Ready, steady, glow ...

There are only a few days left before the heavy black curtain that is the night sky comes down on Sydney town. If you're planning to trip the light fantastic at this year's Vivid Festival, you still have a few days left to head to Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay, Martin Place, The Star & Pyrmont as well as Central Park in Chippendale and now Chatswood in the city's north. 

Visitors to the city during the event will find Vivid Sydney installations that add a splash of light and colour to corners of the city that may be otherwise shrouded in darkness or just lacking a bit of brilliance in the wintry months. Following are 10 installations and events dotted around different precincts so you can plot them on the map before venturing to Vivid.

Sydney is every bit as vibrant over winter. Take time out from the trail at Transcendance.  Image: Destination NSW

1. Transcendance @ Martin Place
One of the shining stars of Vivid this year is Transcendance in Martin Place. Here, multimedia artist Joseph Crossley uses light and technology to great effect. Crossley has engineered the computer-driven light show to match with great food at pop-ups such as Porteno, Cantina Movil, Agape Organic, Tsuru, Thievery, Bite Size Delights and gelato world champions, Cow and the Moon. Yes it was a lightbulb moment to include a variety of bevvies from Rocks Brewing Co, Archie Rose Distilling Co. and an incredible showcase of local wines (13 of the 14 NSW wine regions are represented). Opt for a glass of Helm Riesling and a roast pork roll from Porteno. 

From the game of drones to a drum circle, Martin Place is a magnificent meeting of minds.  Image: Destination NSW 

2. Drum Circle and Phase Frames @ Martin Place
Artists Kate and Marty Bevz's also paint Martin Place in luminescent hues with Drum Circle, where you can bash out a rhythm surrounded by a light-filled forest. Nearby Phase Frames marries interactive trippy technology with 1920s' film projection techniques.

The Opera House is transformed into a Living Mural for Vivid 2015.            Image: Destination NSW.

3. Set sail for the Opera House @ Circular Quay

One of the most spectacular places to get your retina twitching has to be Circular Quay where you can watch the sails of the Opera House transform into a Living Mural. Harbour Lights also sees a fleet of boats in synch with the spectrum. Bring an air horn to move swiftly through the crowds.

 

A walk around the cultural hub of Walsh Bay is one of the highlights of the Vivid Festival. Image: Destination NSW. 

4. Harbour Wave and Toy Shadows @ Walsh Bay
Walsh Bay is for those who are looking for a more under-the-radar Vivid experience but don't want to miss out on the illuminations. Highlights include Harbour Wave, a massive, curved transparent wave installation, which appears to break across a wharf, bathing it in blue light. Toy Shadows is also popular with children who enjoy seeing a series of shadows cast onto the wall and triggering the motion sensors, which add sound to the mix. Arclight is another must-see around the corner from Pier One hotel, where you can wind up the night at The Gantry Restaurant and Bar to watch the Harbour Lights show, which involves various boats travelling in and around the harbour.

Lights, cameras, action in Darling Harbour with the Vivid Laser Fountain. Va va voom. Image: Destination NSW

5. Vivid Laser Fountain @ Darling Harbour
Oracle Liquid by Australian artist Glenn Turner bends its knee to new media art while presenting sparkling fountains of light and coloured waterfalls that are choreographed like an audiovisual symphony. The installation took over six months to develop, required 15 crew to install and uses 30,000 litres of seawater per minute, which it blasts across the harbour and into the night sky.

The audience is transported to another planet at Customs House.                 Image: Destination NSW.

6. Enchanted Sydney @ Customs House
The light art projected onto the façade of Customs House is most mesmerising because it tells a story. The grand-scale projections are fitted to the form of the building as it integrates with natural images that remind audiences of the organic nature of the city. It's a visual feast that encourages viewers to see their city in a new light. From the soaring sails of the Opera House to the Mechanised Colour Assemblage that transforms the MCA, this is the beating heart of Vivid.

The Argyle Cut is awash with images from nature during the presentation of Life Story.  Image: Destination NSW

7. Hear from Sir David Attenborough @ The Argyle Cut
Hear the dulcet tones of Sir David Attenborough at 7pm each week night and 6pm on weekends with Life Story, which is based on four years of footage captured for the BBC. The Argyle Cut is filled with flowing imagery of birds, marine and animal life and the voice of Attenborough, who gently reminds us that the greatest source of visual beauty is in nature.

