THE FOODPATH BLOG

We decided to write a blog to let you know some of the fabulous food related things that happen in the Southern Highlands all the time. Keep checking back here to see what is going on. Get to know what hidden treasures we have and if you want to find out more - come on one of our tours and meet the people who grow our food.

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Click on our TOURS page to see our latest trips. If you can get a group together we can organise a tour just for you! Minimum 6 people. Contact us to discuss.

Visits

About Us...

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Jill Dyson,
Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia
Click on the link to read Jill's latest blog post. 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). During the past 10 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.
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About Us...

Nick Padol, Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia.

Nick with his partner Jill has been running their business FoodPath in the Southern Highlands since April 2010. His motivation was to share his knowledge 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 interest in all things gastronomic. At the age of 24 his father gave him his 1st copy of Larousse Gastronomique. He now has an extensive library of cook books and he hasn’t looked back.

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.


PRODUCE INCLUDES:

Apples

Blackberries

Blueberries

Raspberries

Gooseberries

Grapes

Potatoes

Truffles

Garlic

Olives

Asparagus

Mushrooms

Cheese - cow, goat, sheep

Beef

Goat

Lamb

Eggs - hen, duck

Poultry

Pigs

Hazelnuts

Chestnuts

Vegetables

Jams and vinegars

Wine

Friday, November 25, 2011
We are off to Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges for a few days next week. Another food bowl like the Southern Highlands! Can't wait to explore the food and the Italian/Swiss history too.
Wish there was someone down there running tours like FoodPath do so we could get behind the scenes - no doubt meeting the locals given you a broader experience. Sadly we can't find any - but a friend has given us lots of tips, so we will have fun I'm sure.
Will be visiting the bath house in Hepburn too - spa country!
Apparently Daylesford is to Melbourne what the Southern Highlands is to Sydney and it is very popular because of the close proximity.
Will report back on our return...

Saturday, November 12, 2011


Today we had another Market to Table Tour. We normally have these on the 2nd Sat of the month. We start with a tour of the market in Bowral where Jill talks about each local producer and takes you to meet them. Patricia buys the ingredients for the lunch. Then we moved on to the Fitzroy Inn for a cooking class and lunch.
Today there was a new stallholder with smoked meats from Camden way. Very good.
Pecora Dairy - a very new ewe's milk cheese maker was represented by The Cheese Store who have a shop but also take a stall at the market because it is so popular!



What a great bunch of people in our tour group today - 4 members of one family - a Italian mother with a daughter and 2 daughters-in-law! Two friends who came together. One solo male whose wife joined us for lunch. He had been given the tour by his children, what a nice gesture! A happy and enthusiastic bunch.


Patricia chose Moroccan as the theme for lunch today and the menu was:

  • Lamb Kefta with Yoghurt sauce
  • Chicken Lemon and Fennel Tagine
  • Apple, Fig and Walnut Pastries
Ingredients were, as far as possible, purchased at the market. 



What a good day - three things in one - a Market Tour, Cooking Class and Long Table Lunch! A great way to indulge yourself :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011

EXCITING NEWS -
WE HAVE A NEW ARTISAN SHEEP’S MILK CHEESE MAKER IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

Just released – a soft curd sheep’s milk cheese made by Michael McNamara, a new artisan cheese maker in the Southern Highlands. 
Michael and Cressida are passionate about their sheep and excited about their new business and FoodPath has been waiting anxiously for their cheese to become commercially available. You can now purchase this at Il Topolino delicatessen in Bowral.

FoodPath has a Cheese Appreciation Workshop scheduled for next Sun 13 November, which will taste cheese from four local Southern Highlands cheese makers – including Pecora Dairy.
Venue: Howards Lane Vineyard
Date: Sun 13 Nov 2011
Time: 10:30 – 12:30
Price: $66

To book contact us from the website www.foodpath.com.au or email info@foodpath.com.au



Thursday, November 3, 2011
Now that the Crave Food festival is over we have time to focus on the Southern Highlands and what we can offer you!
Coming down for the weekend? Maybe you live here? Planning a wedding? Reunion? Family get together? Xmas party? Conference?
We have something for everyone... Just contact us to discuss.

There are many options - winery tours, farm visits, gardens to wander in, art studios to visit, lovely restaurants in rural areas - ranging from up market and classy to more casual.

If you don't know the area we are just the people you need to make your stay memorable - and we love doing it. Contact us from the website and we will be in touch or email us on info@foodpath.com.au.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011


Well, we are still recovering from an 8 week lead up to the huge long table lunch for 500 people at Eveleigh Market site in Sydney on Sun 30 Oct!   






Five tables of 100 people - each representing a different region of NSW - Southern Highlands, the Riverina, Mid Central Coast, Central West and Souther Coast.

What a great effort to pull this together. Good collaboration and teamwork were essential.



Our table was decorated by Bee Gilbert who did a fabulous job using waratahs grown at Robertson as a stand out feature.

Four of our best chefs prepared the meal assisted by several students from the Moss Vale Hospitality School




Local produce included - 
  • Free range duck from Thirlmere
  • Free range pork from Towrang
  • Free range eggs from Berrima Ridge
  • Olive oil from Sutton Forest Olives
  • Potatoes from Robertson
  • Baby leeks from Moonacres certified organic farm at Fitzroy Falls
  • Exotic mushrooms from the Mittagong mushroom tunnel
  • Fromage Blanc from Highlands Organic cheese
  • Raspberry sauce from Cuttaway Creek Raspberry Farm at Mittagong
  • Cream from Country Valley dairy at Picton
  • Apple cider from Robertson and 
  • Farmed barramundi from Bargo. 

What a fabulous range - aren't we lucky to have this at our doorstep?

Not only was there a different menu for each region represented at the lunch, using their local produce - but there were also displays showcasing the food of each region. 
Look at the photos - they speak a thousand words...