According to Festival Director Remy Tancred, this year’s Sample Food Festival is promising to be one of the most exciting and entertaining yet. Bangalow is once more playing host to the largest gastronomic gathering in the Byron Shire’s calendar, and it’s all on today…

The 2015 festival welcomes celebrity guest chefs Adriano Zumbo (Zumbo), Luke Hines (The Paleo Way) Clayton Donovan (Jaaning Tree, Nambucca Heads) James Viles (Biota Dining, Bowral) and Steven Snow (Fins, Kingscliff).

The day starts from 8am with fresh food offerings at the Farmer’s Market and then evolves into a feast of food.  Thirty of the region’s best restaurants will offer a $5 and $10 tasting plate which will keep you full all day. . In between plates, wander the marketplace and chat to local producers and designers about their wares. With over 200 exhibitors, there’s plenty of  products, gifts and homewares to discover.

Cooking demonstrations will be abundant from early morning at the highly regarded Northern Rivers Food cooking stage. Kicking off at 8:15am is trainer, celebrity and promoter of healthy living, Luke Hines and his MKR buddy Dan Mulhern. Luke and Dan will demonstrate their favourite breakfast recipes, using produce from the Byron Farmer’s Market. Providing further entertainment is the competitive TAFE NSW North Coast cooking.

Adriano Zumbo of ‘Zumbo’  – famous for his croquembouche towers

Keeping the children entertained is easy at the festival. The well-known Macadamia Castle will bring a host of baby animals for the little ones to pet and feed. And new to the festival this year is the creative cabin This Old Duck, featuring hands-on, imaginative craft ideas. And in the afternoon, keep an eye out for the ever-vibrant Shorty Brown who will wander the arena, making balloons come to life.

To help cleanse the palate over the day, the award winning local brewery Stone & Wood will offer a range of beers, alongside delectable wines from Cloudy Bay and effervescent Moet and Chandon. There will also be plenty of non-alcoholic beverages including Madura Tea, Mount Warning Spring Water and the new Organic Drink Co.

The festival offers visitors the chance to relax, take a plate and a drink, settle on the grass and enjoy the atmosphere, tastes and sounds of the event. Soak up the vibe from midday at the SAE Byron Bay Music stage, where local, professional artists will play a variety of genres including blues and roots, jazz and contemporary tunes. Prior to this, students from the local Mullumbimby High School will entertain guests with their emerging talents. Sample is also thrilled to have former guitarist and songwriter of Powderfinger, Darren Middleton, closing the festival with his acoustic charm from 3pm.

Tickets are $5 per person and children are free. Come and indulge your senses in this culinary, stunningly decadent event on Saturday September 5 from 8am until 4pm. www.samplensw.com

HIGHLIGHTS

Sample Food Festival is the premier food and lifestyle festival for Northern NSW.  The Festival is held in the village of Bangalow, Byron Bay Shire, and is supported by 200 exhibitors comprising local chefs, producers, growers and artisans. Their impressive flavours and bold creative flair attract over 15,000 visitors annually. With the great food comes live music as well as celebrity cooking demonstrations and other evnts. Guests include Adriano Zumbo, James Viles of two-hatted restaurant Biota Dining and musician Darren Middleton (formally from Powderfinger). Saturday September 5th from 8am – 4pm at the Bangalow Showgrounds.

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Sample to your heart’s content at this year’s Sample Food Festival in Bangalow

The fourth annual Sample Food Festival is shaping up to be the biggest one yet according to Sample director Remy Tancred.  The one-day event, held at Bangalow Showground, not far from Byron Bay attracts over 10,000 visitors from all over the country, and this year takes place on Saturday 13 September. Three ticketed events before festival day have just been announced, one evening function in Lismore and two special lunches.

Thursday 11 September:
Come To The Heart

Celebrated Indigenous chef Clayton Donovan visits Lismore for Sample

One of Clayton Donovan’s delicious dishes

Lismore will host celebrated Indigenous chef Clayton Donovan for a food and art networking evening.
Clayton will demonstrate a few of his signature dishes and guest local artists will be attending. The event will be held in the Alley with Canapés and champagne. $20 per person with all proceeds to charity.
Bookings: [email protected]

Friday 12 September:

The Italian Feast –  with Darren Simpson and Alex Herbert
A & I Hall Bangalow from midday
Darren Simpson is known in the country as one of the finest Italian hatted chefs. He is presenter of The Best in Australia (series 1, 2 & 3),  has regular guest appearances on Sunrise and Ready Steady Cook and judges on My Kitchen Rules. Alex Herbert has spent many years in well-known restaurants including her own and now successfully operates her business Bird Cow Fish out of Sydney. She is a Delicious magazine produce award judge and an advocate for farmers and growers all over the country.

The pair will team up with local chefs Gavin Hughes, Sarah Swan, Monique Guterres, Victoria Cosford and the Salumi Australia boys.
Only $75 for several courses including wine and Stone and Wood beer. Book now as places are limited: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

Friday 12 September:

Clean Living Lunch – with guests Luke Hines and Scott Gooding
Under the marquee at Bangalow Showground from midday.

The pair were finalists in last year’s My Kitchen Rules television show.
Since the show they have published their first book,  ‘Clean Living’,  and are regular guest speakers at health forums and conferences.
If you are a Paleo or raw food fanatic, this lunch is for you.
$60 includes 3-course lunch. Bookings are limited. Email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>  to secure your seat.

Sample Food Festival will take place from 8:00am – 4:00pm Saturday 13 September 2014, at the Bangalow Showground. It will featurefood from local restaurants, local produce and farmers market stalls, plus entertainment, cooking demonstrations and children’s activities. Entry is free. More information: www.samplensw.com <https://ww>

This year’s highlights are:
8am Byron Farmers Market Breakfast with Scott & Luke on the Northern Rivers Food Cooking Stage.
10am Alex Herbert on the cooking stage with the Macadamia Society recipe winner.
10:30am Darren Simpson takes on the TAFE students in a ‘ready steady cook’ challenge.

As always, 26 local restaurants will be offering one $5 and one $10 tasting plate and live music will be happening from midday.

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