Five Noosa chefs are rallying behind local farmers Pete and Dory Seghers of Noosa Reds to help them through challenging times.
Together Andy Wilcox from Peppers Noosa, Matt Golinski from aroMATTic, Andrea Ravezzani from Park & Cove, Shane Bailey from Noosa Boat House, and Glen Barratt from In Pursuit of Pastry, have created a five course menu for a special dinner to celebrate Noosa Reds tomatoes and the dedication of growers.
Matt Golinski said, “We wanted to do something like this that highlights how tough it is as a small producer to survive these days.”
“It’s kind of a reminder for everyone that we need these people in our lives. They make our lives richer and we get to eat better food because they’re out there.”
Pete and Dory of Noosa Reds have been hit hard in recent years, with fungal disease wiping out their tomato crop, followed by floods, drought, and mounting financial pressures on the farm.
“These guys have done so much for all us chefs,” Matt said.
“I thought it wouldn’t take much for me to just call a bunch of chefs who all love them as much as I do and get them on board to come and do a course of the dinner. It’s about making them know that we really appreciate the hard work they put in to give us good products for our restaurants.
“Us chefs have all known each other forever as well and it’s a really good opportunity for us to hang out for a night.”
When farms like Noosa Reds are thriving, so does the local food system.
“In the last year or so we’ve seen places like Cooloola Dairies and Moya Valley Chicken close down,” Matt said.
“It reaches a point where the logistics, the labour, and the general cost of producing food is becoming so hard that places close down around us, and before you know it, it’ll just be massive companies providing all our food and we’ll lose that beautiful local element that we’re lucky to have.
“I think the community will really get behind it and it won’t take long to sell it out.”
Event details:
– 6pm on Wednesday 27 August at Park & Cove at Peppers Noosa.
– 5 course dinner with matching wine.
– Dress in red and toast the best with all profits assisting Noosa Reds.
– $135 per person.
– Limited tickets available. Book online at www.parkandcovenoosa.com.au/whats-on/
