FRONT OF HOUSE The Hunter Culinary Association in partnership with First Creek Wines and Hunter TAFE are seeking applications for The First Creek Front of House Scholarship and The Rising Star Scholarship. Entries close on October 5.
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ASIAN FLAVOURS On September 22, Hamilton’s Gregson Park will be transformed into a Hawker-style Night Food Market with Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Malaysian and fusion food-inspired vans offering everything from yum cha and dumplings to light bulb soda and grilled sweet pastry cones.
WOMEN IN WINE The closing date for entries to the world’s only awards program for women in wine, the Australian Women in Wine Awards, is September 18. And, for the first time, entries can be completed on behalf of someone else.
GOING FOR BROKE Restaurant owner Lisa Margan is a finalist in the Women in Foodservice Awards’ “Professional Leadership in Foodservice” category. The winners will be announced on September 12.
LIVE SMARTER The Kitchen Zone is a popular part of the annual Living Smart Festival, which this year will be held at Speers Point Park on September 22, 8am to 2pm. At 9am The Sourdough Baker will present a one-hour session – Sourdough 101 – and give away 30 sourdough starters to the first 30 participants. At 10.30am you can learn how to make your own garden fertiliser, chook food, stock and soup, and at 11.30am Jimmy Kerr of Nana Kerr’s Organics presents Organics On A Budget. At 12.30pm the Wholefood Family will host a demonstration on wild sodas, fermentation and sauerkraut.
THE VAULT
Pepper Tree Wines last weekend unlocked new tasting space The Vault. Formerly Contango Cafe, the space has been sensitively re-designed as a venue to promote Pepper Tree’s single vineyard wines. Visitors can enjoy a tasting of up to six wines in a bracket or choose their own bespoke tasting including Pepper Tree’s rarer museum wines as well as their super premium wines paired with cheese and olives. Using the Coravin pouring system, you can look at three vintages of the same wine to see how well some of your favourite Pepper Tree wines age. The Vault’s doors are open seven days a week at Pepper Tree Wines’ Halls Road cellar door.
ENZO COTTAGE OPENS
You might be familiar with Enzo’s Cafe on Broke Road, Pokolbin? Now there’s Enzo Cottage to consider. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom sandstone abode is located on the Hermitage Road wine and food trail close to cellar doors, restaurants, The Vintage golf course and other attractions. As a special launch offer, book a two-night stay for up to eight guests and receive an additional night free; six bottles of Enzo Pinot Grigio; and a gourmet breakfast hamper.
PARTY AT RESERVE
Inner-city Newcastle wine and fine food hub Reserve is turning five and you’re invited to celebrate the occasion at a lunch or dinner on October 13. The event will host 30 people per session and will showcase 10 wines plus champagne on arrival matched to a five-course French-inspired menu by chef Jake De Luca. Tickets cost $225 per person at reservenewcastle.com.au
Chief winemaker of Mount Pleasant, Adrian Sparks, will be a special guest on the day.
Canapes: Oysters with Finger lime; confit fried chicken with caviar; gougere with parmesan curd. First course: Seafood, foraged sea greens, shellfish bisque. Second course: Rabbit raviolo, mushroom consommé, pickled mushrooms. Third course: Game, cromesqui, hazelnuts, celeriac puree. Fourth course: Beef short rib, pickled walnut, croustillant, sauce perigueux. Fifth course: Dark chocolate delice, raspberry, chocolate soil, buttermilk granita.