City Dines on Flavours of Central Highlands
Posted: 21st Aug
22.07.19
The delectable flavours and exceptional quality of Central Highlands produce have been showcased at a special event in Brisbane.
The fourth annual Farm to Fine Dining Regional Produce Dinner was held last week (16 July) to promote regional produce and agribusiness to 66 influential guests.
Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) General Manager Sandra Hobbs says the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
"Delivering guests this tangible experience of the flavours, textures and aromas of the produce was an incredibly effective way of impressing upon them the diversity and strength of our region and its industries," Ms Hobbs says.
"It was also an opportunity to meet the producers, hear their stories and gain an appreciation for the passion, innovation and hard work they put into their product.
"Just like our previous dinners, guests were blown away by what our region is achieving and delivering in the agricultural space."
Among the attendees were Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner; Department of the Premier and Cabinet Acting Director General Rachel Hunter; and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Director General Dr. Beth Woods. Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind and many senior agribusiness leaders and investors were also guests.
Produce in this year's menu included red radish and sunflower micro greens from 2018 HACKCQ winner and local start-up M.A.D. Greens; beef from NAPCO and the Australian Agricultural Company; free-range dorper lamb from Emerald's Nogoa Dorpers; pork from CQ Golden Pig; sausages from award-winning Fair Dinkum Meats; mandarins from Emerald's 2PH Farms; sorghum by Radicle Seeds; heritage wheat flour grown by Murphy Farming, and Pacific Gold macadamias.
The dinner was held at the award-winning Blackbird Bar and Grill overlooking Brisbane River and the menu was designed by Blackbird chefs Anthony Donaldson and Lyndon Tyers. The menu, which includes producer information, can be found at chdc.com.au.
The evening also marked the launch of the growninthecentralhighlands.com.au platform, a new service which provides a central online register to assist the community find authentic, seasonally-available food and fibre products, and for farmers to showcase their quality produce. This is free resource is provided for Central Highlands producers, consumers and retailers by CHDC and funded by the Local Buying Foundation.
CHDC hosts the Farm to Fine Dining event in partnership with the Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC), and local agribusinesses as part of ongoing work to enhance and expand the local agricultural industry.
"The Central Highlands continues to perform strongly regardless of a dryer than usual climate in recent times," Ms Hobbs says.
"By raising awareness of our agriculture industry and positioning our growers as national and global ambassadors, we can grow future economic opportunity and benefits for the Central Highlands."
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CAPTION: The Central Highlands Farm to Fine Dining event featured caramelised popped Radicle Seeds sorghum, peanuts and Pacific Gold macadamia ice cream sundae with warm sorghum caramel.
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