The Italo Dining and Disco Club will be held June 2-7 at Carriageworks.      Image: Supplied.

8. Celebrate everything Italian @ Carriageworks
Explore the spectrum of colour while a DJ tinkers with tunes and fills this cavernous space with rainbows of refracted light. Enjoy a bowl of pasta from pop-ups that include Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta, Fratelli Paradiso, 10 William St and then boogaloo to the tunes laid down by Italian disco legend Beppe Loda.

The street art of indigenous artist Reko Rennie is a highlight of the Vivid Festival at Central Park. Image: Destination NSW

9. Stay streets ahead by sticking to the outskirts @ Chatswood and Central Park
Learn the underwater aquatic story of Norbert and the Nautilus and then set up camp on the Concourse for some refreshments at the night market. If you have little people and live in the north, the light-filled river full of glowing creatures and projections is a great introduction to Vivid and its many hues and views. If you want to stick to the 'skirts and avoid the mosh pit of the more popular precincts, Central Park has free night markets alongside the works of indigenous artist Reko Rennie. Immerse yourself in the experience and then cut loose at the silent disco.

Vivid Ideas curator Jess Scully has pulled together a program that looks to the future.    Image: Destination NSW 

10. Think for yourself @ Vivid Ideas
The many events taking place under the umbrella of Vivid range include experimental talks, exhibitions, parties and happy high-brow happenings to get involved with. From talks on architecture and design that offer transformative views about how to transform the future of cities, to educational talks for the young and young at heart, Vivid Ideas remind us that the festival is about nurturing a free-thinking atmosphere where anything is possible.

Visit www.vividsydney.com for the full Vivid Sydney program. To read more of Carla Grossetti's stories please subscribe to www.carlagrossetti.com

Mum's the word: books for cooks

Does your mum like to cook? Or does she simply enjoy the pleasure of flicking through glossy cookbooks? Here are a few of my favourite cookbooks that will make great gift ideas for Mother's Day. Earn a few extra brownie points and present mum with a book and a dish you've created from it. Aim high with Organum, by Peter Gilmore or keep it simple with Neil Perry's Easy Weekends and whatever you do, don't forget to wash up. She'll be even more smitten with the gift if she is not the one wearing the oven mittens.

For the joy of cooking …  Having Margaret Fulton in her test kitchen made Kate Gibbs the envy of cookbook authors around the country. This is the sort of cookbook that will be passed down through the generations, just like the recipes it contains. Margaret and Me brings the Fulton family's recipes to life by sharing some of the history behind them. With retro baking on the rise, Fulton - who has been nominated by the National Trust as a National Living Treasure - has clearly passed down her love of cooking to her grand-daughter who presents her modern take on comforting classics. Part cookbook, part memoir, the book is a personal account of growing up attached to the apron strings of one of the matriachs of Australian cooking. Nothing says 'I love you' like slow-roasted lamb shoulder or custard-filled profiteroles.
Margaret and Me is published by Murdoch Books ($39.99).


For mums who aim to outdo the neighbours …  
Peter Gilmore is executive chef of the three-hatted Quay restaurant in Sydney, included in S. Pelligrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list five years in a row. In Organum, Gilmore explores the idea of modern Australian cuisine with style and substance in a book that will make lovers of books for cooks purr with pleasure. With its sexy pseudo-suede cover, the book is literally bound to impress and, while many of the dishes sound simple, they are, in fact, complex creations that rely on flavour, texture, technique, aroma and innovation. Test your mettle in the kitchen with pork belly, milk curd, roasted koji, sesame, kombu and smoked pork rib broth. Alternatively, offer your mum a corner to curl up in while she strokes the pages filled with stunning food photography.
Organum by Peter Gilmore is published by Murdoch Books ($100).

