Top foodie experiences in Central NSW

Rediscover natural foods, forage in the forest and taste bush tucker in Central NSW with new food trails, events and farm tours in 2021. Orange has launched Country Food Trails and The Orange Wild Weekend, Parkes’ Outback Lamb is offering farm tours and Oberon’s Field to Forest Festival is a mushroom forager’s delight. And that’s just for starters.

Country Food Trails

For an epicurean adventure in Orange, new Country Food Trails offers small, private tours to farms, breweries and wineries, with a focus on Indigenous bush tucker and history. There are private driving or walking tours, including a three-hour Tasting Trail, the Ale Trail or the Farm Trail. Local Orange host Nicole Farrell shares her passion and knowledge, and goes off the beaten path in this renowned foodie hotspot.

A wild weekend in Orange

This autumn, The Orange Wild Weekend is held over three days and features bushwalks, producers, foragers, conservationists and chefs inspired by local Mount Canobolas’ natural food and animals. Dine at Millthorpe’s Tonic or Sisters’ Rock Restaurant, wine-taste at the Strawhouse and learn to make a tablescape. Hosted by Ali Shillington of Lokale Blumen, dates are March 19 to 21 and April 16 to 18.

Orange Food Week

From April 9 to 18, Orange Food Week is celebrating 30 years as Australia’s longest running regional food festival, with six signature events and more than 90 satellite events hosted at local restaurants and cellar doors. There’s the Sampson Street Long Lunch with some of Orange’s gastronomic icons, meet the producer workshops and a producer market and brunch, all in a COVID-safe format.

A Table of 10

Orange-based Spanish chef Ruben Lopez has launched A Table of 10, a special dining or cooking class experience which celebrates his Spanish heritage through Australian food. Designed for 10 people, the mobile catering business brings the smells, tastes and flavours of Spain to your venue or accommodation, with tapas, paella, dessert and more.

A platter fit for a goddess

In Canowindra, the ethical “bush goddess” Pennie Scott from The Cook and the Wino is offering The Bush Goddess Platter – a grazing plate at the beautiful Rosnay Organic Cellar Door with Rosnay olives, figs, stone fruit, edible flowers and local seasonal goodies curated by Scott and matched with local wines.

Outback Lamb farm tours

Outside Parkes, join Outback Lamb‘s new farm tours for a pure slice of Australiana – an educational three-hour tour of beautiful Westpoint, a 5000-hectare family-run farm. Learn about Fiona and Bill Aveyard’s sustainable farming philosophy as they now supply lamb to boutique butchers in Sydney, see seasonal activities in action and enjoy some homegrown, delicious Aussie lamb for lunch. Who knows? You might even get to try one of Outback Lamb’s famous lamb sausage rolls or pies.

Oberon Field to Forest Festival

Pack an empty basket and head to Oberon’s Field to Forest Festival throughout April. A month of foodie events includes wild mushroom foraging tours with Detour Adventures and forage training workshops and edible adventures with Diego Bonetto. Join a 4WD Fish and Forage tour for trout in the Duckmaloi River, shop at the Oberon and Tarana Markets and enjoy open days at Mayfield Garden and Gairloch Garden.

A taste of Italy in the heart of country NSW

In Blayney’s historic village of Carcoar, Antica Australis, a new Italian slow food restaurant housed in a recently restored heritage building, was just awarded a Chef’s Hat in the 2021 Good Food Guide Awards. The locanda (a local, casual dining establishment) is bringing a little of the soul of rural Italy to the heart of regional Australia.

Teeming with fantastic restaurants and food experiences, producers, bakers and makers, your palate will enjoy every part of your visit to Central NSW. You can unearth your Central NSW experience at visitcentralnsw.com.au