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.
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.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
We have just "posted" a Family Farm Tour in the Southern Highlands for the Sept school holidays.
Harvey and Lindy have a range of animals on their property near Berrima and are looking forwarded to welcoming us there.
Meet at Lake Alexander first at 12 midday for a picnic lunch and then follow us at 12.45 in your car to the farm.
Your children will be able to:
Date: Sat 29 Sept 2012
Time: 1 - 3pm. Meet at Lake Alexander at 12 midday for lunch first (optional). BYO picnic or pre-order from FoodPath (extra cost)
Price: $12 ch (3 - 15yrs), $18 ad, Ch under 3 FREE.
To book contact us - from the website, email info@foodpath or ring 0419 617 021
Harvey and Lindy have a range of animals on their property near Berrima and are looking forwarded to welcoming us there.
Meet at Lake Alexander first at 12 midday for a picnic lunch and then follow us at 12.45 in your car to the farm.
Your children will be able to:
- Feed the chooks
- Collect the eggs
- Pat the friendly alpacas
- Feed the miniature horse
- Feed the fish in the dam
- Look for yabbies and
- Learn all about honey - and take some home.
Date: Sat 29 Sept 2012
Time: 1 - 3pm. Meet at Lake Alexander at 12 midday for lunch first (optional). BYO picnic or pre-order from FoodPath (extra cost)
Price: $12 ch (3 - 15yrs), $18 ad, Ch under 3 FREE.
To book contact us - from the website, email info@foodpath or ring 0419 617 021
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, August 5, 2012
Our next preserving class is scheduled for Sun 19 Aug, 10am - 1pm. These are always fun and you go away confident that you can bottle your own fruit and serve to your family and friends. Get some friends and come and join us! Price: $95 -includes a light lunch. Contact us from the website www.foodpath.com.au to enquire or book .
We are excited to be providing a tour for Peppers Craigieburn and The Manor House as part of a Gourmet Traveller food and wine weekend they have coming up on 18/19 Aug weekend. Hope to be able to show our visitors to the Highlands some of our great food and wine growers.
If you are not staying at Craigieburn you can still come on the tour by booking with FoodPath direct
If you are not staying at Craigieburn you can still come on the tour by booking with FoodPath direct
Monday, July 30, 2012
Would you believe there are five trufferies that I am aware of in the Southern Highlands - and we were lucky to visit one today on our first FoodPath Chef's Tour.
We were introduced to Jet the blue heeler who has been trained to find truffles and he demonstrated his skills as we looked on from a distance.
He walked along the line of oak trees, suddenly stopped and scratched in the ground and there it was! He was rewarded with a special pat and a game of ball which he loves.
They smell a bit earthy and pungent and you either love them or you don't. I am a bit fascinated and they are still a novelty because we haven't had many - that's what made today so special!
Mind you we had truffle butter at the Biota M. arket yesterday, truffle shaved on our dinner at Biota Dining last week and then truffle infused Brie today, so we are doing well :)
Our Chef's Tours are not open to the public but are "industry tours" to help our local producers to develop their sales. They will be held on the last Monday of the month. Open to Chef's and anyone working in the food industry. To book contact us from www.foodpath.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.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Great atmosphere at Byron Bay - very casual and friendly and nearly as many coffee shops as Bowral!
Found a seafood restaurant called Fish Heads just near the beach - a well established business that grew out of the original kiosk apparently.
We have been using the app "Urban Spoon" on our smart phones. This has been very helpful for finding places to eat - and we have been writing reviews as we go. All good fun.
You should have seen the wonderful designs that were drawn in the sand with a rake - very beautiful.
Coffs tomorrow and home on Thurs because we have had a conference tour come in while we are away and we have to get organised. Conferences and private groups are becoming our main business for FoodPath these days!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Stayed at Byron Bay last night and Yamba tonight.. heading home now.
Yesterday we drove behind Murwillumbah and came across the "Tropical Fruit World". Very interesting though we missed out on doing their tour of the farm.
Huge range of tropical fruit
We had delicious ice-cream made with chunks of our choice of frozen tropical fruit blended with vanilla ice-cream. A huge range to choose from. I had dragon fruit and custard apple with papaya (see the pic)!
Yesterday we drove behind Murwillumbah and came across the "Tropical Fruit World". Very interesting though we missed out on doing their tour of the farm.
Huge range of tropical fruit
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