For mothers who are partial to a food safari ... 
Enjoy a magic carpet ride around the world, exploring the diverse ingredients of 44 cuisines with more than 400 recipes.  Fans of Maeve O'Meara's TV shows should treat this re-released book like their culinary bible as the TV host and cookbook author takes readers around the globe to visit some of the most vibrant food cultures. In Complete Food Safari, O'Meara will take readers on glorious culinary adventures with dishes such as Peruvian humitas, pork knuckle with potato dumplings, and Hyderabadi chicken, which are just a few of the standouts. If you want to make your mum feel really special, book one of Maeve's magical safaris to Vietnam, the Greek Islands, Sardinia and Corsica.

Complete Food Safari, published by Hardie Grant. ($59.95)

For well-travelled matriachs …  

Same Same But Different presents a range of signature recipes and family classics that all tell a story about Poh Ling Yeow’s life growing up in Australia with Chinese-Malay heritage. The book, which has been shot entirely on location in Poh’s own kitchen, is also a personal account of Poh and the real food influences in her life. Featuring recipes such as mussels with tomato and white wine and spaghetti puttanesca, Same Same But Different is a true reflection of how Australians eat and the way we might whip up a Greek dish one night, Italian another, Japanese the next night. This is for mums who love a table laden with offerings from many nationalities. Menikmati makanan anda! 
Same Same But Different is published by ABC Books ($39.99).

For women who enjoy wielding a pair of tongs ... 

King of the Grill is not just for those new to the art of no-nonsense barbecuing. This bumper collection by Ross Dobson, which draws on culinary influences from around the globe, celebrates that classic Aussie attitude to the barbecue that goes beyond the hiss of fat on the grill and cements this backyard ritual as a social occasion. As well as advice on temperatures and cooking times, techniques and utensils, the book contains recipes that are a step up from snags. If you thrill on the grill, step up to the hotplate and impress your mum with prawn and chorizo skewers, seared tuna with bay leaf and lemon or brined roasted chicken. Mums will approve that vegetables also share the spotlight.
King of the Grill  is published by Murdoch Books ($39.99).

For those with allergies ...
One in 20 children and two in 100 adults in Australia suffer with food allergies. Let Them Eat Good Cake is for Mums who must avoid gluten, dairy, egg and nuts or have someone close to them who fits into that category. The Good Cake Co's Corry Altclass and Nicole Amdur both have family members and close friends who suffer from allergies and struggled to find food that tasted good. Together, the pair have created a recipes that range from baked doughnuts to chocolate and beetroot cake. 'Cause if you're going to eat gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free cake, you want it to taste good, right? An excellent addition to the bookshelves for those that must follow strict diets but don't want to miss out on the occasional guilt-free treat.  Let Them Eat Good Cake is available from www.thegoodcakeco.com.au. 

A book for the hostess with the mostess...  
Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to cook under the command of one of the country's best chefs without the pressure-cooker heat of working in a restaurant kitchen? Sepia is for those who want to take their culinary feats to the next level. Benn is justifiably famous for his restaurant, which won Restaurant of the Year 2015 and was awarded three chef's hats in The Good Food Guide. This book includes 66 of the chef's defining dishes which are based around four degustation menus. As well as testing your technical mastery, the book is an insight into Benn's background and includes stories from the culinary frontline. Experiment with magic elements such as beetroot glass, rhubarb gel and goat's milk foam. Sepia by Martin Benn is published by Murdoch Books ($75). 


Mum's the word for easy entertaining...
Necessity is the mother of invention. Acclaimed chef Neil Perry clearly saw a need for an essential entertaining cookbook with Easy Weekends. If you want to be in the good books, buy this cookbook for mum on Mother's day, which aims to inspire you not just to create meals but shared moments. The book progresses from Friday to Sunday and includes everything from a family stir-fry on a Friday night to lazy Sunday breakfast ideas. It is also the sort of tome that can be used as a blueprint book for those who want to expand the repertoire of dishes they cook for family and friends. It's a guidebook for all occasions.
Easy Weekends is published by Murdoch Books ($39.99).



For mums who plan dinner while enjoying breakfast...
This is a book for well-travelled mums who want to relive the days when they were backpacking through Turkey. Arranged in the form of a typical Turkish eating day, the book by Somer Sivrioglu and David Dale takes readers to the heart of a cuisine that is still evolving to this day. This is a cookbook that has a lot to teach us - from the tradition and diversity of Turkish cuisine to the rituals, myths and folklore that lies behind 3000 years of Anatolian cooking. With more than 140 traditional and modern recipes, the book is for armchair travellers, too, as it was shot on location in Istanbul around Turkey.
Anatolia is published by Murdoch Books ($79.99).

