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

Saturday, February 23, 2013
We are finalising our itinerary for the FoodPath Wollondilly Farm Tour coming up on Easter Sat 30 March. We will be meeting at the R Coffee Co - a great little cafe in Picton where they blend and roast their own coffee beans.





Lunch will be at Pos Keech's new cafe at The Oaks. You may know Pos - she does a lot of catering in the Southern Highlands. 

The farms we will visit on this tour include a huge vegetable farm with an interesting story, run by an Italian couple; a family orchard with a huge range of fruit - and jams made from the fruit - and finally an olive and beef farm. A nice variety and it will be an interesting day and we always have fun!



We already have six booked for this tour!! I am very excited about that. So come with us and explore this neighbouring region. Not far to travel from Sydney or from the Highlands and a lot to discover.


Monday, February 18, 2013
Had a lovely day last Sat when 13 of us headed off for the day together. We met at Cecil Hoskins Reserve near Moss Vale then everyone followed us in their cars to Alan's farm nearby. We had a tour around his pretty little farm - or lifetsyle block really.

Alan loves what he does on the farm and shares his knowledge generously. We learnt about the geese, bees, yabbies, Boer goats, vegetable growing, chook keeping and growing truffles! Everyone loved it.



Next on to Victoria Park Alpacas where Annette and Barry were our hosts. Annette told us all about the alpacas and what is involved in running their stud. The alpacas are kept very close to the house so we had a great view from the verandah. I loved the colours - chocolate, caramel and cream - very pretty. 
Then Annette showed us the alpaca fleeces and the beautiful clothes that she makes by weaving on her floor loom or by knitting. 




Time for lunch - so off to Mount Ashby winery nearby where we enjoyed a delicious two course lunch with a glass of Mt Ashby wine. Nice time to chat with the rest of the group at our communal table. In this group we had people from Sydney, Canberra and Camden (our loyal followers who have been to many of our tours and activities).




After lunch it started to rain - but not for long and we were able to be under cover for most of the time. We visited Pines Pastoral where Robyn runs an Angus Stud.






What a beautiful property looking over the hills and how interesting to hear the ins and outs of this business and why we should be eating good quality grass fed beef. Robyn also has several renovated cottages on her property as tourist accommodation. Definitely worth a look! Just Google "The Pines Pastoral" at Moss Vale - and tell her we sent you!




Wednesday, February 13, 2013
After a beautiful break at the beach for ten days we are back in the Highlands now, fully rejuvenated and ready to go.




Looking forward to a special day on Sat 16 Feb when we visit two new farms on a FoodPath Day Tour. Weather report looks good and we have a nice group booked in. Will report back afterwards.

We are very excited about a great article that was written by one of our customers for Amagazine - a beautiful online magazine. If you go to the website and search for FoodPath you will find it.

Thursday, February 7, 2013
Would you like to see some Southern African Boer goats, alpacas and black Angus cattle?





Would you like to meet the farmers and also learn about truffle farming, keeping your own bees, vegetable growing and more?

We like to take you behind the scenes to meet the real people and hear their interesting stories.

Our tour on Sat 16 Feb is covering an area around Moss Vale and visiting three farms. It is a guided self drive tour where you follow us.

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at beautiful Mt Ashby Estate winery, where Will is our Chef. While you are there you can also see Sally Beresford's antiques in the adjacent "Produce Shed".



Come and join us and have a fun day out.
Time: 10am - 4pm
Meet at: Cecil Hoskins Reserve (directions provided on booking)
Price: $120 (includes 2 course lunch and glass of Mt Ashby wine, tea/coffee)

Contact us for a booking form -
www.foodpath.com.au, info@foodpath.com.au or m. 019 617 021