A Day at the 2011 Perth Good Food and Wine Show

A delight for the senses, the 2011 Perth Good Food and Wine Show is one of the most enjoyable ways for a foodie to spend their weekend. A plethora of delicious wine, local produce and Celebrity chefs keep you entertained and wanting more.

After sampling local products like chilli salt, varieties of Dukkah and oil, pork, popcorn and other tantalising tidbits, I made a beeline for the Celebrity Theatre and caught 3 fabulous shows.

First, the gorgeous and down to Earth Anna Gare cooked up a storm – my favourite dish being the Leek Tarte Tartin. Beautiful caramelisation and structure, this dish is something I would definitely want to try myself. Anna’s initial nervousness was endearing and as she warmed up, I felt like I was just another member of her family. As always, Anna was a pleasure to watch in the kitchen.

Second on the plate was the dynamic duo – Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. Their silly casual nature is interesting to watch because through the Fat Jokes and jovial prods at their peers (Matt Preston, Manu Feildel and Matt Moran to name a few), the Masterchef hosts never fail to impress me with their professional skill and talent. I’ve seen them twice now and there is no doubt I will be back for another serving next year.

The ever suave and debonair Manu Feildel was certainly the dessert to this 3 course helping of Celebrity Gastronomy. Being a sweet tooth, I enjoyed his playful and flirty stage presence as much as the next lady in the audience. A long time fan of his work, I lapped up the opportunity to watch the man at work.  His showmanship, skill, constant double entendre and decadent culinary delights suck you in and hold your attention as long as Manu wills it… a must see for foodies of the X chromosome.

Unfortunately due to schedule clashing, I was unable to see Matt Moran’s session. However if Matt was anything like last year, his professionalism and raw skill are both impressive and a little intimidating. I find that Matt isn’t so much of an entertainer but his cooking speaks for itself. This hardworking Chef has certainly earned his place in the food chain and would be great to see again.

After enjoying the selection of Celebrity Chefs on offer, I thought it would be wise to indulge in the fruit of vineyards labour. The wine, as expected, was delicious and I enjoyed sampling some of WA’s finest. Being a devout Cabernet Merlot fan, I didn’t stray much from my favourite drop – however I enjoyed comparing the subtle nuances between the labels.

Once slightly pickled, I headed to the VIP room and enjoyed a free flow of alcohol and canapés. Furnished in lush couches, ottomans and a big screen tv streaming from the Celebrity Theatre, I felt quite comfortable spending well over 2 hours in this Oasis. Matt, George, Gary and Manu joined the relaxed group of fans shortly after for photos and autographs. It took a little waiting but I did manage to get a few signatures and poses with some of the gents. I was quite proud of myself when I swallowed my nervousness and slipped my Food for Thought business card into Manu and Gary’s kind hands. Curious to see if they have a peek at this humble website…

I truly hope you enjoy the Good Food and Wine Show as much as I have…. counting the minutes until next year.