Saturday 16 April 2016

Forage 2016

It seems rather incredible that another Forage has come and gone. I've had a happy association with this amazing event for 6 years now. Forage grows from strength to strength every year, it is one of the major events of Orange Food Week each April. It's always a sell out.

From humble beginnings in 2011, Forage has grown year by year. Today there were 1,500 enthusiastic Foragers making the most of lovely autumnal weather and the incredible food and wine on offer.

Loaded up with food and wine tickets
Canapé 1. A lovely fresh start. 

Char Sui Canowindra Pork on Crispy Wonton Salad with
Five Spice Dressing
Highland Heritage Estate
 We Forage through the lovely Central Tablelands.



Canapé 2. Big on taste.

Country Terrine and Toasts with
Pureed Pickled Pears
Michael Manners
Three kangaroos entertained us early on. It's really quite dry and dusty this year. 


 But there are splashes of perfect autumn colour.


The soup station is the first big station where people start to linger. I can never photograph soup in a cup all that well, but the Chinese Carbeen Chicken and Apple Soup was fab. Union Bank Wine Bar.




Intrepid Foragers heading for station 4 and the pies.


Pie- the pie was especially fabulous today. Perfectly flaky pastry and particularly delicious filling.

Wild Mushroom Pie with
Roasted Leeks and Dutch Cream Potatoes
The Agrestic Grocer

Bucolic beauty abounds.


I do love a new variety of fruit. Kanzi apples are delicious! A lovely Gala Braeburn hybrid. 


Main Course- amazing falling apart lamb. 

Slow Cooked Lamb Neck with
Smokey Parmesan Polenta and
Slaw and Maple, Rosemary and Mustard Mop Sauce
Smoking Brothers Catering

I wasn't drinking (although everyone else does...)

There's two or three fabulous local wines
at every station.
Brangayne's Tristan a very popular
accompaniment to lunch. 


Sorbet- this was outstanding.

Hand Pressed Shiraz Sorbet
Vindevie Vineyard


Sadly it was too dark for me to take a decent picture of the fabulous dessert from Edwena Michell Catering- Hazelnut and Brown Sugar Financier with Roasted Figs, Borenore Strawberries and White Chocolate Cream. That cream was amazing. I didn't get to the cheese station this year, but it was another sensational day, with bus loads of merry Foragers heading back into town with memories of another fabulous Forage.

Looking back at previous Forage experiences... it's really fascinating to see both the different foods and wines, and also the fluctuations in the landscape, green and lush some years, browned and dusty other times. 


I can't wait for next year already.

Saturday Snapshot is a wonderful weekly meme
 now hosted by 
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This post is linked to Weekend Cooking
a fabulous weekly meme at BethFishReads

15 comments:

Beth F said...

Oooooh, I'm so glad you shared this event again. I love participating through your words and photos. I probably say this every year, but I sure wish we had something like this around here. What a fabulous day.

Mae Travels said...

This is the first I've heard about this annual event, so reading your post feels a bit like coming into the middle of a movie. It sounds like a wonderful event, though, and your photos are very intriguing, though I have no idea where you were except that kangaroos are definitely a clue about which continent. Eventually might go back and look at your links for more orientation, but I enjoyed the post.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Sandra Nachlinger said...

This looks like a delightful event in a beautiful setting. No wonder it has been so successful!
My Saturday Snapshot post features hiking in Seattle.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

What a wonderful event! I am sitting here, hungry...drooling. LOL.

Enjoy your weekend...and here is MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST

Claudia said...

What a fabulous event! Worth a flight out to go. I especially liked the sound of that wild mushroom pie, and the Crispy Wonton Salad with
Five Spice Dressing, which I want to try and replicate.

Vicki said...

How cool! I wonder if there's anything like this where I live? I'll have to check.

Suey said...

So much fun!

Deb in Hawaii said...

What an incredible event to take part in. I'll have to go back and read your other forage posts. All of the food looked delicious and such a fun way to enjoy it (especially with kangaroos!) ;-)
Aloha--Deb, Kahakai Kitchen

(Diane) bookchickdi said...

What a fun event and I'd love some of that mushroom pie.

Debbie Rodgers said...

What gorgeous scenery! To eat a wild mushroom and leek pie while gazing on that . . . wonderful!

grammajudyb said...

I always enjoy your photo of the Forage event. What great fun. Everything looks delicious!

Carole said...

Those sorbets look dangerous! Cheers from Carole's Chatter!

Ginx Craft said...

That does look a fun event. Beautiful countryside interspersed with delicious food.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

If I ever make it to Australia, I hope I can arrive during this event. Love seeing the autumn colors and kangaroos along with the fabulous food.

Allison said...

I looked back at some of your older posts to help me understand what a Forage Weekend was. Looks fun! I could get into an event that consisted of walking, chatting, and tasting a variety of foods. :-)

PS The title caught my eye, because "forage" is one the vocabulary words my students learned this week.