- 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, July 31, 2013
Had our first Truffle Tour last Sat and it was very popular. Thirty six people came along. Was a beautiful day which was lucky considering it is the middle of Winter. We met Barbara and Ted and Jet the truffle dog. Ted gave a talk about the truffle business and passed around a container of fresh truffles which created a lot of interest. Fascinating to see what they look like and to smell the pungent exotic smell.
Back to the shed for some tea and coffee from our local coffee roasters in Bowral - Rush Roasting, and everyone was given a couple of truffle treats - one a Brie impregnated with truffle on a biscuit and the other a slice of hard boiled egg (that had also been impregnated with fresh truffle) on a biscuit, topped with shaved truffle.
Everyone was fascinated to learn more about these exotic fungi that are pretty new to the Southern Highlands. Interest is high and our tour on Sun 18 Aug (10am - 12pm) is almost full, so we have scheduled an extra tour - on Sat 10 August from 1 - 3pm.
To book contact us - footpath.com.au, info@foodpath.com.au, 0419 617 021
Then we headed off to the Trufferie where Jet was put to work. Every time he started to scratch the ground indicating a truffle was there, Ted rewarded him with a treat. Ted has deciduous and evergreen oak trees and curiously only the evergreen oaks are producing truffles this year. Maybe next year...
Back to the shed for some tea and coffee from our local coffee roasters in Bowral - Rush Roasting, and everyone was given a couple of truffle treats - one a Brie impregnated with truffle on a biscuit and the other a slice of hard boiled egg (that had also been impregnated with fresh truffle) on a biscuit, topped with shaved truffle.
To book contact us - footpath.com.au, info@foodpath.com.au, 0419 617 021
Monday, July 15, 2013
A nice way to spend the last Sunday of the month meeting our wonderful local food producers at the market in the restaurant garden in the morning, followed by a delicious 3 course lunch of shared platters at our FoodPath communal table.
Or - make a weekend of it and come on our Truffle Tour on Sat 27 July as well!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Well, three family tours in one week - a good start to the year but time for a rest. We had huge groups for the first two and a smaller group today. Always get last minute bookings which is interesting - people waking up and looking for things to do with the kids that day.
The first tour was mostly grandparents, but the next two were young families who had come to the Highlands to stay. Most were happy to have access to tours like ours so hopefully we will see them again.
Now we are looking forward to the Bowral Market Tour on Sat morning then we are going to the Writers Festival ourselves, looking forward to that.
The Truffle Tours are filling up - that is something different.
We have also been asked by the CWA to put together a tour for a Moroccan Chef. They are studying Morocco this year and have a visiting chef coming to run cooking classes and put on a dinner - and come on a tour with us to see what local produce is about.
Next week we have a corporate group for a tour and we have been asked to put a tour on for a Sydney Travel Club. Always something going on and a variety of activities, which keeps things interesting.
Let us know if we can do something for you or if you have any suggestions or feedback. Cheers, Jill
The first tour was mostly grandparents, but the next two were young families who had come to the Highlands to stay. Most were happy to have access to tours like ours so hopefully we will see them again.
Now we are looking forward to the Bowral Market Tour on Sat morning then we are going to the Writers Festival ourselves, looking forward to that.
The Truffle Tours are filling up - that is something different.
We have also been asked by the CWA to put together a tour for a Moroccan Chef. They are studying Morocco this year and have a visiting chef coming to run cooking classes and put on a dinner - and come on a tour with us to see what local produce is about.
Next week we have a corporate group for a tour and we have been asked to put a tour on for a Sydney Travel Club. Always something going on and a variety of activities, which keeps things interesting.
Let us know if we can do something for you or if you have any suggestions or feedback. Cheers, Jill
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
So far we have had two Family Farm Tours in the Southern Highlands this school holidays and one to go - tomorrow! Colin and Kaaren have a range of animals for their own children and have kindly invited us in to share, for the tour - and the kids have loved it.
Not too late if you want to come tomorrow 10 July - just contact us from foodpath.com.au
We recently had a couple along on our table at Celebration Sunday at Biota who had received it as a gift from a friend. They were "farm sitting" sitting while she went overseas.
Apparently they loved it because I received the nicest message today from the friend -
"Jill, I've just gotten back from my trip and can't thank you enough for looking after my friends so well. It was the highlight of their stay, they said it was so well run and everyone was very friendly. It was their "best dining experience ever". They enjoyed it so much that Ann is planning to come back and do the same Tour with her mother, I am hoping to tag along with them too! Thanks again - wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone else".
It is feedback like this that makes it all worthwhile - thanks Dru.
Apparently they loved it because I received the nicest message today from the friend -
"Jill, I've just gotten back from my trip and can't thank you enough for looking after my friends so well. It was the highlight of their stay, they said it was so well run and everyone was very friendly. It was their "best dining experience ever". They enjoyed it so much that Ann is planning to come back and do the same Tour with her mother, I am hoping to tag along with them too! Thanks again - wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone else".
It is feedback like this that makes it all worthwhile - thanks Dru.
Nick and I are on the committee of our local industry body "Southern Highlands Food and Wine" which aims to support our local food and wine businesses and to showcase the Southern Highlands as a food and wine destination. Our first SH Food and Wine Festival was held last year and was a great success. This year will be bigger and better.
Check this video clip prepared by one of our members Victoria Hansen.
http://youtu.be/K88AnD35VYs
Check this video clip prepared by one of our members Victoria Hansen.
http://youtu.be/K88AnD35VYs
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