This dish is very simple and takes no time at all to cook so be ready to serve and eat immediately. You need a really hot pan to cook the prawns and squid as fast as possible to keep them juicy and tender. I recommend cooking this outside on the gas burner of the BBQ or with the extraction on the hood full power. It might create a bit of flame so be careful.

200g pasta, freshly cooked

8 x green king prawns, peeled and de-veined with tail attached

1 x squid tube whole if possible, cut the tube into rings and the tentacles into 1-inch pieces

1 x red chilli, thinly sliced

1 x clove garlic, finely sliced

10 x cherry tomatoes, cut in half

50ml passata or crushed tomatoes

Handful of basil

Olive oil

1. Prepare your pasta of choice and have warm on stand-by.

2. Heat a medium to large non-stick frypan until pan is quite hot.

3. Add a decent drizzle of olive oil. Wait for the oil to start smoking and then add the prawns and squid. Give it a quick shake and add the garlic, chilli and tomatoes. Season with salt at this point.

4. Add the passata and basil to the seafood mix and stir gently.

5. Pour the tomato mix over the freshly cooked pasta and serve. Garnish with fresh basil.

Thomas Boyd, head chef at the one-hatted Margan restaurant, 1238 Milbrodale Road, Broke.

The stunning Broke Fordwich region comes to life on April 13 and 14 with the annual A Little Bit of Italy in Broke festival. Spanning 12 venues, it features an abundance of local produce, cooking classes, workshops, demonstrations, vineyard tours and the region's renowned wines.

This premium wine-producing sub-region located in the Hunter Valley is peaceful with a laid-back and welcoming vibe. Visitors are encouraged to chat with growers and makers while sampling wines and produce. Many of the venues are teaming up with local restaurants.

The program of events can be found at italyinbroke.com.au. Some workshops and demonstrations are free, while others charge a fee and require bookings. Transfer buses will run on Saturday and will pick visitors up from a wide range of accommodation in the Cessnock, Rothbury, Lovedale or Pokolbin areas, with shuttle buses running between festival venues over the course of the weekend. Be sure to book these in advance.

Karin Adcock and John Winstanley purchased Pooles Rock Vineyard at Broke in 2016. The Pooles Rock name, synonymous with award-winning chardonnays, was not sold with the property so the couple decided on Winmark Wines.

The winery is taking part in this year's A Little Bit of Italy in Broke - or, as they like to call it, A Little Bit of Italy at Mio Monte (Italian for "my mountain"). All are welcome to enjoy cornetti, cannoli and barista coffee on April 13 and 14, as well as antipasto platters for lunch prepared by Bruno Giagu, of Panino Restaurant & Café in Wollombi, followed by tiramisu and gelato.

Weekender is giving one lucky reader and a friend the opportunity to enjoy two antipasto platters and a bottle of Winmark Chardonnay 2018 at this year's A Little Bit of Italy in Broke festival.

The prize also includes a mid-week escape for two nights at Winmark estate's Rock Cottage with a complimentary bottle of Winmark Chardonnay on arrival. This offer is only available Monday to Thursday in June, July or August and is subject to availability.

To claim this accommodation prize you must collect your voucher from Winmark Wines during the festival.

To enter, send the words "Winmark Wines" to weekenderfreebies@theherald.com.au or text "Winmark Wines'' to 0427 369 610, including your name, address and phone number. Entries close at 9am on Wednesday (10/4/19).