Australian food news: May highlights

29th May 2022 | Eativity editors
Australian food news

Making Australian food news this May, leading Aussie dairy and seafood producers win big at national and state awards, the best of Western Australia heads to Singapore and two of Australian food’s most forward-thinking and innovative couples announce plans for business expansion. In festival news, Vivid shines a light on the best of Sydney food and Manjimup gets a new truffle event. Plus, new research findings on oats and eggs offer a boost to our health and a nationwide survey reveals Australia’s favourite chocolates.

Australian food news: DIAA national dairy awards
Berrys Creek Riverine Blue was the first Australian blue cheese made from buffalo’s milk.

National dairy award winners

Winners of the 2022 DIAA Australian Dairy Product Competition were recently announced in Melbourne. A total of 1032 products from around Australia were entered in 111 classes, with producers vying for trophies and gold and silver medals. The competition is based on technical merit and was judged by 21 dairy industry experts. Some top awards were won by well-established dairy companies that chose to enter for the first time. There were also some very new dairy companies that achieved top accolades. Other awardees were well-known names, having won many times before. The 2022 trophy winners are:

Barambah Organics skim milk: 2022 Most Outstanding Show Exhibit (large-scale producer)

Berrys Creek Riverine Blue: 2022 Most Outstanding Show Exhibit (small-scale producer)

Meredith Dairy: 2022 Most Successful Exhibitor:

Woodside Cheese Wrights, Kris Lloyd Artisan Flower Power: 2022 Most Innovative Product

For a full list of winners, head to diaa.asn.au

Australian food news: 2022 Seafood Excellence Awards
Moxhe dishes up mind-blowing meals made from seafood sourced daily from the market.

2022 Seafood Excellence Awards

Sydney Fish Market revealed the winners of its biennial Seafood Excellence Awards earlier this month. The winners will be put forward as the NSW nominees for the National Seafood Awards taking place in Brisbane this September. Winners include Moxhe, which won Best Seafood Restaurant; Manettas Seafood Market, which won the Seafood Business Award, Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Co-op, which won the NSW Primary Producer Award; and Geoff Blackburn of OceanWatch Australia, who was named Star of the Sea.

Australian Made Week

Australian Made Week Ambassador Adam Liaw is urging consumers to seek out and buy genuine Aussie products bearing the green and gold kangaroo logo to support the country’s makers and growers, as well as safeguard against access and supply issues highlighted by the pandemic. Taking place June 6 to 12, Australian Made Week highlights the makers and growers that are boosting the local economy, particularly in a post-pandemic climate where locally sourced product is more important than ever. “COVID reminded all of us that we need to think and buy local – and move away from reliance on imported goods – if we’re going to have manufacturing self-sufficiency and reliable supply chains,” Liaw says. To learn more and to find genuine Aussie products, go to australianmade.com.au.

Australian food news: Plating Up WA extends to Singapore
The WA government’s Plating Up WA campaign is extending into Singapore for the first time.

Plating Up WA heads to Singapore

Premium Western Australian food and beverages will be on the menu in Singapore in June as part of the annual Plating Up WA campaign. Plating Up WA is an initiative of the state government’s Buy West Eat Best program. This runs for the month of June and showcases dishes that feature WA’s best winter produce, paired with local drinks. For the first time this year, the campaign has been extended internationally into Singapore. Plating Up WA – Singapore Edition will provide a unique opportunity to introduce Singaporean consumers to Western Australian food, tourism and market opportunities.

Australian food news: Saint Peter restaurant to move to new location
The Nilands say they wanted to create “a more expansive and accessible dining experience for our guests.”

A new home for Saint Peter

Josh and Julie Niland have announced that this coming summer, they’ll be taking over the newly renovated Grand National Hotel in Sydney’s Paddington. The venue will also become home to the Niland’s restaurant, Saint Peter. The new restaurant will be housed in an opulent 45 seat dining room crowned with a skylight ceiling. Guests will have a full view of the open kitchen, wood-fired grill and fish charcuterie cabinets. An a la carte menu celebrating Australian seafood will be offered. The new Saint Peter will also be a boutique hotel, which will provide restaurant guests with the chance to extend their experience with a luxurious overnight stay. Saint Peter Oxford Street will close in early 2023.

Feather and Bone opens new store in Waverley
Feather and Bone’s Grant Hilliard and Laura Dalrymple.

Second Feather and Bone to open

Feather and Bone Providore, one of Australia’s most renowned whole animal butchers with a 16-year legacy, has opened a new butchery and shop in the Sydney suburb of Waverley. The new location will be part ethical butchery, with takeaway food and ready-to-eat meals; and part event space for classes, farmer talks and tastings. Feather and Bone offers specialised expertise when it comes to breaking down an animal. It also offers customers advice on cuts of meat while honouring and respecting animals and the work of farmers. The low-waste policy of nose-to-tail use of animals is promoted through their “Put Your Feet Up” ready-made meals. These change depending on the animals available.

Vivid Sydney food on offer
See and taste Sydney in a new light at Vivid.

