Visits
About Us...
- 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.
Showing posts with label Local produce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local produce. Show all posts
Monday, January 27, 2014
We were very happy to provide two FoodPath activities for Peppers Manor House as part of their Food Trail package on the Australia Day weekend. Daniel James, Head Chef at Katers Restaurant at Peppers Manor House is a strong supporter of local produce, sourcing it as much as he can and identifying it on the menu. We provided a tour of the Bowral Market for a group of 24 in the morning and in the afternoon put on a Gelato Workshop with Luigi De Luca and his daughter Virginia from Cremeria de Luca in Five Dock. It was a fun day and we enjoyed it very much.
We joined the group for a three course long table Lunch at Katers Restaurant which was delicious.
We joined the group for a three course long table Lunch at Katers Restaurant which was delicious.
We have another Food Trail weekend coming up with Peppers Craigieburn in July. This will have a Winter theme - keep an eye out for this and if we can help you with a group activity do let us know.
Our activities are unique and you get more information when you go with FoodPath.
www.foodpath.com.au, info@foodpath.com.au, m: 0419 617 021
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Last Thursday we were invited to put on a showcase of local produce for an international conference group at the Gibraltar Hotel. I arranged for a couple of our producers to come along and talk about their products and we took some jams and vinegars from Cuttaway Creek Raspberry Farm. Nick talked about the Highlands as a whole as a food growing area. Everyone is always surprised about that - a "food bowl" so close to Sydney, but it is true! Closer to Sydney than the Hunter, we always tell them.
Kym Burrows from Sutton Forest Olives came along and spoke about her olive growing and the processing and we had a tasting of a range of her products, including her 2013 Robust and Fresh and Fruity olive oils which won awards recently in the National competition.
Alastair came from Bousaada Wines and gave the group a tasting of his Yellow Box Mead - and they loved it. In fact the group bought lots of product from all three producers so everyone was happy.
Alastair came from Bousaada Wines and gave the group a tasting of his Yellow Box Mead - and they loved it. In fact the group bought lots of product from all three producers so everyone was happy.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Well it is all over now until same time next year - but the Food and Wine Festival was a great success!! The weather was perfect which was very lucky - makes such a difference.
Katrina Hodgkinson and her husband joined us and was nice to have her support.
Most of our local wineries were represented and all had a great day - Cuttaway Hill, Bousaada, Cherry Tree Hill, Mt Ashby, Tertini Wines, Wollumbi Estate, Rotherwood Estate, Kingsdale Wines, Meadowcroft Wines and more
Many of our best restaurants were represented in the food court - including Katers and Montforts from Peppers, Eschalot and Biota as well as the more casual Mamma Santo, Bernie's Diner and Beefalicious.
The layout worked well with a huge marquee that could seat 400 at a sitting in the middle and the food outlets on one side and the wineries on the other.
Down one end were all the 60 stalls laid out and at the other end was the stage where live music played both days. A great festival atmosphere!
Hannah had her face painted like a zebra - just in case you couldn't work it out :)
Apple Thief cider had a catching promotion with these two young ladies
Anthony's Sauces from Goulburn attracted quite a crowd with their chilli sauces
Two coffee outlets were flat out all day. Here Stephan from Jet Espresso catered for one end while Coffee Culture serviced the other.
The crowd loved Bronwyn Kenny on Saturday and Ella's Holiday on Sunday - both fabulous. And at the other end a young brother and sister played guitar and sang the most beautiful French songs.
Congratulations to Carla Offord from SHCE and the SHFW Festival committee for a fabulous weekend and hope they have had a chance to recover!
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!
Friday, June 14, 2013
We have been wanting to team up with Annie and Philip from Feast@McVitty for a long time and have now come up with a nice combination of cooking class and lunch followed by a wine tasting and cheese tasting at nearby Tertini Wines.
Come to a cooking
class with Anne Holloway, chef and business owner at Feast@McVitty – a very
special restaurant in a rural setting out of Mittagong.
On what was once McVitty Grove Wines the view out the restaurant window is extensive - check the photo below.
Learn professional skills from Anne who is a restaurant chef and caterer with many years experience. Run on Thursdays she will be preparing a
range of selected dishes from the restaurant menus. This is a demonstration style
class including tastings of each dish created. Written recipes and notes provided. Includes a complementary glass of wine.
After lunch follow us to Tertini Wines nearby for a tasting of award winning wines and local artisan cheeses. Hear about the cheese makers and the cheeses from Nick, our FoodPath cheese expert. What a nice way to spend the day?
