By DARRYN SMITH
THOUSANDS of locals and visitors flooded the gates of the Ginger Factory for the 2015 Ginger Flower and Food Festival on 23 January.
The festival ran over three days showcasing Australia’s largest collection of ornamental ginger, helicionias and a host of local and celebrity chefs and foodies.
Ginger Factory GM Corinne Mikkelsen said this year’s festival had a larger focus on food.
“Initially the Ginger Festival was just flowers. As time progressed people have become really interested in the ‘paddock to plate’ experience,” she said.
“They want to know where the food is coming from, so we have added the food aspect to the festival.”
This year’s festival has attracted chefs such as Matt Golinski, Spirit House head chef Kelly Lord, Outrigger Resort head chef Michael Jenkins, plus horticultural therapist Cath Manuel.
Mr Golinski said it was wonderful to see a lot of great chefs at this year’s festival.
“It’s great to see how many people are turning up to the festival who are really keen to learn about cooking,” he said.
For the green thumbs, one of the Ginger Factory’s main suppliers of ornamental gingers and one of the festival presenters, Maureen Simons of Towen Mount Tropicals said she was impressed by the number of local presenters at the festival.
“A lot of the presenters are local, therefore we are talking about local growing conditions for our plants,” she said.
“People also know the plants we sell here will grow in our sub-tropical conditions.”
