Patchwork of paddocks provides the backdrop for Scenic Rim’s celebration
From paddock to plate, Scenic Rim Eat Local Month offers something for everyone, including hands-on experiences in Australia's carrot capital. Photo credit: Scenic Rim Eat Local Month.
Against the backdrop of the Scenic Rim’s patchwork of paddocks, the region’s most innovative farmers and flavour creators have stitched together an appetising array of events for Eat Local Month in June.
The region's greatest-ever celebration of paddock-to-plate experiences from 1 June to 2 July showcases the farmers, growers, producers, artisans and chefs behind the quality food and beverages for which the Scenic Rim has won worldwide renown.
The jam-packed Eat Local Month 2023 program features three flavour-filled weekends across the Scenic Rim so locals and visitors alike can make the most of the delicious menu of events in each area, with 9 to 11 June showcasing Boonah, Kalbar, Harrisville, Mount Alford and Roadvale.
The second weekend commences on Friday 9 June with morning and midday farm tours and tastings at Harrisville's Summerland Camels - famous for its Persian feta cheese - followed in the evening by a debut event, Floravescence at the Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Café at Kents Lagoon.
This evening in the flowers will see guests sipping floral-inspired Cauldron Distillery cocktails while enjoying multiple courses prepared by Scenic Rim Food Ambassadors Josh Lopez and Kate Raymont.
The focus is on family fun on Saturday 10 June, beginning with Kalfresh Carrot Day at Kalbar. Showcasing the Scenic Rim as Australia's carrot capital, where some 600 million are harvested each year, the day offers children the chance to walk the paddock, pull carrots from the soil and meet the farmers who put food on the nation's plates.
The inaugural Fermented Food Festival at Summer Land Camels will highlight the health benefits of fermented foods and drinks, with market stalls, informative presentations and live music.
Country hospitality will be at its finest at both the KALBAR-BQ Gourmet Long Table Lunch at the Kalbar School of Arts and Memorial Hall, and dinner at Boonah where guests can eat local with a view at the Vue Restaurant.
Boonah's fifth-generation family farm, Valley Pride Produce, will welcome families at their Come Pick Your Own and Meet the Farmer Day on Sunday 11 June, offering the opportunity to take home the freshest vegetables straight from the paddock.
Lovers of fine food are invited to linger over a leisurely lunch at the Time to Feast event at Kooroomba Vineyards and Lavender Farm at Mount Alford and toast the day's end with a Sunset Cocktail and Canapes Class at Scenic Rim Cooking Classes at Boonah.
Across the weekend, workshops will include Grow With The Farmer, Cook With The Chef at Scenic Rim Mushrooms at Harrisville, while the Elderflower Farm at Kents Lagoon will be showing foodies how to turn edible flowers into culinary creations.
Throughout Eat Local Month, there will be more tours and tastings at Summer Land Camels, cooking classes at Scenic Rim Mushrooms, and floral tea picking, blending and tasting at the Elderflower Farm.
The Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Café will also be hosting a Long Lunch on the Lawn on Sunday 4 June, a Field Kitchen on Wednesday 7 June with Scenic Rim Food Ambassadors Alison Alexander and Caroline Jones and a Progressive Paddock event on Sunday 18 June, which will take guests through a series of paddocks to see what goes into producing great food, with each stop featuring a small dish complemented by a matching drink.
Offering spectacular views of Mount Alford, Scenic Rim Brewery and Café will be hosting its Full to the Rim Lunch on Thursday 22 June, Brunch and Beer Banter on Sunday 25 June and Afternoon Brew Tales on Friday 30 June.
Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the month-long menu of events offered something for everyone, from $5 family fun to lavish gourmet experiences at $299 per person.
"Every taste and budget has been catered for, from indulgent long lunches, flavour-filled dinners and farm gate experiences to food walks, tastings, tours, talks, masterclasses and workshops for all ages, culminating in the Winter Harvest Festival at Aratula on Saturday 1 July," he said.
"Our region's most abundant time of year is perfect for enjoying local produce at its finest against the backdrop of the Scenic Rim's patchwork of paddocks and spectacular natural landscapes."
The full Eat Local Month 2023 program is available to download from the eatlocalmonth.com.au/ website from Thursday 20 April.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Month is proudly presented by Scenic Rim Regional Council, with support from Major Partners Kalfresh Vegetables and Moffatt Fresh Produce, and Supporting Partners Urban Utilities, Community Bank Kalbar and District and Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
The event is also supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.