Remy Tancred loves food and community. Photo: Suze McLeod.

For Sample food festival director Remy Tancred, life in the Byron Bay region is all about community.  She loves to bring the north coast’s finest producers together – lucky for us!  This year’s Sample Festival is the biggest yet, so rev up your tastebuds…

Q: I know you worked in publishing before your moved to the North Coast – what prompted you to start your magazine, The Lennox Wave?

 A: I moved up here because my husband and I were ready to start a family, and when we had children, I felt I still needed a small project to keep my mind occupied while the children were small. The Lennox Wave was perfect because it was – and still is – a monthly publication, and so it was manageable.

Q: I know the Phat Ducks came from a group of you eating out and reviewing local restaurants, but how did you turn it from that into the book, Ate Phat Ducks?

 A: We actually ran out of restaurants to visit in Lennox so we began to venture out of the area. From there, I always had the vision of turning the light-hearted reviews into a book so visitors and locals could receive a little personality along with our real experience of each restaurant.

Q: You obviously love food – hence Sample Food Festival which you’ve been doing for four years now. What do you love most about it?

 A: I love bringing the regions together, and showing off all the amazing produce we have on in area over one day. I love that the public find new restaurants and produce that didn’t existed. It’s exciting.

Q: What will people find at this year’s Sample to tempt their tastebuds?

A: We’ve got several first timer cafes and restaurants this year. No two dishes are the same – so there’s a lot of choice! Organic Oysters are on the menu and I’m sure they’ll be interesting to customers – and there’s lots of amazing desserts as well.

Organic Oysters will be at this year’s Sample Festival.

Q: Obviously community is very important for you – do you think it’s what makes this area special?

 A: Definitely. I love working with the growers and producers in this region – they’re so passionate about their produce and they genuinely love what they do.

Q: Are there any other creative projects in the works Verandah should know about?

 A: Good question…there always is. I’ll get back to you in a few months.

Sample Food Festival is on at Bangalow Showground on Saturday September 13th. This year there will be celebrity guests, $5 and $10 tasting plates, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, kids activities and the Stone & Wood Beer Garden. Entry is free and the festival is open from 8am to 4pm.

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