- 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.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
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| There are 14 cellar does in the Southern Highlands to visit |
Yesterday we had a group of friends who came from New Zealand, Melbourne and Sydney! They wanted to do something different to celebrate a 40th birthday and how nice for us that they chose the Southern Highlands! After discussing several options they chose an itinerary including visits to two Italian wineries and lunch at the Studio Restaurant in Exeter. What a good choice that was - it was a very pleasant day.
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| The vineyards all pruned and ready for Spring |
Seriously we are happy to discuss your needs and to put something together to suit your requirements - time frame, budget - just contact us from the website.
Busy busy this weekend, but it was all fun.
First we had a tour of the Moss Vale Produce Market.Some changes since last month -
- The pumpkins are finished so Louise and Luke from Marulan were not there
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| Don't pumpkins look great as a decorative feature! |
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| 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.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
How cute is the little book of letters that was launched last night in Bowral.
The letters were written by a chook - Isobel, the CEO of the hen house at Berrima Ridge a free range egg farm outside Berrima.
Anne is Grandma and she helps with the stories which appear in every dozen eggs that are sold. Rather like a journal - giving the reader an insight into life on the farm. What a great idea! I love the social commentary, the wise words and the humour that creep in from time to time - and what a good way to educate the public about life on a farm.
We are having another Family Farm Day in the Spring school holidays and will be visiting Berrima Ridge. Bring your family along and share the fun! This time we will have a professional photographer with us. You may like to take advantage of the opportunity. If so I will give you her contact details and you can speak directly to her. Extra cost for photos of course.
The letters were written by a chook - Isobel, the CEO of the hen house at Berrima Ridge a free range egg farm outside Berrima.
There was definitely an "egg" theme with Tony Capps serving delicious egg based canapés and platter with a nest of Patrice Cook's eggs. We have three of Patrice's chooks in our display at SH Tourism this month - in the entrance atrium if you get a chance to look.
We are having another Family Farm Day in the Spring school holidays and will be visiting Berrima Ridge. Bring your family along and share the fun! This time we will have a professional photographer with us. You may like to take advantage of the opportunity. If so I will give you her contact details and you can speak directly to her. Extra cost for photos of course.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Had a great day on Fri being the participant rather than the organiser!
This was a very pleasant day and it was such a beautiful environment. The property was studded with many old buildings that have been beautifully restored.
Mickie runs her workshops from time to time - check her website - just search for Glenmore House.
I went to historic Glenmore House at Camden to spend the day with Mickie and her class, making Seville orange marmalade.
First we picked the huge oranges from the trees then it was a joint effort as we washed the fruit, cut and squeezed the oranges, removed the pith and seeds, cut the rind into thin strips, tied the seeds in a muslin bag, etc. Finally it went into a pot to cook for hours.
While it was cooking we were taken on a tour of the wonderful kitchen garden. Mickie picked some vegetables for lunch and made up a soup.
This was a very pleasant day and it was such a beautiful environment. The property was studded with many old buildings that have been beautifully restored.
Mickie runs her workshops from time to time - check her website - just search for Glenmore House.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Well we were lucky to have fine weather for our first "Day in Canyonleigh" tour today - but we still needed our jackets at times. It is the Highlands after all :)
We had a lovely day....
Delicious morning tea at The General Store thanks to Gisanne and Louise, then on to visit Laird and Jenny at Glenfion vineyard. How interesting to find out about their wine business, their son Andrew's beer making business - and also Jenny's art and about the Canyonleigh community as well. Several of the locals are trained up in emergency response so they can look after each other until emergency services arrive, in the case of an accident. What a great idea!
Our visit to the Birrong Suri Alpacas was great. Fiona gave us an insight into the alpaca industry in Australia and Suri alpacas in particular. We met several babies or cria (good trivial pursuit question?) and went for a tour around the farm. After shearing all of the fleece is sent to Victoria where it is made into yarn or garments that can be purchased. The yarn is often blended with a small percentage of wool and the end result is soft and silky.
We enjoyed a wine tasting and olive oil tasting back at the General Store before lunch. All produce was grown in Canyonleigh.
