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WA’s Ultimate Foodie Frenzy Returns this November

Swan Valley Food Gathering
Swan Valley Food Gathering

Western Australia Gourmet Escape will feature fine dining with international, Michelin-starred chefs; casual new wave wine events; masterclasses with culinary experts and live music from well-known artists

This November, culinary leaders from all over the globe will come together for 10 extraordinary days to experience Western Australia Gourmet Escape, a unique celebration of the State’s incredible food, wine and produce. For the first time, the festival will be held in three regions of Western Australia: the Swan Valley, Perth, and the Margaret River.

International culinary superstars including David Chang, Marco Pierre White, Danny Bowien, Amanda Cohen, Pierre Koffmann, Carlo Cracco, Garima Arora, Ivan Brehm, Selassie Atadika and other chefs and wine experts will be in attendance. Some of Australia’s best culinary talent including Alla Wolf-Tasker AM, Jock Zonfrillo, Josh Niland and Seth James will also be showing off their talent in the kitchen.

The newly expanded festival will offer guests a program of over 50 events, with more opportunities than ever to feast, sip, party and discover. The adventure will begin in the Swan Valley where food, music and entertainment are on the menu, followed by exclusive chef collaborations in Perth’s best restaurants. The journey concludes with the Margaret River wine region to celebrate the wine and produce the South West is famous for.

This year, the dancefloor will also be heating up, with the addition of an exciting music program that features chart-topping headliners The Rubens, fresh off their European tour, and indie star, singer-songwriter Fergus James at the new Gourmet Feast in the Valley event in the Swan Valley.

“In 2019 we’re extremely proud to offer the most diverse program yet, showcasing so many global cuisines and experiences in some of Western Australia’s most stunning and unique locations,” Gourmet Escape Event Director Katrina King said.

This year’s Western Australia Gourmet Escape Highlights include:

 

Swan Valley & Perth (8-14 November 2019)

 

Gourmet Feast in the Valley – a new family-friendly food and music event held on the stunning grounds of Sandalford Winery over the festival’s first weekend. Celebrating artisanal produce and authentic culinary experiences, visiting chefs include the first rock star chef Marco Pierre White, hardcore carnivore Jess Pryles and Christian Stevenson aka DJ BBQ.

 

Hands-on Activities and Masterclasses – enjoy locally-focused festival food by some of Perth’s hottest food trucks and revel in the drama of cooking over flame at the Feast Fire Pit presented by Australian Good Meat.

 

Three Exciting Collaboration Dinners – The Swan Valley program features these three dinners:

  • Marco Pierre White on the Past, Present and Future of Food: Presented by Synergy dinner at Sittella Winery (Fri 8 Nov)
  • Low and Slow with Jess Pryles presented by Australian Good Meat (Fri 8 Nov)
  • The Italian Connection Dinner presented by Lilydale with Fico (TAS) and Lamont’s

World Gourmet Symposium (Thursday 14 Nov) will bring together industry leaders and changemakers to discuss topics that impact and shape the culinary world.

 

Margaret River (15-17 November 2019)

 

Dining by Twilight at Margaret River’s Secret Garden presented by Seedlip – this much-loved event will this year feature Amanda Cohen from Dirt Candy in New York, alongside WA chef George Cooper for a vegetable degustation using produce grown on Cooper’s own farm (Sat 16 Nov.)

 

Into the New Africa #1 – Foraging, respect for the land and a deep love of country: South Africa’s Kobus van der Merwe, from The World Restaurant Awards’ Restaurant of the Year 2019 Wolfgat, is heading to Western Australia to prepare an intimate, personal dinner with Paul Iskov of Fervor (Fri 15 Nov.)

 

Into the New Africa #2 – For one night only, two nomadic chefs – Selassie Atadika travels from Ghana to team up with Paul Iskov from Fervor WA, for a cross-continent celebration of wild foods (Sat 16 Nov.)

 

Eating at The Crossroads: Nouri Comes to Vasse Felix – Ivan Brehm pioneers Crossroads Cooking, a culinary practice which reveals the complex web of shared food histories that influence what we eat today, exploring the global story of human connection. He will team up with Vasse Felix’s Brendan Pratt to weave the practice through the menu, paired with wines from the vineyard, a pioneer in their own right (Fri 15 Nov.)

 

Ristorante Cracco at Cape Lodge presented by Singapore Airlines – traditionally reserved for visiting chefs over the festival weekend, the elegant Cape Lodge lakeside restaurant will open its doors for Gourmet Escape attendees to experience a unique collaboration between resident local chef Tony Howell and Milan master Carlo Cracco for one night only (Sat 16 Nov.)

 

Mission Chinese X Chow’s Table presented by Gage Roads Brewing Co. – from the eclectic streets of NYC to the picturesque valleys of Margaret River, this unique partnering will see Mission Chinese mastermind Danny Bowien collaborate with local legend Malcom Chow for a Chinese banquet like no other (Sat 16 Nov.)

 

When Bo.Lan Came To Wise presented by Lilydale – Bo and Dylan from Bo.Lan in Bangkok will bring their traditional Thai cuisine with a fine-dining twist and serve it with unforgettable views and wines at Wise Vineyard Restaurant (Fri 15 Nov.)

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