Date: Thurs 20 June, 5.30 – 8.30pm (cooking class only)
Price: $65 per person
Price: $65 per person
Date: Thurs 4 July, 11am – 3pm (cooking class and wine/cheese tasting)
Price: $85 per person
To book contact us
on info@foodpath.com.au or ring Jill
on 0419 617 021.
Please forward to
your friends and share on Facebook and Twitter.
Minimum
numbers apply
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Can't believe it is nearly the end of May and I have been slack with my blogging! Have been posting on Facebook and Twitter and even started on Instagram - but no excuses, should have kept up our FoodPath blog too...
This month has been super busy with our two Art of Food dinners at the Milk Factory Gallery in Bowral on Sat 4 and Sat 18 May. What a nice feeling it was to collaborate with other local businesses, support our local food growers and wineries, include them as speakers at the dinners, showcase Steve Harris' wonderful paintings and put our chef John Shelly in touch with so many local suppliers that I know is going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. All good.
Already we are exploring other opportunities to collaborate and bring you different and special food related activities - watch this space!
In the meantime we have some special tours to look forward to next week for World Environment Day as part of the Wingecarribee Shire Council's program of activities. FoodPath are taking a Southern Highlands Farm Tour on Thurs 6 June to visit three farms and enjoy a delicious lunch at Mt Ashby Estate. Our first farm has 19 baby boer goats and I am looking forward to seeing them! The second farm has beautiful alpacas of all colours and the third is a beautiful beef property. All are interesting and we feel privileged to be able to visit.
On Sat 8 June we have a Market Tour at the Bowral Produce Market where you can meet the local producers and hear their story. Always interesting.
On Sun 9 June Biddy Maupin is running a Jam Making Workshop for us at the Cookability Kitchen in Bowral. That will be fun and we will learn how to make
She will tell us lots of tips and tricks for success and we will have lots of tastings and a light lunch. Check the website for details and contact us if you would like to come.
This month has been super busy with our two Art of Food dinners at the Milk Factory Gallery in Bowral on Sat 4 and Sat 18 May. What a nice feeling it was to collaborate with other local businesses, support our local food growers and wineries, include them as speakers at the dinners, showcase Steve Harris' wonderful paintings and put our chef John Shelly in touch with so many local suppliers that I know is going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. All good.
Already we are exploring other opportunities to collaborate and bring you different and special food related activities - watch this space!
In the meantime we have some special tours to look forward to next week for World Environment Day as part of the Wingecarribee Shire Council's program of activities. FoodPath are taking a Southern Highlands Farm Tour on Thurs 6 June to visit three farms and enjoy a delicious lunch at Mt Ashby Estate. Our first farm has 19 baby boer goats and I am looking forward to seeing them! The second farm has beautiful alpacas of all colours and the third is a beautiful beef property. All are interesting and we feel privileged to be able to visit.
On Sat 8 June we have a Market Tour at the Bowral Produce Market where you can meet the local producers and hear their story. Always interesting.
On Sun 9 June Biddy Maupin is running a Jam Making Workshop for us at the Cookability Kitchen in Bowral. That will be fun and we will learn how to make
- mandarin marmalade,
- passionfruit and lemon curd,
- rhubarb and raspberry jam and
- crab apple jelly.
She will tell us lots of tips and tricks for success and we will have lots of tastings and a light lunch. Check the website for details and contact us if you would like to come.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Coming up we have two very special dinners at the Milk Factory Gallery in Bowral. We have collaborated with the gallery owners and the chef of the Cafe des Artistes and are putting on two long table, banquet style dinners showcasing the wonderful local produce of the Southern Highlands.
It has been my job to source the produce and John Shelly, hatted chef has put together a five course menu which will be accompanied by local wine.
We will be surrounded by beautiful paintings of food painted by Steve Harris and Steve and his wife will be at the dinner this Saturday night 4 May.
These will be special events so if you haven't already booked, ring Liz and the Cafe on 4862 1878. Visit www.foodpath.com.au or the Milk Factory Complex website for more information.
Tickets are $120 pp which includes a welcome drink and a 5 course meal.
We are excited - they are going to be good!
It has been my job to source the produce and John Shelly, hatted chef has put together a five course menu which will be accompanied by local wine.
These will be special events so if you haven't already booked, ring Liz and the Cafe on 4862 1878. Visit www.foodpath.com.au or the Milk Factory Complex website for more information.
Tickets are $120 pp which includes a welcome drink and a 5 course meal.
We are excited - they are going to be good!
Friday, November 30, 2012
We have been busy planning for the next couple of months and will have our December Update out very soon.
Posted three workshops and two tours on the website last night and received 3 bookings this morning!!
We were amazed and very happy about this.
