Burning of the Canes, a Boilermaker Dinner and Hunter legends crowned | Food Bites | Newcastle Herald

Throw in fire twirling, live music and a Mediterranean feast designed by The Verandah Restaurant and you are looking at a great night out for the whole family.

Moorebank Vineyards is hosting Burning of the Canes on Saturday, June 2 as part of the 2018 Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival. It kicks off at 6pm at 150 Palmers Lane, Pokolbin. 

Guests will enjoy a glass of wine on arrival however there will be a range of wines from the aged and new release wine bar, plus you can toast your own marshmallow s’moores. Tickets cost $75 per person and bookings are essential by phoning 4998 7610. Visit moorebankvineyard.com for details. 

The top food-service industry players under the age of 30 have been named by foodservice magazine in the inaugural 30 under 30 awards and Garreth Robbs, Ollie Margan and Josh Gregory made the cut. Congratulations.

Food and wine lovers will be taken back in time to 1864 at a special film event being held at Hunter’s Dream Estate on Saturday, June 30. What is so special about 1864, you ask? It is the year the first Australian cookery, home entertainment and etiquette bible was released: Cookery For The Many as Well as The Upper Ten Thousand.

Guests will arrive at the Rothbury property at 5.30pm for pre-movie drinks and canapes. The film based on the book begins at 6.15pm and dinner will be at 8pm, featuring many of the dishes shown in the film.

Tickets cost $145 per person and the event is limited to 150 places.  For more information and to book, go online to aroundhermitage.com.au.

The inventive folk at 48 Watt Street in Newcastle have come up with a new idea: a Boilermaker Dinner Series.

If you are not familiar with the term boilermaker, it refers to a pairing of beer and US whiskey, served together. 

True North is the first in a new series of Boilermaker Dinners set to take over the venue this winter. Taking place on Saturday, June 16, it will feature whiskey, beer and food inspired by the northern states of America.

Low and slow American barbecue experts, Ray Ray’s Roadhouse, will be plating up a three-course menu with such delights as beer-battered pickles, the Ruben sandwich, mac and cheese, and whiskey cheesecake.

Each dish will be matched with a beer and whiskey pairing from the likes of Brooklyn Brewery, Goose Island Beer Co, Koval Distillery and Tuthilltown Distillery.

Newcastle singer songwriter Ben Leece will provide the soundtrack with his soulful blend of alt-country, Americana, folk and blues.

Tickets are $90 plus a booking fee and include four whiskeys, four beers and a three-course dinner. Tickets are on sale now from oztix.com.au.

Central Bar in Newcastle is hosting a Chilli Week from June 5 to 9. The menu will include scorchers like jalapeno tacos, phaal curry, chilli con carne and dark chocolate chipotle ice-cream.

Asian grocery store Newcastle S-Mart is holding a free dumpling cooking class this Saturday, June 2, 11am to 11.30am. It’s at 290 Main Road, Cardiff.

Doughheads is opening a pop-up store at Charlestown Square on Monday, June 4. 

Flea by the Sea is taking place at The Surf Club, Newcastle Beach, this Sunday, June 3. It is a collaboration between The Kiosk Newcastle Beach and Newcastle Surf Lifesaving Club. A small flea market will be held inside the surf club selling vintage fashion, second-hand books, art and more. Vegan red lentil dahl will be available on the day for $10. Bring your own bowl for a $2 discount.

The 12th annual Hunter Valley Legends & Wine Industry Awards at Ben Ean last week paid homage to those who have contributed significantly to the Hunter Valley’s wine and tourism industries.

The Wine Legend award was presented to Greg Walls, who has been a stalwart of the industry for almost 40 years and founded the Hunter Valley Wine Society in 1975, later evolving the business to Wine Selectors, which delivers Hunter wines to a nationwide membership of more than 200,000.

The Tourism Legend award was presented to Robert and Sally Molines who have been delighting diners in the Hunter Valley for more than 45 years, most recently at their one-hatted restaurant Bistro Molines.

Other award winners on the night were: Winemaker of the Year, Stuart Hordern, Brokenwood Wines; Viticulturist of the Year, Neil Stevens, Glen Oak Wines; Rising Star of the Year, Aaron Mercer, Tamburlaine Wines; Cellar Door of the Year, Margan Wines; and Hunter Valley Wine Industry 2018 Heritage Award, Drayton's Bellevue Wine Label

Some of the best and most creative sausage and burger makers in the business will compete at TAFE NSW Ourimbah campus tomorrow for the annual Sausage King awards. Organised by the Australian Meat Industry Council, the national final will be held in Perth in February 2019.

Hotline Hoagies at The Newcastle Hotel is offering $5 meatball hoagies every Wednesday night throughout June. The catch? You have to dine in and buy a drink at the bar.