discover local and regional food.
At the age of 4 when Nick had his first taste of coffee with his father at Andronicus’ Coffee Shop in Sydney he developed an extraordinary interest in all things gastronomic. At the age of 24 his father gave him his 1st copy of Larousse Gastronomique and he hasn’t looked back.
Early on he developed a love for cheese, going out of his way to visit cheese factories including the long-lost Robertson Cheese Factory in the Southern Highlands. When he lived in Sydney Nick belonged to a Wine and Dine Society where they had a blind tasting of cheeses at the end of the meal. Nick was always left until last to give his opinion because he was always right.
Not only is Nick an excellent cook and host with an interest in the cuisine of many cultures but he is also a food writer and cheese and coffee judge. He has been involved in regional food and wine related projects over the years and was an active member of Slow Food for 9 years.
Blog by Blog
Some changes since last month -
- The pumpkins are finished so Louise and Luke from Marulan were not there
| Don't pumpkins look great as a decorative feature! |
| Pam and Paul of Doolan Country Jams & Chutneys |
- Phil is between seasons with his organic vegies so said he had a limited supply - but he still had English spinach, baby leeks, baby endive, potatoes, baby brussel sprouts, cavolo nero, kale and broccoli - and it was sooooo fresh!
- Jim was there with his fresh and roasted hazelnuts but said this was probably the last time for the season. He was selling barefooted hazelnut trees too - great for anyone who is planning to grow truffles!
- The two Steve's were there with their newly formed business Phatt Duck and Hog. They make great pies and chutneys and more. Steve from the 1910 Bottling Company is now making the fillings for the fruit pies. Won't be long before they build up a following.
- Mary was there with her olive oil and soap, Jo with her great range of breads, Michael with his free range eggs, Rhona with her fruit leather, dried fruit and fresh fruit, Biddy with her famous chicken liver pate and Seville orange marmalade, Susie with Hindmarsh olives and Pam and Paul from Doolan's jams with their jams, jellies, butter and chutneys.
- All fabulous products and our group certainly enjoyed buying things they would take home and enjoy.
- Coming to the Market on a tour with FoodPath means you get an inside look at what is going on with food in the Highlands and you get a personal introduction to the producers, which makes it special. Helps to build relationships between the grower and you, the consumer... which is the way we are heading. People really want to know more about the food they eat these days, which is great.