Local Aussie food news you need to know: June headlines

Making local Aussie food news in June...

A bumper in-season fresh produce harvest pushes vegetable prices down, Our Cow introduces same-day delivery service, and Australian regulators receive first application to sell lab-grown meat. Three Blue Ducks opens at The Lodge in Bellingen, Queensland announces stellar line up of food festivals and Australia’s favourite local fruit and vegetable shops crowned and named.

From the farm gate…

Sweet and tangy Kanzi apples are currently in season, with this year’s abundant crop enough to keep us crunching well into summer. The Kanzi apples’ unique flavour comes from the variety’s parents – the sweet Gala and the tangy Braeburn. These apples have naturally low GI, are low in fat, offer a source of fibre and are rich in vitamin C and plant polyphenols.

Foodies living in metro Sydney can now order premium, ethical and locally sourced produce from Australia’s fastest growing paddock to plate food delivery business Our Cow, and have it delivered on the same day. Products available include Doonkami Lamb, Gooralie Free Range Pork, Brisbane Valley Farm Direct quail and wild-caught seafood from Queensland fishing co-operative Noosa Junction Seafood. Our Cow also sells cheese, butter, condiments, sauces and rubs as well as pet food. 

Oversupply of fresh produce has seen the cost of vegetables come down significantly in June. Foods including tomatoes, zucchinis and capsicums have experienced a bumper winter season, with supermarkets now fully stocked. But the cost-of-living crisis in Australia means consumer demand for fresh produce is drying up, leaving farmers with a huge oversupply.

Honey Wines Australia, the Meadery specialising in crafting wines made from honey, is thrilled to announce the opening of its cellar door in the scenic region of Broke, nestled within the breathtaking Hunter Valley. The grand opening of the Honey Wines Australia cellar door marks an exciting milestone for the small business and provides an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the world of mead and honey.

Also making local Aussie food news in June, cell-based meat company Vow has officially applied for approval to start selling lab-grown meat in supermarkets. Food Standards Australia New Zealand will consult on the application in August with a decision expected to be handed down in March next year. It comes after two California-based lab-based companies paved the way after getting approval from the US Agriculture Department to sell chicken meat labelled as “cell-cultivated” or “lab-grown”. Singapore has also previously approved the sale of lab-grown chicken meat to consumers.

Hospitality have to…

Three Blue Ducks’ latest outpost at The Lodge Bellingen, on the NSW mid north coast, is now taking reservations and will open Thursday July 13th. Chef and owners Darren Robertson, Mark LaBrooy and Andy Allen, along with Head Chef Julien Vasseur have created a menu highlighting local producers and farmers. Levenvale Farm which grows organic, grass-fed Bello Beef and is also home to The Patch Organics producing organic free-range chickens and vegetables, features. Other local suppliers providing organic produce for the sustainably and ethically driven menu are Promised Land Organics, Coffs Coast Mushrooms, and wild-caught fish from Nautical Wholesale Seafood.

For all you Francophiles out there, Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt’s Monopole in Sydney’s CBD will be celebrating Bastille Day on Friday July 14th and Saturday July 15th, with a set menu of French-inspired dishes. Plus, for the whole month guests will be transported to the Côtes du Jura to sample the super rare wines of cult Jura producer Jean-François Ganevat.

Meantime, the co-owners of the award-winning Bentley Restaurant Group, have also announced they will open King Clarence, a contemporary Asian restaurant in October, located on the corner of King and Clarence Streets in Sydney’s CBD. The 100-seat venue will be an Asian-inspired restaurant with a menu influenced by the cuisines of China, Korea, and Japan. The menu will feature dishes cooked over a custom-built BBQ and grill, and there will also be a large live seafood tank.

Sophisticated Sicilian restaurant Mister Bianco in Kew is serving up a series of truffle events this season. The line-up includes a cooking demo and dinner on July 28th, a dinner event on August 8th and a truffle farm visit on August 20^th. Whether new to truffles or an avid truffle lover, there is something for everyone.

Also making local Aussie food news in June, Lankan Filling Station has partnered up with social enterprise Two Good for their Chef of the Month program this July. The program invites top chefs to curate a delicious menu consisting of a toastie, a soup or salad and a sweet treat that is cooked and served at Two Good’s cafe in Darlinghurst in Sydney, and are also available to purchase through its catering service. All proceeds from the sales will help at-risk women affected by domestic violence, homelessness and trauma find employment. Lankan Filling Station’s menu plays on traditional Sri Lankan flavours, which have been reimagined into quick and delicious lunch options.

What’s on…

Queensland takes the prize this month for the biggest food festival line up. Taste Port Douglas returns for its seventh edition from August 10^th, delivering a smorgasbord of culinary masterclasses, signature dinners and unique dining experiences across the idyllic Far North Queensland resort destination. The event brings together an all-star lineup of Australian chefs and hospitality talent with leading local producers and restaurants. Festival tickets are now available to purchase.

Tickets for this year’s Taste Bundaberg Festival go on sale on July 10^th. The annual event promises local food, fantastic flavours, unique insights into the region’s farming industry and culinary experts. Celebrity chefs Colin Fassnidge, Mark Olive and chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs will join local talent to showcase the region through a series of unique events over ten days in August.

Noosa’s signature foodie festival, the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival is set to return in 2024.  After a brief hiatus due to Covid, Tourism Noosa is delighted to announce the festival will return next year from Thursday May 30th to Sunday June 2nd. The popular festival will feature the usual much-loved events including a Long Lunch (in a surprise destination), beachfront events on Noosa’s iconic Main Beach, a plethora of restaurant events in Noosa’s restaurants and the return of the bustling Festival Village.

Also making local Aussie food news in June, That’s Amore Cheese is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year with a fabulous dinner event with some of Melbourne’s top chefs on August 4^th. Guy Grossi, Adam D’Sylva and Darren Purchese will be creating the menu, alongside a That’s Amore Burrata dish to start. There will also be drinks and entertainment. Tickets go on sale on July 6^th but those who are signed up to the That’s Amore newsletter will get early access from July 4^th. 

And the winner is…

Australia’s favourite local fruit and vegetable shops have been announced. The Fresh Markets Australia and the Central Markets Association of Australia’s ‘A better choice!’ Retailer of the Year, People’s Choice Award recognises Australia’s favourite local fruit and vegetable shops as voted by Australian shoppers. And the top three stores nationally are, Arnold’s (Wodonga, VIC) in first place, Adelaide Fresh Fruiterers (Morphett Vale, SA) and Metro Fresh (Findon, SA) in third place.

Entries are now open to dining venues nationwide for the OneMusic ExcellenceAward, as part of the state Restaurant and Catering Awards. The award celebrates the cafes and restaurants who have elevated music to be their premier marketing drawcard. The awards, (one in each state) are open to any venue who puts an interesting spin on music – background music, live music, DJs, however used to make their customer experience more extraordinary.

Also in local food this month…

In June EATIVITY shared new research which shows that daily consumption of avocados can reduce cholesterol levels without causing weight gain or increased body fat. We unveiled some of the best Kiwi brands to pick from as New Zealand food and beverage produce continues to make waves in Australia, and teamed up with Tiktok star Ayeh Manfre who revealed her favourite ways to use up leftovers. We also shared some immunity-boosting egg recipes and profiled sustainable Kiwi brand Upcycled Grain Project.

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