Tag Archives: hampton-food
Countdown is on to 2010 Hampton Food and Arts Festival
The countdown to the 2010 Hampton Food and Arts Festival has begun with just days until the annual celebration of local food, arts and culture kicks off on Sunday 16 th May. The quiet village of just 500 residents will swell to more than 4,000 as visitors from all over South East Queensland converge on Hampton’s Chapman Park to enjoy a day out in the high country. Foodies are well catered for at this year’s Festival. Acclaimed chefs Matt Golinski and Alastair McLeod will showcase the district’s renowned produce in a series of lively cooking demonstrations, while a diverse array of local restaurants, food producers and wineries will offer everything from shiraz to sourdough. The concept of Slow Food will mark a new direction for the Festival. The cooking demonstrations are always popular “Our featured chef Matt Golinski has had a long involvement with the Slow Food movement,” said food co-ordinator Rosemary Jones. “We’re excited about the possibility of launching a Slow Food convivium on the Darling Downs and encourage Festival goers to get involved.” Lovers of fine art will find a range of interesting works exhibited in the Art Marquee, all created by artists living within 50km of Hampton. Sculpture, painting, and photography will all be on display, and a series of demonstrations will be held around the theme “soft textiles”. “The Hampton Festival is an important launching pad for young and emerging artists,” said art co-ordinator Sue Oliver. “We’re proud of our local talent, and want to do everything possible to foster their development.” To this end, the Hampton Art Exhibition is again offering a substantial cash prize, and works will be available for purchase throughout the day. But what would a festival be without music. Jazz singer Grace Knight is this year’s headline act. Grace Knight Tickets for the Saturday concert, “An Evening with Grace Knight”, have sold out but she will also be performing at Sunday’s main event. Knight will be supported by a mix of great musicians including Hopney Moffet, the Jimmy Watts Band and locals the Prettiest Girl in the County and Pretty Ugly, and they can all be seen for the general admission price. The 2010 Hampton Festival promises to be a brilliant day out in a wonderful country setting. Gates open at 9.30am and entry is $10 (under 12’s free). A free bus service will run from Toowoomba and Highfields to Chapman Park courtesy of Bus Queensland Toowoomba. For times and lots of other information check out the Festival website, www.hamptonfestival.com Kerri Seccombe Marketing & Publicity Hampton Food & Arts Festival . Continue reading
Festival prepares to celebrate seasonal food
Preparations are well under way for the 2010 Hampton Food and Arts Festival, with organisers expecting a bumper crowd to share in the tiny village’s annual celebration of seasonal food and local culture. With little more than a month until the event kicks off on Sunday May 16, organising committee chair Kerri Seccombe is more excited than ever about the potential of this year’s event. Pick up your fresh produce and speak with the farmer “Quality, seasonal food will again be the star of the show,” says Kerri, “but this year we’ve recognised that people are more aware than ever about the importance of where their food is grown and how it’s cooked. Worldwide, there’s a trend toward local, sustainably grown food and this year’s Festival will reflect this movement.” Fresh fruit and vegetables sourced from the Hampton district’s famous red soils will be featured in a series of cooking demonstrations by acclaimed Queensland chefs, Matt Golinski and Alistair McLeod. Well known for their television appearances, Golinski and McLeod share a passion for using in-season produce in their recipes, and are expected to keep the crowd entertained with their combination of expertise and lively banter. Chef Matt Golinski is a Festival favourite To further celebrate the local food theme, Matt Golinski will present an introduction to the international Slow Food movement. Kerri Seccombe said that this is a new feature of this year’s Festival. “Matt has a long involvement with the Noosa Slow Food convivium, and we’re excited that he’s agreed to present the Slow Food concept and its principles of growing and eating food that is good clean and fair. We’re hopeful that the 2010 Hampton Festival will see the birth of a High Country Slow Food convivium and will be encouraging Festival goers to express their interest at a special Slow Food display,” said Seccombe. In addition to the food focus, the Hampton Festival will offer plenty for those simply seeking a great day out in the high country. A diverse array of restaurants and wineries will offer freshly cooked meals throughout the day, and two stages of live music, headlined by jazz diva Grace Knight, will keep toes tapping. Kids are well catered for by a newly built playground and children’s entertainment precinct. The 2010 Hampton Food and Arts Festival will be held on Sunday May 16 in Chapman Park, Hampton. Gates open at 9.30am and entry is $10 (under 12’s free). A free bus service will run from Toowoomba and Highfields to Chapman Park courtesy of Bus Queensland Toowoomba, check times and lots of other info at the Festival website, www.hamptonfestival.com. For more information contact Kerri Seccombe, Marketing and Publicity, Hampton Food & Arts Festival on (07) 4697 9066 or info@hamptonfestival.com . Continue reading
