Slow Food Noosa held its last breakfast for 2015 on Thursday 26 November with special guest celebrity chef Matt Golinski sharing tips for easy entertaining this festive season.
Matt, who is the Food and Culinary Tourism Ambassador for the Gympie Region, said local and seasonal produce was the most important ingredient when putting together a festive menu.
“Start with the fruit and vegetable elements and then work around that,” Matt said.
Matt also said chefs should source their ingredients from local producers who should have the most seasonal fruit and vegetables available for the time of year.
Season vegetables include corn, cucumber, beans, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and button squash with fruit including mangoes, lychees, peaches, cherries, raspberries and blueberries.
Matt put together two easy recipes to beat the heat this Christmas and make entertaining a breeze.
Christmas breakfast
Impress friends and family with an indulgent sweet, tropical breakfast desert.
Cook and blend a pineapple, reduce in palm sugar and vanilla beans until stewy.
Cook tapioca in a separate pot and add the pineapple mix.
Fold through Coyo yoghurt for a creamy finish.
Layer this mix in a glass with diced peaches, papaya and mango tossed through a palm sugar and lime juice syrup and top off with a macadamia and ginger crumble.
Christmas lunch
Cool down on a hot Christmas Day with a cool fish salad.
Cook and flake a locally sourced fish of choice. Add heirloom tomatoes, olives, olive oil, and vinegar for a light and tasty salad that will add sophistication to any Christmas table.
To find out more about Matt’s recipes or for tips on sourcing local food head to Matt’s blog at www.matteatsgympie.com.
Slow Food Noosa will end the year with the annual President’s Dinner to be held at Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant on Tuesday 8 December from 6pm.
The event aims to raise funds to help send local producers and a local chef to attend Terra Madre, the world’s largest food fair, in Italy in 2016.
For bookings phone 5473 5758 or email info@slowfoodnoosa.com.
Slow Food Noosa will resume its monthly breakfasts in February on the last Thursday of each month at Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas.
For more information contact info@slowfoodnoosa.com.
