CP Picks: These Are the North Coast Festival of Flavour Highlights According to Our Writers
Wondering where lifestyle writers would eat at a food and drink festival? Time to find out.
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Getting out of the city for a weekend is one of our favourite pastimes. Whether it's a beach break, a hinterland escape or a vineyard traipse, we'll take it — so long as there are excellent things to eat and drink, of course.
This winter, parts of regional New South Wales will be hosting incredible food and drink events as part of the North Coast Festival of Flavour from Friday, June 3 till Sunday, June 5 — an ideal excuse for a weekend away if you ask us. To help you select where exactly to head to savour flavours at the festival, we've scoured the program to bring you our top picks. From lavish long lunches to decadent dinners and more, here are our festival favourites worthy of a weekend away this winter.
BITES AND BREWS — Suz Tucker
Mullumbimby is the underrated and somewhat undiscovered gem in the Northern Rivers (which makes me wonder if I should even mention it). But a growing popularity is inevitable because it's got so much going for it — including a genuine originality in its food and booze scene.
Case in point: the Wandana Brewing Co, which, according to its website, is the "the only brewery in the world who plays non-stop music to every beer they make the entire time it's in the tank". Apparently it's because of the way yeast cells respond to sound vibrations. I have no idea if the Wandana brewers are trolling me with this, but I do know their beers are bloody great. At the Bites and Brews event happening on Saturday, June 4, Wandana is pouring a lineup of small batch beers, matched with food from a variety of the area's local producers curated by Table Under A Tree — from cheeses to aged charcuterie — and you'll be guided through each mouthful by the winning hosts.
NOSE TO TAIL BEEF CELEBRATION AT FRIDA'S FIELD —Nik Addams
Growing up, the best family get-togethers were the ones that involved an entire animal slow-roasting over a charcoal spit. I was lucky enough to experience this ritual in my hometown of Melbourne on special occasions, as well as when visiting relatives in Greece and Cyprus. No part of the animal went to waste — the whole thing was there to be enjoyed, and enjoy it we did. And while I don't know that there even is a Greek equivalent of the term 'nose-to-tail', this is an experience I find hard to turn down in any form.
That's why I'm so excited about the Nose to Tail Beef Celebration at Frida's Field, a five-course, nose-to-tail long lunch featuring angus-wagyu beef carefully curated by award-winning chef Ally Waddell happening on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4. The dishes will be paired with sides and accompaniments showcasing fresh seasonal produce from the farm and other local growers, and complemented by local bevs. And with a backdrop of the farm's verdant expanses and the Byron Bay hinterland, al fresco lunches don't get much dreamier than this.
SANCTUS BREWING CO LONG LUNCH — Melanie Colwell
If the hustle and bustle of city life is getting all-consuming, the oft-overlooked yet completely idyllic Clarence Valley region could be just the antidote. The area is home to charming hamlets, picturesque beaches and plenty of walking trails so you can truly feel like you've escaped the rat race. And that feeling will only be amplified when you attend the Sanctus Brewing Co Long Lunch.
Over three hours on Saturday, June 4, the Townsend brewery is hosting a decadent five-course feast — and every dish will be prepared over fire in the venue's outdoor kitchen using fresh local produce. Not only will you get to appreciate what this little pocket of northern NSW has to offer, but you'll also get to do it while sipping on Sanctus' range of handcrafted brews and artisanal spirits.
Ready to plan a weekend away filled with incredible food and drink? For more information on the North Coast Festival of Flavour and to plan your trip, visit the website.
