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Ultimate Guide to Brisbane’s Regional Flavours 2016

Regional Flavours is Brisbane’s free, annual food and lifestyle event showcasing some of Queensland’s best regional producers and providores. Held in South Bank Parklands at the edge of the Brisbane River, the festival attracts 85,000 people annually and will be held on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July 2016.

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane
Photo Credit: Supplied

River Quay is South Bank’s dining hub with a lush, green space located on edge of the Brisbane River with views of the city skyline. During the festival, the space will come alive with a myriad of activities involving food, drink and music in celebration of Queensland’s produce.

Here is our guide to the top 10 picks for Regional Flavours including previews of some of the offerings.

Top 10 Picks of Regional Flavours 2016

1. River Quay Restaurants

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane
Photo Credit: Supplied

At River Quay, a number of restaurants will be offering a selection of 2 to 4 dishes that reflect their menu style and feature Queensland produce. Here’s a preview of some of the dishes available, designed to be enjoyed picnic style along with beer and wine offerings.

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane

The Jetty is serving Straddy king prawn taco, avocado, sweet corn, tomato and coriander salsa, a zesty crisp taco that will have you ordering another.

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane

Popolo is offering Crumbed mozzarella with local thyme infused honey, perfect with a glass of wine.

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane

Stokehouse’s Queensland pork belly and black garlic dumplings are not to be missed, especially with the XO sauce that you’ll want to savour to the last drop.

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane

At Cove, there are Chocolate and hazelnut tarts with an irresistible gooey salted caramel sauce.

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane

Alternatively, Aquitaine Brasserie is offering a selection of Chocolate macarons.

2. The Charming Squire at The Hunting Club

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Photo Credit: Supplied

At The Hunting Club, don’t miss the offerings of The Charming Squire, a popular Brisbane brewhouse by James Squire and the Mantle Group.

Here’s a preview of their four dishes, which are also available at their bistro on Friday evening (from 4pm), and from 10am to late on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be beers served at The Hunting Club from four Queensland craft brewers namely Newstead Brewing, Balter, Green Beacon and Four Hearts.

Regional Flavours Brisbane

Mulgowie Lockyer Valley Wood Fired Corn Cobs chipotle butter, parmesan and puffed quinoa

Regional Flavours Brisbane

Mushroom and Truffle Arancini Balls, porcini puree, parmesan and basil

Regional Flavours Brisbane

Darling Downs Beef Croquettes, Turkish almond and tahini dip, watercress, basil oil

The Charming Squire, Brisbane

Texas Smoked Denver Steak Slider with spiced BBQ sauce and corn salsa

Read our review of The Charming Squire here.

3. Demonstrations with Chef & Food Ambassador Alastair McLeod

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Alastair McLeod

Lockyer Valley Food Ambassador and renowned Chef Alastair McLeod will be at the Hunting Club presenting a cooking demonstration using Calotte of beef, a lesser known cut of beef that is usually discarded but oh-so-delicious and tender.

You can also follow him at the Queensland Taste stand where he will be demonstrating various ways to use fresh beetroot.

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Calotte of Beef

At Branell Homestead, Alastair cooked a delicious Calotte of beef with green olive and celery salsa, along with Grilled goats haloumi, roasted beetroot, dukkah and Hasselback potatoes. Here is a teaser to whet the appetite.

Regional Flavours Brisbane

4. Producers Showcase

Much like a farmer’s market, the Producers Showcase stalls will be there all weekend. Drop in for to purchase produce from the farmers and chat with the butchers about their produce. Among the exhibitors are Schulte’s Meat Tavern and Bauer’s Organic Farm from the Lockyer Valley.

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Goods from Schulte’s Meat Tavern

Schulte’s Meat Tavern is an institution and a mecca for meat lovers. The cavernous space is filled with the finest cuts of locally grown meats from beef, lamb pork, chicken including kangaroo, crocodile and rabbit as well cheese. Their Mettwurst, beef Jerky and Beer Sticks are addictive and not to missed.

 

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Bauer’s Organic Farm

Meet Rob Bauer of Bauer’s Organic Farm and learn about his passion and inspirational story of how he started his farming life using chemicals then changed to organic farming over 30 years ago.