For mums who like to plan ahead... 
Best-selling children's cookery writer Annabel Karmel is the queen of fuss-free tasty recipes for the whole family. In her latest cookbook, Karmel makes mealtimes a cinch with everyday ideas for light meals, snacks and lunch box treats. Those of us in a rut with their repertoire will appreciate the foolproof 'prep ahead' recipes that can be frozen, as well as ideas for leisurely weekend lunches. Favourites include chicken Karmel, nasi goreng and her best-ever banana cake. If you want to totally spoil your mum, take her out to the nearest InterContinental near you and have all the work done for you. Karmel consulted on the InterContinental's Planet Trekkers menu, which is exclusively for children. Annabel's Family Cookbook is published by Random House Australia ($45).

Something your nonna will treasure... 
Luca Lorusso and Vivienne Polak have been very generous in sharing Puglia. You see, the locals have been very protective about sharing cooking secrets from the region nestled in the heel of Ital. But as this beautiful book shows, it's no wonder the Pugliese have been protective about their sharing the food of Puglia. The book is divided into chapters marked antipasti, pasta, pesce e fruitti di mare (fish and seafood), carne, insalate, pane (bread), verdure (vegetables) and dolci e bevande (desserts and drinks). For food-focused travellers, this is the sort of book that will inspire a trip to Italy. It will also open your eyes to a whole new world of Italian cooking. Sharing Puglia is published by Hardie Grant ($49.95).


WIN A PRIZE 
If you’d like to win a copy of Poh Ling Yeow’s book Same Same But Different, simply subscribe to www.carlagrossetti.com and, in 100 words or less, tell me what your signature ‘same same but different’ take on a family classic is. Email entries to carlagrossetti@optusnet.com.au with Same Same But Different in the subject line. Winners will be notified by email.  

Where to take mum on Mother's Day

With Mother's Day less than a week away, this is a guide for all those Last-Minute Larrys and Larissas who want to show their mum they care. Of course, you don't need to spend any money to make your mum feel special - most are chuffed with a handmade card - but if you do want to splash a bit of cash there are a range of eateries that feature special Mother's Day menus to suit most budgets. From high-end hotel restaurants to purveyors of pub grub, the following list of restaurants to take mum to - located in Sydney's north, east, south and west - will demonstrate your devotion.

Outsource Sunday lunch at The Royal Botanical in Leichardt.                            Image: supplied

FOR GREAT PUB GRUB
Nothing says 'I love you' more than the complimentary glass of G.H. Mumm champagne on arrival at The Royal Botanical in Leichardt. Treat mum to a traditional Sunday roast or a martini and manicure package for $25.

Cash in on that prime location at The Collaroy Hotel with a post-brunch walk along the beach.

You can also show your special devotion on the north side of Sydney by taking mum for a walk along Collaroy Beach and surprising her with a brunch booking at the pretty Pelican Pavilion at The Collaroy Hotel. The Mother's Day menu ($35 per adult; $15 per child) includes fresh seasonal fruit, pancakes, chocolate croissants, muffins, bacon and egg sliders, ham and spinach frittata and a potato galette with smoked salmon.

The Forest Lodge Hotel caters to the alt inner-west crowd who now frequent their fave pub with their children.

Inner-westies can make life easy for mum on Mother's Day at the Forest Lodge Hotel, affectionately known as the Flodge. Here, as well as enjoying a complimentary glass of bubbles and a long-stemmed rose, you can kick back and be waited on with the legendary Sunday roast options of lamb shoulder with rosemary potatoes or pork belly with kumara fries, roasted apple and greens and chilli jam ($17).

If it's a casual pub lunch you're after, Northie's Hotel, in Cronulla, has embraced the Mother's Day lunch. Image: supplied.

For those in Sydney's south, Northies Hotel has set up a family portrait photo booth for Mums who want to capture the moment. There will also be a live jazz band, cheese board specials and a free glass of sparkling wine. Children under the age of 12 are kept happy with a special kids' menu and there is a ping pong table for family tournaments.

The Ivanhoe Hotel in Manly is renowned for dishing up top pub grub.

