- 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.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The berries are ready to start picking... feel like some fresh loganberries, boysenberries or blue berries? We had lunch at the Moss Vale Community Garden last Fri and for dessert Jill (another Jill, not me) took us around the garden gathering berries from the vines. We found raspberries and Marion berries (no, I hadn't heard of these either). Can't get fresher than that! They also had some white currants and red currants - that not only looked stunning but tasted delicious too.
The Moss Vale Community Garden is going great guns. You can join up and then go and help in the garden or with the lunch on Wed or Fri. Great for those who do not have a vegie garden at home or who would just like the company. At the end of the day surplus produce is shared between the workers.
We are hoping to showcase the community gardens in some way at our huge food and wine festival at Bong Bong racecourse on 3-4 Mar 2011.
What a great week we had in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges. Certainly lots to see and do.
The Lake House at Daylesford had beautiful surroundings including some great sculptures of Australian birds and animals. The walk around the lake helped to offset all the food consumed!
Lots of cafes and food stores with local products - rather like Bowral! Restaurants were of a high standard and busy with customers from Melbourne - only an hour away.
Quite different country west of Daylesford towards Ballarat - open grazing land and crops.
We found one cows milk cheese maker at Clunes - a young couple who were very passionate about their products.
A friend has a fruit and nut farm an Glenlyon - look at these strawberries! The blueberries are coming and are their main crop.
We were able to catch the 1st Accredited Farmers Market at Woodend which was interesting. Something to aspire to for the Southern Highlands!
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...
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 there was a new stallholder with smoked meats from Camden way. Very good.
- 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
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
Venue: Howards Lane Vineyard
Date: Sun 13 Nov 2011
Time: 10:30 – 12:30
Price: $66
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.
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.
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.
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...
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