It is always a bit of a gamble over the holiday season but last year we were very busy after Christmas when people were looking for things to do - so we have decided to run some shorter Farm Tours that will hopefully have broad appeal. We have kept the price down by leaving out morning tea and lunch. By choosing your own lunch you can decide what you spend. We love to organise a nice lunch but that does affect the price of the tour. We are calling these our "Summer Special" and will revert to our normal Day Tours after the school holidays.
Good news - we are going to run our regular monthly Day Tours again in 2013. Had too much feedback that people wanted to come but didn't have a group. Some farms do have a minimum of eight people so let's hope we get the numbers - but we will try!
Posted three workshops and two tours on the website last night and received 3 bookings this morning!!
We were amazed and very happy about this.
It is always a bit of a gamble over the holiday season but last year we were very busy after Christmas when people were looking for things to do - so we have decided to run some shorter Farm Tours that will hopefully have broad appeal. We have kept the price down by leaving out morning tea and lunch. By choosing your own lunch you can decide what you spend. We love to organise a nice lunch but that does affect the price of the tour. We are calling these our "Summer Special" and will revert to our normal Day Tours after the school holidays.
Good news - we are going to run our regular monthly Day Tours again in 2013. Had too much feedback that people wanted to come but didn't have a group. Some farms do have a minimum of eight people so let's hope we get the numbers - but we will try!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
At last it has arrived! Our first Southern Highlands Food and Wine Festival is being held next weekend 15-16 Sept after much preparation and anticipation. What a huge job - but it will be worth it!
You will see our award winning chefs, wineries and food producers and taste their products. Ella's Holiday, a popular band will be playing from 12 - 3pm both days and there will be other live music throughout the weekend.
A wide range of food will be available for lunch including gourmet food from our best chefs. Wine will be sold by the glass - and there is a large covered area in which to relax and enjoy.
On Sat from 10.30 - 12.30 there will be a Regional BBQ bake off - something not to be missed.
During the rest of the weekend there will be a program of chef's demonstrations representing our best restaurants Biota Dining, Eschalot, Centennial Vineyard Restaurant, Montfort's at Craigieburn and more. You can also meet the farmers and hear about the benefits of eating in season in two sessions run by Jill Dyson from FoodPath (Sat 2pm) and Jill Cockram from the Moss Vale Community Garden (Sun 1pm).
There will also be a Market Place with local produce, berry vinegars, olive oils etc and other quality products for sale, so bring your shopping bag.
Pony rides, farmyard animals, jumping castle and more for the smaller children and laser clay pigeon shooting too - so something for the whole family.
Take advantage of the free shuttle bus from Bowral Station to Bong Bong racecourse all day.
Come and help us to make this a great success - bring your friends! Discover what a great destination the Southern Highlands is for food and wine.
$10 entry. Tickets available at the Visitor Information Centre (Mittagong), Tertini Wines (Kells Creek Rd) and the Berrima General Store - or you can buy on line or at the gate on the day. Children under 15 FREE.
You will see our award winning chefs, wineries and food producers and taste their products. Ella's Holiday, a popular band will be playing from 12 - 3pm both days and there will be other live music throughout the weekend.
A wide range of food will be available for lunch including gourmet food from our best chefs. Wine will be sold by the glass - and there is a large covered area in which to relax and enjoy.
On Sat from 10.30 - 12.30 there will be a Regional BBQ bake off - something not to be missed.
During the rest of the weekend there will be a program of chef's demonstrations representing our best restaurants Biota Dining, Eschalot, Centennial Vineyard Restaurant, Montfort's at Craigieburn and more. You can also meet the farmers and hear about the benefits of eating in season in two sessions run by Jill Dyson from FoodPath (Sat 2pm) and Jill Cockram from the Moss Vale Community Garden (Sun 1pm).
There will also be a Market Place with local produce, berry vinegars, olive oils etc and other quality products for sale, so bring your shopping bag.
Pony rides, farmyard animals, jumping castle and more for the smaller children and laser clay pigeon shooting too - so something for the whole family.
Take advantage of the free shuttle bus from Bowral Station to Bong Bong racecourse all day.
Come and help us to make this a great success - bring your friends! Discover what a great destination the Southern Highlands is for food and wine.
$10 entry. Tickets available at the Visitor Information Centre (Mittagong), Tertini Wines (Kells Creek Rd) and the Berrima General Store - or you can buy on line or at the gate on the day. Children under 15 FREE.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Tomorrow is Celebration Sunday at Biota Dining, one of our special restaurants in the Southern Highlands.
This falls on the last Sunday of the month and we come together to celebrate our local produce. We visit a great little Produce Market in the restaurant garden then share lunch together at a long table in the restaurant.