The Ivanhoe Hotel in Manly is another great place to go to avoid the washing up. This is for mums who prefer a casual get-together. A menu featuring classic pub favourites - steaks, seafood, pasta, salad, burgers, pizza and fish and chips - will please everyone in the family especially the mums, who will be treated to chocolates.

The Royal Leichardt 156 Norton St, Leichardt 2040. 02 9569 2638, royalleichardt.com.auThe Collaroy Hotel, 1064 Pittwater Road, Collaroy, 02 9982 3924, collaroyhotel.com.auThe Forest Lodge Hotel, 117 Arundel Street, Glebe. 02 9660 1872, forestlodge.com.au
Northies Hotel, cnr Kingsway & Elouera, Cronulla 02 9523 6866, northieshotel.com.au
The Ivanhoe Hotel, 27 The Corso, Manly, 02 9976 3955, ivanhoehotelmanly.com.au

Pei Modern has created a special Mother's Day menu that will please discerning palates.   Image: supplied.

FOR A LONG LUNCH

Reward mum for all her years of toiling in the kitchen with a booking at Pei Modern. Enjoy the theatre of watching chef Matt Germanchis and team in the open kitchen as they prepare a five course lunch including Holmbrae duck, mulloway, prawns with fermented corn and a delicious black forest to finish. ($110 per person, includes a glass of bubbles for Mum; kids $40.)

Bag the leather banquette at Giro Osteria in Cronulla and linger over a sumptuous set menu. 

Impress your mum on this, the festa della mamma with a set menu at Giro Osteria, in Sydney's south.  Start with a glass of prosecco followed by the chef's selection of salumi and antipasti followed by a traditional Italian Sunday roast of beef with autumnal vegetables for $65 per person. To finish, enjoy mocha tart with mandarin and mascarpone followed by a walk along the beach to Wanda.

Start your Mother's Day extravaganza at the bar at Sake with steamed edamame and a cocktail. Image: supplied.

You can also spoil mum at Sake Restaurant and Bar in The Rocks for an a la carte lunch or dinner along with selections from the extensive wine, cocktail and sake list. Chef Shaun Presland worked for the celebrity Japanese-American chef Nobu Matsuhisa whose influence is evident with dishes such as the kingfish with yuzu soy topped with green jalapeno and coriander or the wagyu beef tartare with fried egg puree and jalapeno chilli. Find a little piece of Japan inside this heritage sandstone building, which has all the ingredients for a great time.

Get mum to glam up for brunch at The Gantry on Mother's Day.                Image: supplied.

The Gantry Sydney brunch will also make mums swoon, especially as it includes unlimited sparkling wine ($99) and French Champagne ($129).  The bountiful brunch-time buffet includes freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters, chilled Queensland prawns served with Marie Rose sauce, local cheeses, Tasmanian smoked salmon and a selection of hot and cold foods.

Ooh la-la ... encourage mum to play dress-ups ahead of the Ananas experience.                   Image: supplied

Forgo crumbs in the bed in favour of indulgent French fare paired with matching desserts and a selection of wine, Champagne and cocktails at Ananas Bar and Brasserie. Channel Manu Fieldel when you order Escargots, Le Pate de Campagne and Les Langoustines off the menu.

Pei Modern, 199 George St, Sydney, NSW 02 9250 3160, peimodern.com.au
Giro Osteria, 3/1 McDonald St, Cronulla, 02 9523 0137, giro-osteria.com.au
Sake Restaurant + Bar, 12 Argyle St, The Rocks, Sydney 02 9529 5656, sakerestaurant.com.au
The Gantry, 11 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay 02 8298 9910, thegantry.com.au
Ananas Bar + Brasserie, 18 Argyle St, The Rocks, Sydney 02 9259 5668, ananas.com.au

Flying Fish Restaurant has one of the most scenic backdrops for a mother's day feast.             Image: supplied

WITH VIEWS TO THRILL
Flying Fish Restaurant wants to treat the city's amazing mums with an indulgent four-course feast priced at $165 per person. Executive chef Stephen Seckold's mum-inspired menu features signatures such as seared tuna, grapefruit, black pepper caramel, crisp pork or Cone Bay barramundi with dahl and spinach with ambarella chutney and a decadent Valrohna chocolate brownie, hot rum espresso mousse, with tonka bean ice cream.