After a yummy two course lunch we drove to Pygmy Hill with Louise who showed us the Farmhouse Country Retreat and walked us through the vineyard.
Everyone was very welcoming and it certainly was interesting to get to know this little corner of the Southern Highlands. We'll be back to the General Store for dinner on a Fri night some time soon...
We had a lovely day....
Delicious morning tea at The General Store thanks to Gisanne and Louise, then on to visit Laird and Jenny at Glenfion vineyard. How interesting to find out about their wine business, their son Andrew's beer making business - and also Jenny's art and about the Canyonleigh community as well. Several of the locals are trained up in emergency response so they can look after each other until emergency services arrive, in the case of an accident. What a great idea!
Our visit to the Birrong Suri Alpacas was great. Fiona gave us an insight into the alpaca industry in Australia and Suri alpacas in particular. We met several babies or cria (good trivial pursuit question?) and went for a tour around the farm. After shearing all of the fleece is sent to Victoria where it is made into yarn or garments that can be purchased. The yarn is often blended with a small percentage of wool and the end result is soft and silky.
After a yummy two course lunch we drove to Pygmy Hill with Louise who showed us the Farmhouse Country Retreat and walked us through the vineyard.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Our two Mushroom Tunnel Tours last Tues 6 Aug 2011 were a great success!
You might wonder what there is to see on such a tour but let me tell you that the tunnel itself is very interesting, as is the history of the tunnel and of this business Li Sun Mushrooms.
It is quite a long walk - 500 metres each way but we take it at a gentle pace.
Noel Arrold, the business owner and Micro Biologist is an interesting and funny man and you will be fascinated to hear him talk about the different types of Asian and exotic mushrooms that he grows in both his laboratory and the tunnel.
A variety of colours and shapes, some slimy like these Japanese mushrooms that are great in soups.
If they are not picked they just grow bigger and bigger like this bunch!
Woody ear looks different from the others and is crunchy in texture.
Noel's mushrooms can be purchased at the Bowral Market at Bowral Primary School on the 2nd Sat of the month and at many other outlets in the Southern Highlands and beyond. Just look for the Li-Sun Mushroom label.
Some lucky people got to take the big bunches home and had great plans for how they would cook them.
The next Mushroom Tunnel Tours are on Tues 25 Oct at 10am and 11.30am. Get your booking in now to secure a place - ring Tourism Southern Highlands on 4871 2888. Price: $35 per person
Another fun session with Steve Hogwood at the Fruit Bottling Workshop last Sat 30 July.
This time we were bottling pears and I was asked to judge the best. This was not easy I can tell you! I had to look at the pattern, the number of air bubbles, whether the jar was packed to the rim with fruit, etc.
There was also a team challenge where everyone combined their newly learnt skills to pack a large bottle. So - we ended up with an individual winner and also a winning team. Check out the photos!
Next time Steve is going to introduce you to steam canning as well as covering the boiling method. Steam canning is what you do to preserve vegetables. This is a great way to use up extra produce from the garden or when you buy a case from the greengrocer when the price is right.
Bookings are coming in for the next two workshops so don't delay.
In October Steve is going to teach us how to do pickling. Contact us from the website if you are interested.
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| The 1910 Bottling Company makes a great product - look at these! |
This time we were bottling pears and I was asked to judge the best. This was not easy I can tell you! I had to look at the pattern, the number of air bubbles, whether the jar was packed to the rim with fruit, etc.
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| Sizing up the finished products |
There was also a team challenge where everyone combined their newly learnt skills to pack a large bottle. So - we ended up with an individual winner and also a winning team. Check out the photos!
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| Paula won the best jar award |
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| The winning team |
Next time Steve is going to introduce you to steam canning as well as covering the boiling method. Steam canning is what you do to preserve vegetables. This is a great way to use up extra produce from the garden or when you buy a case from the greengrocer when the price is right.
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| Buy when the fruit is in peak season and preserve for a rainy day |
Bookings are coming in for the next two workshops so don't delay.
In October Steve is going to teach us how to do pickling. Contact us from the website if you are interested.
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