Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge is one of the drawcards for the inaugural South Coast Food & Wine Festival at the Berry Showgrounds from September 13 to 15.
The My Kitchen Rules judge will be at the event on Sunday and is no stranger to working with local producers, educators and up an coming commercial cookery talent in the Shoalhaven.
At the Berry Showground he will provide hot tips to the community on cooking like a chef at home.
The festival program features stallholders, entertainment, masterclasses, demonstrations and foodie experiences
Festival director Sam Tooley said there will be more than 50 stallholders showcasing delicacies from all over the region at the Berry Showgrounds on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Mr Tolley said everything from seafood, cheese, berries and wine will be on offer from local producers.
Highlights include Rick Stein at Bannisters Mollymook, Jim Wild Oysters, The Treat Factory, Cupitt's, Unicorn Cheese, Wild Ginger, Southern Highlands Brewing and Coolangatta Estate.
On the main stage Nowra Farmers Market will host cooking demonstrations and interviews with leading chefs and producers. There will also be seaweed and aquaculture demonstrations.
Olsson's Masterclasses will feature Australian artisan producers and chefs demonstrating their craft and share their trade secrets. They include burger cooking demonstrations from Bad Ass Bernies to crafting a perfect donut at home with Eastwood's Deli and Cooking School.
The South Coast Food & Wine Festival also features a Saturday night banquet with Wild Ginger head chef and owner Kierrin McKnight showing off his award winning skills. He will also showcase local produce with a six course feast style menu complemented by local wines and beers.
Live entertainment includes Happiness is Wealth headlining on Saturday night. On Sunday seven piece Soul Tonic will perform a range of hits from Stevie Wonder to Jamiroqui on the main stage.
General Admission to the festival is $28. VIP tickets are $125 and include entry to the exclusive VIP area.
Food & Wine Festival Program
Show eve - Friday September 13, 2019
Trade & Industry Showcase
- 12.00pm - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - Meet the Producer/Farmer
- 4pm - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - Steering Committee Briefing
- 4.30pm - Shoal Bar, Festival Village - Networking Event for trade, sponsors, exhibitors, media and government.
Day 1 - Saturday September 14, 2019
- 8.00am - Alexandra Street, Berry - Berry Markets
- 11am - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - open general admission
- 11am - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - beverage, tasting and food sampling
- 11.15am - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village starting with a traditional owners Welcome to Country
- 11.30am - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - nose to tail recipes with Brent Strong from Bangalay Restaurant
- 12.00pm - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - VIP Lounge opens
- 12.00pm to 12.40pm - Olsson's Masterclass Micro Dairy Mania: milkshake, cheese, ice-cream - The Pines Dairy, Kel
- 12.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Cool Climate Wines & Organic Wine Production with Michael Bynan & Jeff Aston
- 12.30pm - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - Long Lunch, Berry with Kierrin McKnight, (Wild Ginger) delivering a six course feast menu complemented by local wines and beers
- 1pm to 4pm - Olsson's Estuary Oyster Masterclass plus Beer and Prosecco with Australian Oyster Coast & Cupitt's Winery
- 1.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Biota Dining with Ryan Kovac
- 2.00pm to 2:40pm - Olsson's Masterclass - Traditional Buratta Stretching - Vannella Cheese - Giuseppe Minoia
- 2.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Seaweed & Aquaculture with Dr Pia Winberg
- 3.00pm - 3:40pm - Olsson's Masterclass - Bad Ass Burger Trade Secrets with Bad Ass Bernies' Ioannis Benardos
- 3.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - tea and cocktails with Mark
- 4.00pm - 4:40pm - Olsson's Salt Masterclass - Salt, Sake & Shiraz: the whole salt story with Alex Olsson
- 4.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Perfect Donuts with Kellie Eastwood
- 5.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Happiness is Wealth Performing
- 8.00pm - Festival closes for the day
Day 2 - Sunday September 15, 2019
- 10.00am - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - Open general admission
- 10.00am - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - Beverage Tasting and Food Sampling
- 10.30am - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village coffee and tea with Ian & Mark
- 11.00am - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds - VIP Lounge opens
- 11.30am - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - slow food with Rosie & Marilyn
- 12:00pm to 12:40pm - Pecora Dairy, Michael and Cressida McNamara International award winning cheese tasting
- 12.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Seaweed & Aquaculture with Dr Pia Winberg
- 1.00pm to 1:40pm - Richard Kemp - Treble Chef Slinging Spatulas and Guitars
- 1.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Fruit & Baking with Rowie Dillon
- 2.00pm to 2:40pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Eastwoods Bermagui, Kelly Eastwood bring Kelly's tips and tricks for doughnut perfection
- 2.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Cooking Like a Chef at Home with Colin Fassnidge
- 3.30pm - Nowra Farmers Market on stage at the Festival Village - Soul Tonic Performing
- 3.00pm to 3:40pm - The Hampden Deli's Nick Gardner hosts A Day in The Hampden Deli presentation.
- 5.00pm - Festival Village. Berry Showgrounds festival closes