Bring your bathers and do some bombies off the wharf near to the Manly Wharf Hotel.            Image: supplied

You can also treat your mum to harbour views this Mother’s Day at Manly Wharf Hotel. The whole family will enjoy the relentless rhythm of the water hitting the wharf as they tuck into tuna nicoise, slow-braised pork ribs and roasted potato and garlic ravioli. As a special treat, every mum enjoys a complimentary glass of sparkling when purchasing a main meal.

Eastern Suburbites are pleased that Merivale extended its empire into their 'hood.                   Image: supplied

Yes, the Coogee Pavilion is a bit clubby. But who cares? It's got so many niche nooks and is a lot of fun especially when you have children in tow.  Elbow the backpackers out of the way for a game of wall scrabble, commandeer the giant Jenga pit for the pure joy of it and then outsource the cooking and cleaning to one of the many food outlets under the dome-shaped roof. If it's sweeping views you are after, head to the rooftop bar to ooh and aah over sun, sea and sky. Both Coogee Pavilion and Papi Chulo invite guests to add a love-filled note or image on Instagram and tag #merivalemums or add their heart in person to the growing tree to go in the winning for a $50 Merivale gift card.

Jonah's is one of the top spots in Sydney to enjoy food and wine with a view that thrills. Image: supplied.

Jonah's at Palm Beach is another great place to enjoy the soundtrack of the sea. If you can afford to splurge, book a night's accommodation in the boutique hotel so mum can enjoy a lie-in ahead of lunch. The day will still be one to remember with a special $140 feast that includes a glass of Taittinger Champagne and three-course meal. Enjoy the spectacular view while eating some of the freshest seafood in town. Expect big things with executive chef Logan Campbell and head sommelier Luke Collard at the helm.

Enjoy a three-course seasonal lunch at one of Sydney's best beachside locations: The Bucket List. Image: supplied

Forget heart-shaped eggs and lukewarm tea and shout mum to a three-course lunch at The Bucket List, Bondi. The Bucket List is offering three shared courses to enjoy with the family that as well as being budget-friendly will give mum bragging rights on Instagram. Who needs carnations when you can offer mum that view? The $69 per adult feast includes a cold seafood platter, roast chicken with autumn veggies, autumn fruit and hazelnut crumble with passionfruit mascarpone. There is also a more affordable option for kids: $20 for fish and chips and ice cream.

Flying Fish Restaurant + Bar, 19-21 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont. 02 9518 6677, flyingfish.com.auManly Wharf Hotel, Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly 02 9977 1266, manlywharfhotel.com.au 
Jonahs, 69 Bynya Road, Whale Beach, 02 9974 5599, jonahs.com.au
Coogee Pavilion, 169 Dolphin St, Coogee, 02 9240 3000, merivale.com.au/coogeepavilion
Bucket List Bar, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach 02 9365 4122

   

Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month highlights

If my recent jaunt to the Hunter Valley was presented via an Instagram filter, it would be courtesy of the social media site's Earlybird, which bathes everything in honeyed sunshine. The Hunter Valley's food and wine scene is one of the best in the land. But in a region so blessed, there are still a few places that are absolute standouts.

Now, with the region's Wine and Food Month right around the corner, there are more reasons than ever to head to the Hunter. This year's program includes a diverse array of activities that encourage visitors to tack to and fro among vineyards and restaurants that are far more than just local heroes. Following are a few of my favourite Hunter haunts that, as well as being worth a visit year-round, are highlights on this year's HVFWM calendar.

Dine with the Dynamic Duo @ Muse Restaurant

No food pilgrimage to the Hunter Valley would be complete without stopping to worship at the cathedral-sized Muse Restaurant run by husband-and-wife team Troy and Megan Rhoades-Brown. Yes, there is even more of an incentive to visit the restaurant during Hunter Valley Food and Wine Month in June with the Dine with the Dynamic Duo event on June 14 a highlight on the culinary calendar. 

Troy Rhoades-Brown and Gwyn Olson of Briar Ridge Wines team up for Dynamic Duo dinner. Photo: Courtesy of Muse.