Lighting up Sydney food

The Rocks is coming to life during Vivid Sydney this year with food creations to spark visitors’ curiosity and imagination. 6HEAD will deliver an ultimate sensory experience through theatrical gastronomy, where patrons will have all five senses stimulated as they embark on a culinary journey. The Rocks Markets will be hosting evenings of tasty treats to keep visitors fuelled up, from pizza and gozleme to gelato, dumplings, crepes and BBQ. Visitors will also be able to fill up with falafels and fresh lamb skewers at Tayim’s outdoor alfresco dining courtyard. And Creperie Suzette will be serving up breakfast Vivid-style throughout the festival, with rainbow bagels and glitter coffees.

New WA truffle festival announced
Truffle hunting at Truffle Hill Wines.

New WA truffle festival announced

Truffle fans rejoice! Despite the annual Truffle Kerfuffle being cancelled this year, there’s still a chance to enjoy the famed fungi in Manjimup. From June 24 to 26, the new Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival will showcase the best local producers and makers with truffle tours, gourmet degustation dinners, dog hunts, farm visits, wine tastings, entertainment and masterclasses. It’s an opportunity to take a unique discovery tour across the Manjimup and Pemberton regions and book truffle-themed experiences at numerous acclaimed venues including Truffle Hill Wines, Hidden River Estate, Ampersand Estates, Tall Timbers Manjimup, Pemberley of Pemberton and Stonebarn Estate.

Australian food news: Hunt and Brew has released Australia's first homegrown cold brew coffee
Hunt and Brew has released Australia’s first homegrown cold brew coffee.

Aussie beans for an Aussie brew

Australian coffee maker Hunt and Brew will be sourcing the beans for its new “Australia” cold brew coffee from Far North Queensland. It’s a move that will make the company one of the largest buyers of Australian-grown coffee beans. The absence of major coffee pests and diseases in Queensland means the reduced need for pesticides and other environmentally unfriendly treatments has led to cleaner, quality coffee beans. Australia consumes more than 37 million kilograms of coffee a year. Despite being such big coffee drinkers, just 600 tonnes of coffee is grown here each year. Hunt and Brew has reached an agreement with Howe Farming Group to source 10 tonnes of local specialty grade Arabica beans annually.

Australian food news: oats may be suitable for the gluten-intolerant
Oats are also rich in beta-glucans, which help to reduce cholesterol levels.

Coeliac cereal: oats could be the answer

Ground-breaking new international research led by Australian scientists has decoded the genome of oats and explains why the cereal could be suitable for most people with coeliac disease and gluten intolerance. The researchers examined why oat products trigger fewer allergies and intolerances compared to other cereals. They discovered that oats have fewer of the proteins that correspond to gluten in wheat, which causes an immune reaction in people with coeliac disease. The findings will also boost Australia’s oat industry by providing new insights into varieties that are more nutritious and resistant to drought and disease.

Eggs are one of the few food sources of vitamin D.
Eggs are one of the few food sources of vitamin D.

Eggs for immunity

Despite our reputation as a sunburnt country, Australia’s vitamin D deficiency rate is among the highest in the world during the winter months. Now, research from Deakin University has shown that eating at least seven eggs a week can help maintain the body’s levels of vitamin D throughout winter. The prevalence of D deficiency increases to 36 percent of Australian adults during the winter months. This means one in three are not obtaining enough vitamin D from the sun or their diet. With lower vitamin D levels, Australians are more prone to flus and respiratory infections, particularly during the flu season.

Australian food news: nation's favourite chocolate revealed
Which chocolate bar rated best?

Australia’s favourite chocolate

Thousands of chocolate lovers have crowned Kinder Bueno Australia’s favourite chocolate bar while classic chocolate brand Cadbury is the country’s favourite chocolate block, according to Canstar Blue’s annual survey. The survey has also revealed that milk chocolate (62%) is Australia’s favourite type of chocolate, followed by dark (29%) and white (9%). But there are some chocolates that Australians would like to see make a comeback. Polly Waffle is the top choice, with 30 percent of survey respondents choosing the long-dormant chocolate; followed by Milo Bars (20%) and White Knights (11%).

Coles rolls out shopping bags made from plastic marine waste
The reusable bags can also be recycled at REDcycle drop off points.

Plastic marine waste shopping bags

Shopping bags made with marine waste and recycled plastic are being rolled out at Coles supermarkets around the country. The bags are made with 80 percent recycled plastic, including 20 percent marine waste plastic. The marine waste plastic is recovered from ocean-feeding waterways and inland areas, primarily within Malaysia. Coles will donate 10 percent from the sale of every Marine Reusable Shopping Bag to support Clean Up Australia’s Buy Recycled program. The bags are available for 25c in all states except WA.

World Bee Day 2022
Bees and other pollinators play an essential role in keeping people and the planet healthy.

Also in Australian food news…

This month, we brought the buzz, highlighting the important work of bees to mark World Bee Day. We also wrapped our laughing gear around some tasty burgers ahead of National Burger Day. We took a look at burgers good, bad and outrageous, plus we shared some appetising burger recipes that’ll make you say, “Ronald who?” Coming up next week, we’ll be examining the bad habits that Aussies have picked up during the pandemic, as well as offering tips on how to reboot your health and wellbeing. And celebrating the best in seasonal Australian food, we’ll also be sharing nutrition and cooking advice on Aussie citrus.

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