The International Food and Wine Festival opened the popular Festival Village on Friday night with a special Meet the Producers evening for local media and restaurant owners.
Hosted by festival founder and director Jim Berardo, the night was a chance for local and national producers to meet and share their produce with local restauranteurs.
Among the producers was Westerly Isbaih of Alto Olives whose Vividus and Robust oils recently won Best in Class at the New York International Olive Oil Competition out of 750 entries.
Westerly, who produces the oil with her father on their NSW farm, describes the awards as the “Oscars” of the olive oil industry and said winning two top awards for their olive oil products was simply amazing.
“The win is absolutely mind blowing,” Westerly said, “It means so much to us to win the awards, especially such an important one.”
Peter Gross of Brisbane’s Black Pearl Epicure returned to the festival for the second year in a row and brought with him a Pyengana Dairy cheddar from Tasmania.
“This cheese is set and wrapped in cloth where it matures for 18 months to two years,” he said. “This is what cheese is all about.”
Alto Olive Oil and Pyengana Dairy cheeses are just two of the numerous products available for tasting at the International Food and Wine Festival Village producer’s hall that is open today and tomorrow from 9am.
Products are also available for purchase and event goers have the opportunity to chat with the producers to find out more about their products.