 In 2014 Rhoades-Brown was named Young Restaurateur of the Year while Gwyn Olsen, of Briar Ridge Wines won Gourmet Traveller WINE Young Winemaker of the Year at the Gourmet Traveller awards. Together, the pedigreed pair will present a four-course menu designed by Rhoades-Brown and matched with Briar Ridge Wines hand-picked by Olsen for the fixed price of $125 per person. 

Jerusalem artichoke, forest slippery jacks, whipped brie and honeycomb.                    Photo: Courtesy of Muse.

Expect a few sighs from rubbernecking diners as the food arrives. While the cooking bears the hallmarks of Rhoades-Brown's Anglo-French training under Robert Molines, his trademark is to focus on terroir and cook with flair, with dishes so pretty the presentation often belies their substance.

Local partridge, salt-baked beetroot, horseradish and Binnorie goat's cheese.             Photo: Courtesy of Muse.

The menu features sashimi of hiramasa kingfish, Jerusalem artichoke, Malfroy's honeycomb, French brie and hazelnut butter, Hunter Valley partridge with salt-baked beetroot, black fig, Binnorie goat's cheese and the Muse coconut dessert all paired with beauties from Briar Ridge.

Diners dreaming of grand food journeys can Dine with the Dynamic Duo on Sunday June 14 as part of the month-long Hunter Valley Food and Wine Festival.

For bookings, phone 02 4998 6777.

Hello pumpkin... food plucked from the Margan Estate garden with Brokenback range in the background.

The Original 100-Metre Meal @ Margan Restaurant

The Hunter Valley's ascension to culinary stardom was cemented with the arrival of Margan 10 years ago. While wine was at the forefront of Andrew and Lisa Margan's early form in the region - they have been making wine in the district for about two decades - the food is just as celebrated as their efforts on the eco front.

The 100-Metre Margan Meal is a highlight of Hunter Valley Food and Wine Month. 

Sustainability is a core value at Margan where Andrew and Lisa Margan's commitment to the environment is embodied in its food, wine and principles.

Lisa Margan is very hands-on at Margan Estate - from managing front of house to working in the sprawling garden patch. 

On a day-to-day basis, sustainability has woven a fairly heavy thread through the restaurant. But the Margan 100-Metre Meal takes this notion up a notch with its 'farm-to-table' fare that keeps that eco-minded ethos front of mind.

The Margan Autumn garden on a plate - everything on the plate is produced onsite.

Everything for the Margan 100-Metre meal, held daily throughout the month of June, has been grown within 100m of the restaurant in Broke Fordwich, which features 100 hectares of vines, a flock of Suffolk sheep, free-range chickens, an olive grove, serious orchard and a sprawling 4000 sq. m kitchen garden, which supplies about 90 per cent of the restaurant's fruit and vegetables.

As far as sustainability initiatives go, Margan sets the bar incredibly high. Winemaker Andrew Margan says the commitment to protecting the environmental values of the property for future generations ensures they integrate environmental responsibility and accountability into all aspects of its operations.

Margan Estate takes the notion of the 'farm-to-table fare up a notch at the 100-Metre Meal.

"This ethos provides guidance for all decision-making within the business and covers areas such as operations, product selection, preferred suppliers and best practice procedures," says Margan.

This year's menu for the 100-Metre Margan Meal at Margan Estate puts the focus on environmental sustainability with a menu that  features Estate-grown Suffolk lamb served with heirloom garden vegetables and accompanied with a glass of White Label Barbera. The banquet is held in the Barrel Hall which is of course just a short sprint away from the vegetable garden and is just $50 per person.

The 100-Metre Margan Meal features vegetables grown on site.                                          Photo: Courtesy of Margan.

On Sunday June 28 Margan will also host the Salt and Pepe Roadshow which starts by showcasing Pepe Saya butter, Olsson's salt and Margan bread and follows with a five-course degustation menu ($125 per person) served with matching Margan wines.

For bookings, email events@margan.com.au or call 02 6579 1317.

Guests at the food fight will judge the performance of chefs such as Sean McConnell at the 6th Annual Food Fight.