The Lockyer Valley Picnic Patch near the Producers Showcase will be serving casual picnic food, designed by Alastair McLeod which includes produce from both Schulte’s Meat Tavern and Bauer’s Organic Farm.

5. Native Food Masterclass with Chef Bryant Wells of Tukka

Renowned for his creativity with native food at Tukka Restaurant in Brisbane’s West End, Executive Chef Bryant Wells will be presenting a native food class at the River Cottage Australia at Epicurious Garden on Sunday 17 July at 10.30am. To get you inspired, read our review of Tukka Restaurant.

Tukka Restaurant, Brisbane
Crocodile Ceviche at Tukka Restaurant

6. Deconstructed High Tea with Executive Chef Peter Iwanczyk

The Sweet Escape Stage will be hosting a Deconstructed High Tea demonstration with Brisbane Marriott Executive Chef Peter Iwanczyk on Saturday 16 July from 10.30-11am. The Brisbane Marriott is renowned for its high tea offering as a signature guest experience and if you have a sweet tooth, this is an event you wouldn’t want to miss.

7. Merlo Coffee Cupping Demonstrations

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane
Merlo Coffee Cupping

Still on the Sweet Escape stage, enjoy Merlo Coffee’s cupping demonstrations on both Saturday and Sunday. It will change your perception of the morning brew. When you’re in need of a pick me up, get your caffeine fix from their pop-up coffee carts outside the EAT-SHOW-TELL stage in The Courier-Mail Piazza.

Merlo Coffee is a Brisbane icon with a story that starts in Tirano, Italy. When Gino Merlo emigrated to Australia in 1958, he brought with him Queensland’s first espresso machine which resulted in the beginning of coffee culture in the city.  The first store opened in Brisbane’s Queen Street in 1992 followed by the impressive roasting house in Fortitude Valley.

8. Queensland Taste

At Queensland Taste, sample your way around Queensland’s produce and wines along with local cheese and pâtés from some of Queensland’s best artisans.

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Blue Cheese by Emmos

You can also attend a series of masterclasses by local experts on the Queensland Taste Stage. Each demonstration lasts for 30 minutes and is free to attend but you need to book a ticket from the ticket booth 1 hour prior to each scheduled session which is allocated on a first come first served basis.

9. River Cottage Australia at Epicurious Garden

Regional Flavours Brisbane
Photo Credit: Supplied

South Bank’s Epicurious Garden is an organic garden with herbs and fruit where you are invited to discover farm-to-fork cooking with Chef Paul West (pictured above) from River Cottage Australia. He will be sharing his tips on eating sustainably, how to get involved in farm to fork mantra at home along with sessions on cheese making, permaculture, fermentation and garden gastronomy by other local experts.

10. Celebrity Chefs and Personalities

Of course, it wouldn’t be a foodie festival without celebrity chefs and interstate guests. Matt Preston, George Colombaris and Gary Mehigan will be on the EAT-SHOW-TELL stage and Maggie Beer, Luke Hines and Hayden Quinn will be giving live demonstrations.

Where to Stay in Brisbane

If you’re travelling to Brisbane or looking for a staycation during Regional Flavours, Brisbane Marriott Hotel is the official event hotel partner. Conveniently located in Brisbane CBD, it is a short trip to South Bank by taxi, CityCat or ferry.

Brisbane Marriott Hotel
Brisbane Marriott Hotel

For stays between 14-18 July 2016, Brisbane Marriott Hotel is offering a special discounted rate of $199 a night if you book before July 1, 2016. Read our review of Brisbane Marriott Hotel here.

Useful Information

Regional Flavours Southbank Brisbane

When:
The Regional Flavours event is held on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July 2016 from 10am until 5pm. The Hunting Club opens from 11am to 8pm each night.

Where:
Regional Flavours is located at South Bank in Brisbane, a short distance away from the CBD.

Getting there:
Drive – Parking is available in the undercover car park on Little Stanley Street or on-street metered parking.
Public Transport – catch a train, bus, CityCat or ferry; or take advantage of the precinct’s CityCycle stations

If you’re travelling from interstate, Brisbane CBD is an easy 20 minute drive from Brisbane Airport.

For more information on Regional Flavours, visit http://regionalflavours.com.au/

Except where indicated, photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.

 Gourmantic travelled to Brisbane as guests of Brisbane Marketing.

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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