Seven-week Shoalhaven food festival promises an 'experience like no other'

Shoalhaven’s fourth Autumn Celebration of Food festival kicks off in May, showcasing the people behind the region’s places, produce and hospitality venues.

Shoalhaven Food Network president Di Laver, the driving force behind the seven-week festival, said the Autumn Celebration of Food would showcase the faces behind the places, the beautiful plates, produce and establishments that make up hospitality throughout the area.

“We have about 160 members including homegrown heroes, who grew up in the Shoalhaven, went to TAFE in Nowra or Ulladulla, then travelled the world and worked around the nation and they’ve come back here and now are doing amazing things back in the Shoalhaven,” she said.

The Shoalhaven Food Network is a group of creative, connected local food purveyors, growers, producers and hospitality venues. Members host regular food and wine events which are promoted on the network’s website.

Di says the festival is a “culinary extravaganza like no other” and food fans will have a vast range of experiences and venues to discover.

It will feature farm-fresh produce, local wineries, chef demonstrations, live music and entertainment and an artisanal market.

One of the region’s homegrown heroes is Doug Innes-Will, head chef at Ramox Cafe at the Bundanon Art Museum.

The cafe will partner with new First Nations-owned cafe, Blak Cede, to serve a long lunch on Saturday 3 May, that Doug described as a “mash-up” of their two menus.

“From my perspective, it’s really incredible to see how the Shoalhaven Food Network has grown in the area, the amazing work it does, the unity of the community who get together in this celebration,” Doug said.

Grazing at The Growers, on Sunday 4 May, will be a collaboration of local producers and businesses to create a garden party for up to 500 attendees.

Sharon Menezes from The Growers by Ponte said the festival-style event at their large-scale venue next to Worrigee Sports would allow people to roam around the venue and gardens, enjoying food and drinks supplied by Shoalhaven Food Network members.

“We’re strong believers in showcasing these events to adults but also to our children of the region, so we will have beautiful food options and a festival-style day for all family members,” she said.

An event in Milton on Thursday 5 June will see Haley Mees and her team from Mollymook’s Gwylo partner with Aboriginal elder, Uncle Noel.

“We are going to close the restaurant and take our dining experience to his property at the back of Milton and do a long table dinner under the stars,” she said.

“We’ll be cooking with some traditional elements, combining the contemporary and hopefully bringing two cultures together and making a really lovely experience.”

An extra week added to the festival this year will focus on Huskisson and beyond, with a street party on Saturday 14 June and a Battle of the Burgers on Sunday 15 June.

The streets of Huskisson will be alive with music and performances, a long table under a marquee in White Sands Park for communal dining and hospitality venues showcasing their wares.

The Battle of the Burgers, which last year served up 1500 burgers, will be a hotly contested eat-street style event in the grounds of Husky Sports, including music, barefoot bowls and mini golf.

Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White said more than three million people visited the Shoalhaven throughout the year.

“They come for our delicious food experiences, our wineries, our breweries, our distilleries, our cafes, our restaurants and our fresh produce,” she said.

“Our destination marketing foodies campaign helps support year-round jobs for our region.

Shoalhaven Food Network’s Autumn Celebration of Food runs from 1 May to 15 June. Click here to see the full program and booking details.