The 6th Annual Food Fight @ Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley

Top-notch chefs will again converge on the Hunter for the sixth annual food fight presented by the Hunter Culinary Association. For hardcore food groupies, being asked to judge which chef's cooking you like better is like being asked to choose a favourite friend ... right in front of them.

Expect Troy Rhoades-Brown, of Muse Dining, to deliver a few upper-cuts with dishes such as this elegant entree. 

Hosted by celebrity chef Matt Kemp, the event will see some of the Hunter's most celebrated chefs take up on a line-up of acclaimed chefs from Canberra and the Southern Highlands.

Ben Willis, of Aubergine in Canberra will put his best foot forward for regional culinary fight.

In the blue corner, we have culinary Hunter warriors Troy Rhoades-Brown (Muse Dining), Michael Robinson (Margan) and Emerson Rodriguez. While in the red corner, James Viles (Biota Dining), Ben Willis (Aubergine) and Sean McConnell (Monster Kitchen and Bar) are more than worthy opponents.

Expect big things from Biota Dining's James Viles, of the Southern Highlands.     Eggs and curds image: Jason Loucas.

Guests at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley event will have the pleasure of sitting in judgement over this clash of the culinary titans charged with creating the best three-course lunch their respective regions have to offer.

In the blue corner... the highly accomplished Hunter gatherer, Troy Rhoades-Brown, of Muse Restaurant.

The sixth annual Food Fight luncheon costs $120 for Hunter Culinary Association members; $160 for non-members, and $70 for apprentice chefs.
To avoid missing out on this clash of the culinary titans, book early and RSVP to Kirsty on mail@hunterculinary.com.au by Friday May 15. To find out more information about the event, visit www.hunterculinary.com.au

James Viles, of Biota Dining, in the Southern Highlands has his game face on ahead of annual food fight.

The Whispering Brook Olive Long Table Lunch @ Whispering Brook

This is the al fresco place to sit and sip during Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month. As the sun casts a flattering glow over the mountains, witness diners biding their time in the sprawling grounds of Whispering Brook discussing the merits of slow food and great wine.

This feast is the sort of event that connects visitors with growers, winemakers and producers.

Watch a happy smile spread across the faces of Susan Frazier and Adam Bell as they introduce their boutique wines and premium olive oils. This is the not the sort of banquet where you must nibble daintily at your food. While this feast is just a tiny taster of the gatherings for gourmands over the month of June, it's the sort of event that makes food and wine more accessible to a wider audience simply by connecting visitors with growers, winemakers and food producers.

Whispering Brook Olive Long Table Lunch will connect you to winemakers, growers and producers.

Again, provenance is duly noted as is a feast designed to befit the backdrop of those beautiful mountains. In terms of great food and wine experience in an idyllic setting, it doesn't get much better than this. The annual long table luncheon features a sumptuous Mediterranean-inspired menu prepared by chef Andrew Wright, a tutored walking tour in the olive grove and a special presentation by Australian Olive Oil show judge Peter Olson who will talk about the amazing properties of extra virgin olive oil.

Take a tour of the Whispering Brook vineyard and learn more about the terroir.

This year's menu includes dishes designed to highlight the quality of extra virgin olive oil and will be complemented with matching Whispering Brook wines. Highlights of the four-course menu include duck confit rillette with Whispering Brook extra virgin olive oil, BBQ octopus and prawns with saffron aioli, braised pepper tart with white anchovies and olives, Moroccan-braised lamb with dukkah and tahini yoghurt and chill olive oil and rum baba with Whispering Brook lemon myrtle olive oil, mint creme fraiche and muscat syrup (at $139 per person).

To book, phone 02 9818 4126 or email info@whispering-brook.com.

The feast is designed to befit the backdrop of the mountains and showcase Whispering Brook wine and olives.

Other standout events include the Going to a Garden Party gig with George Francisco at Circa 1876, the Trust the Chef five-course feast at Twine and the seasonal menu matched with award-winning wines on offer at the Tyrrell's Winemakers Table at Restaurant Botanica. The Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month also includes a range of educational cooking classes such as The Art of Gnocchi at Hermitage Lodge and Pan to Paella at The Verandah in Pokolbin.

Check out the full program for the 2015 Hunter Valley Food and Wine Month.

Carla Grossetti was a guest of Hunter Valley Wine Tourism and the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens.