David Walker, 7, and his family will showcase their Mary Valley farm and nomadic chickens as part of the Noosa International Food & Wine Festival Hinterland Trail event. Source: Supplied
Chickens roam free at the Walker family farm on the Sunshine Coast. Source: Supplied
The Walker family (Clockwise from top left: Kacey, George, Lachlan, 12, David, 7, Abbie, 9) will be showcasing their Mary Valley farm and nomadic chickens as part of the Noosa International Food & Wine Festival Hinterland Trail event. Source: Supplied
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If you’ve set your heart on attending a specific Noosa International Food & Wine Festival event (May 14-17) and haven’t laid down your money yet — it may already be too late. Tickets are rarer than hen’s teeth for Saturday’s ’70s Beach Party & Clam Bake and both Asian food trails have sold out.
You might just be able to squeeze in to Sunday’s repeat of the ’70s clam and beach shenanigans — but the Westpac Wild Food Dinner is another booked-out session. Ditto a Pure Indulgence Caviar lunch on Sunday, Saturday’s fun-sounding Noosa Main Beach seafood lunch and the Champagne Masterclass on the same day.
The good news is there’s still a variety of options left — for those who act fast. Events with tickets available include new seafood trails to Mooloolaba Wharf, and there are a few places up for grabs on the new Hinterland Trail to the Walker family’s picturesque Mary Valley farm, famous for its pasture-raised nomadic chooks sold through Walker Farm Foods.
The hinterland trip includes a lunch cooked by The Long Apron’s Cameron Matthews, Sydney chef Alex Herbert and Marty Boetz of Cooks
Co-op. Kacey Walkeris cheery about the prospect of her family being in the spotlight.
“It’s a massive opportunity — I’m sure we’ll look back in 10 years and say, ‘Noosa came to us’.”
The Walkers are eager to give visitors an authentic taste of ethical farm-life.
“On the tour they’ll be right in the middle of things — they’ll be surrounded by chooks and cows and laying hens,” George Walker says.
“The kids are a big part of farm life so they’ll be around, too,” he says.
Martin Duncanand Kaceyare also corralling local producers, who’ll be providing tour-goers with a taste of their wares and more tales of country living. noosafoodandwine.com.au
BANG UP FOR PIZZA
Suburban favourite Sichuan Bang Bang at Kenmore is about to score a hot new neighbour.
Pizzeria Violetta, a traditional Neapolitan-style pizzeria, is scheduled to slot in beside the funky Chinese specialty spot this month.
Owner of both businesses is Renata Roberts, who’s expecting an imported, hand-built Stefano Ferrara wood-fired oven to be craned in via the roof of the old Wongabel Newspower newsagents this week. “It’s a big sucker — weighs about two-and-a-half tonne and takes up about half the space,” Roberts says.
She’s also snapped up three Italian pizzaioli “straight off the boat”, who know just how to tame the oven’s 400C fierceness.
“It will be open the same hours as Bang Bang — 5pm until late — it’s no bookings and no BYO. We will be doing takeaway.”
Diners can expect a dozen pared-back pizzas, and five “Ottolenghi-style” salads, with a range of $10 stuzzichini (small appetisers) on offer.
“We’ll have just one cocktail, an Aperol spritz, about seven to eight wines and one prosecco,” Roberts says. The pizzeria, named after a character in the opera La Traviata, is just the first step in her expansion plans. Roberts hopes to open a few more places in the western suburbs before too long.
“In Sydney and Melbourne, every single suburb has got great eateries. It’s just not the same here and I really want to change that.”
The hospitality veteran, who’s launched 17 restaurants in Australia and in China, says she branched into pizza because she felt no one was doing them well within a 10km radius. “I love Italian food and there was nowhere I could drive to find a pizza. It’s about meeting a demand,” she said.
Interiors at the 55sqm venue will be unfussy but chic, sporting a mix of designer stools, banquette and booth seating.
TAPPED OUT
Granada Tapas Bar on Melbourne St, South Brisbane, has changed hands and names. It’s now Melbourne St Wine & Tapas. New owners, chef Casey Young and Brad Sowman are ditching the Spanish focus for a more Australian and New Zealand approach. It’s their first hospitality venture.
“We’ve stepped away from the Spanish food,” Young says. “When we bought the business we had to buy the stock, but gradually over the next three months we’ll replace the Spanish wines with Australian and New Zealand and some French wines.”
They’ve engaged Josh Gudgeon (ex-Pig & Whistle) as head chef and by March plan to open for weekend breakfasts as well as lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
The new menu consists mainly of tapas-style dishes ranging from sesame seed soft-shell crab with orange, chilli and mint through to sichuan pepper squid and chermoula-spiced prawns.
There’s also a handful of mains. Former owner-chef David Steedon is taking a break after manning the kitchens for the past five years.
FAST-TRACKING HEALTH
The Pineapple Express, a new healthy eating concept, is due to pull up at Portside, Hamilton, in April. It’s the latest from Leigh Metzeling, of Fortitude Valley’s Capulet and Montague Bar, who’s teamed up with Jonathan Ford and
Tom Sweep of marketing and events company, Department Group and a couple of friends, ChrisWeight and Jaxon Manuel.
“We all work in hospitality, but we’re health freaks behind doors — we have a passion for healthy eating,” Ford says.
“This will be a fusion between healthy treats and raw food — like Paleo cafes, but better.”
They plan to franchise the concept, Ford says.
The fitout will be very clean and modern and comfortable, so you can come and have an acai bowl and hang out.
“We’ll have iPhone chargers and iPads and big bench seating. We want it to become a real social hub at Portside.”
Ben Doolan of FivePointFour, an Eagle Farm company specialising in pre-prepared healthy meal plans, will be consulting.
Pineapple Express (and no, it’s not a homage to the stoner movie of the same) will seat 70-80.
NEWSTEAD POP-UP
Former South Bank stalwart Poppy’s Basket Bakery & Deli is opening in Newstead.
The newly christened Poppy’s Pantry is smaller than the closed Grey St operation and will slot into Mirvac’s Park development on Cunningham St near The Lazy Dog Cafe. Owners Greg and Gayle Fisherhope to be installed by March.
“It will be the same kind of set-up as South Bank — there will be a little deli and a similar menu to Poppy’s Basket, but no bakery,” Fisher says.
“It’s a real family business — my son’s in the kitchen and my daughter runs the front.”
Fisher hopes regulars from 13 years’ trade at South Bank will visit Newstead to check out
the new operation.
fionadonnellybites@gmail.com
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