A Central Highlands flavour was added to this year’s Ekka with the inaugural Farm to Fine Dining Regional Produce Dinner.
The event, hosted by the Central Highlands Development Corporation, featured a Central Highlands-inspired menu and promoted local agricultural produce to 60 invited guests.
“The evening was held at the new and acclaimed Six Acres Restaurant and featured a menu designed by executive chef Francesco Trucco,” CHDC board chair and Central Highlands mayor Kerry Hayes said.
“This restaurant was specifically chosen for the event because it’s located in the Brisbane Showgrounds precinct and with a ‘country meets city spirit’ it already focuses on showcasing the best regional Queensland produce.”
Guests included high-level representatives from the state government, Local Government Association of Queensland, and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, along with investment brokers.
The purpose of the event was to give key decision-makers a new awareness and appreciation of the region’s local produce to help shape and influence their strategic operations in the future.
It featured citrus from 2PH Farms; popping corn from Robert and Danni Ingram’s Avondale property; ancient grain from Southern Cross Agricultural Exports; and emerging business Top End Plantation, which supplied local sunflower honey.
It also featured macadamias from Hinkler Park Plantation, which has recently added the Central Highlands to its portfolio of orchards in Australia and South Africa.
The Emerald expansion will increase Hinkler’s Australian production to a total of 5000ha or approximately four million trees.
Production is expected to reach 20,000 tonnes or one-third of the national crop.
“We even harvested Atlantic potatoes from Cunzolo Farms on the Sunday before the event,” Cr Hayes said. “These potatoes are supplied to most major crisps companies in Australia, and when eating a packet of chips, you have a 30 per cent chance of eating a potato from Cunzolo’s Central Highlands farm.”
The event also showcased staple Central Highlands produce of grass- and grain-fed beef.
“Comiskey Bazadais beef from Capella formed a key component of the entrée, and had only just won the champion carcass in the 70-day class at Ekka, which is a fantastic achievement for a local business,” Cr Hayes said.
Comiskey beef will soon be available in a number of fine dining restaurants and gourmet butchers across Australia.
Cr Hayes noted that Teys Australia had just launched the Central Highlands Farmers brand of grass-fed beef, available in supermarkets throughout Queensland.
“This will ensure families can enjoy Central Highlands beef, some of the best beef in the country, in their own homes.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