FoodPath is fortunate to have a communal table at the restaurant where you can join us and enjoy the company of like minded people - while we enjoy a 3 course lunch of tasting platters including local produce in season. For example Redleaf farm at Fitzroy Falls provides the suckling pig that is spit roasted for lunch.
This is proving very popular with our FoodPath customers with several people coming back again and again. we are taking bookings as far ahead as November - so let us know if you would like to join us? We are now limiting our numbers to 14 to offer a more personal experience.
Date: Last Sunday of the month
Time: 10.30 Market Tour in the garden
Price: $55 adults, $28 children
Contact us from www.foodpath.com.au to book
FoodPath is fortunate to have a communal table at the restaurant where you can join us and enjoy the company of like minded people - while we enjoy a 3 course lunch of tasting platters including local produce in season. For example Redleaf farm at Fitzroy Falls provides the suckling pig that is spit roasted for lunch.
This is proving very popular with our FoodPath customers with several people coming back again and again. we are taking bookings as far ahead as November - so let us know if you would like to join us? We are now limiting our numbers to 14 to offer a more personal experience.
Time: 10.30 Market Tour in the garden
Price: $55 adults, $28 children
Contact us from www.foodpath.com.au to book
Friday, August 24, 2012
We are looking forward to our first Southern Highlands Food and Wine Festival, generously sponsored by Dan Murphy, that is coming up on the weekend 15 - 16 September.
To be held at the Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse in Kangaloon Road, Bowral. Two days of fun with award winning food and wine, market stalls, chefs demonstrations, live music, family fair and more.
Nick and I are on the Festival Committee and will be putting our energy behind this to help make it a great success - so no other FoodPath Tours that weekend. Come along to the festival instead!
We are organising a "Meet the Local Producers" segment on Sat 15 Sept and there will be a session on Sunday 16 Sept about "The Benefits of Eating in Season".
Price: $10 per person. Kids under 15 free. Tickets available on line at www.southernhighlandsfoodandwinefestival.com.au or at the gate
Time: 10am - 5pm both days
Transport: There will be a shuttle bus running from Bowral railway station to the venue.
On Sat from 10.30 - 12.30 there will also be a cook off for the Regional BBQ Challenge that is taking place, sponsored by Inland Tourism. Check out the details on www.nswbbqchallenge.com.au
To be held at the Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse in Kangaloon Road, Bowral. Two days of fun with award winning food and wine, market stalls, chefs demonstrations, live music, family fair and more.
We are organising a "Meet the Local Producers" segment on Sat 15 Sept and there will be a session on Sunday 16 Sept about "The Benefits of Eating in Season".
Price: $10 per person. Kids under 15 free. Tickets available on line at www.southernhighlandsfoodandwinefestival.com.au or at the gate
Time: 10am - 5pm both days
Transport: There will be a shuttle bus running from Bowral railway station to the venue.
On Sat from 10.30 - 12.30 there will also be a cook off for the Regional BBQ Challenge that is taking place, sponsored by Inland Tourism. Check out the details on www.nswbbqchallenge.com.au
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Wow, what a big day at Biota Dining in Bowral today for Celebration Sunday.
There were five new stalls at the Produce Market in the restaurant garden which is growing each month. These included truffles from Marulan, beef from Sutton Forest, horseradish and chilli products from Goulburn, fine food from Moss Vale and jams from Harrington Park - all fabulous.
This is probably the last market this season that we will see the Highland Gourmet Potatoes from Wildes Meadow and delicious Filbert Farm hazelnuts from Werai. We will have to wait patiently for them to come again next season. It makes you appreciate them all the more when they are not available all the time. Don't you agree?
We had a huge group on the FoodPath long table for lunch today - twenty two, our largest to date! All went well and everyone enjoyed themselves; and the food was delicious again.
However, we think we will limit numbers in future so the group is more manageable and everyone can meet and greet as they would like to. We are not really about large groups - more about friendly intimate experiences :)
So - we already have bookings coming in for next month Sun 26 Aug, so if you want to join us please don't delay in case you miss out. Contact us from the website to book www.foodpath.com.au.
Price: $55 Time: 10.30 Market Tour, 12.30 lunch.
There were five new stalls at the Produce Market in the restaurant garden which is growing each month. These included truffles from Marulan, beef from Sutton Forest, horseradish and chilli products from Goulburn, fine food from Moss Vale and jams from Harrington Park - all fabulous.
We had a huge group on the FoodPath long table for lunch today - twenty two, our largest to date! All went well and everyone enjoyed themselves; and the food was delicious again.
So - we already have bookings coming in for next month Sun 26 Aug, so if you want to join us please don't delay in case you miss out. Contact us from the website to book www.foodpath.com.au.
Price: $55 Time: 10.30 Market Tour, 12.30 lunch.
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