Margaret River Gourmet Escape has announced additions to its 2017 program, introducing four new events and chef collaborations, across the four-day food and wine festival set in Western Australia’s southwest region.
The World’s Best Female Chef of 2017, Ana Ros (Hiša Franko), will return to Australia to showcase the flavours of Slovenia at the World Discovery Dinner at Voyager Estate presented by Audi, alongside newly appointed executive chef, Santiago Fernandez. Wine critic, Jancis Robinson OBE, MW (UK) will lead the conversation on the evening, pouring and discussing a selection of wines from Voyager Estate and other Margaret River wineries.
For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to experience an culinary trip by helicopter with WA chef Paul Iskov. A scenic flight over Margaret River culminates in lunch made from foraged and local ingredients, prepared by Iskov and his team from Fervor. Upon landing in a secret, secluded location, guests will be greeted with a cocktail of native foraged ingredients, crafted by mixologist Vijay Mudaliar (Native, Singapore).
Fraser Gallop Estate owners, Nigel and Dorothy Gallop will host The Great Soirée at Fraser Gallop Estate. Melbourne chef and restaurateur, Andrew McConnell will collaborate with local chef Aaron Carr to create a selection of canapés, paired with Fraser Gallop’s multi award-winning Bordeaux-style wines on the 165-acre estate in Wilyabrup. Jo Barrett (Oakridge Wines) will join Matt Stone at the newly opened Amelia Park Winery Restaurant for a special lunch showcasing the region’s finest flavours and locally foraged ingredients. Barrett and Stone will partner with the restaurant’s owners, Blair and Renee Allen for the Regional Flavours lunch.
O Sole Mio will see Michelin-starred chef, Anthony Genovese (Il Pagliaccio, Rome) and George Cooper (Food by the Chef) create a Italian long-table lunch. Guests will dine among the olive grove of Olio Bello, a 130 hectare certified organic property which produces olive oil, and can also tour the grounds and olive-pressing facility, taste the olive oils and enjoy a mini masterclass.
Woodlands Wines will open their barrel room to host Gan Bei, a chinese feast prepared by festival first-timer and Michelin-starred chef, Andrew Wong (A Wong, London) and Andrew Bennett (Lucky Chan’s, Perth).
Located at the Leeuwin Estate Winery, the Gourmet Village will showcase over 120 artisan food, wine and brewing producers over the weekend. New events include ‘Giniversity’s’ intimate gin blending masterclasses from The Margaret River Distilling Company and Lurpak’s hands-on cookery school, while Meat & Livestock Australia will present The Butcher’s Block in association with Food Network, where the stars of ‘Eat Australia’ Andy Allen and Ben Milbourne explore the art of butchery.
Another event in the village, The World’s Best Chefs Table, will see a selection of some of the world’s top chefs take their guests on a culinary journey. Ana Ros, along with returning favourite Alex Atala (D.O.M, Brazil) and Asia’s Best Female Chef May Chow (Little Bao, Hong Kong), will join the seriously impressive line-up of participating chefs, including David Thompson (Nahm, Thailand), Andre Chiang (Restaurant Andre, Singapore) and Ashley Palmer-Watts (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, UK).
