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Tasting of the Hastings 2010

For a gourmet journey around Port Macquarie’s extraordinary locations and attractions, the region’s annual food and wine festival, The Holiday Coast Credit Union Tastings of the Hastings, is on this October.

For a gourmet journey around Port Macquarie’s extraordinary locations and attractions, the region’s annual food and wine festival, The Holiday Coast Credit Union Tastings of the Hastings, is on this October.

The main event, The Holiday Coast Credit Union Tastings of the Hastings Food and Wine Festival on Sunday 24 October, will feature more than 60 food and wine exhibitors, The Country Energy Cooking Demonstration Arena, live entertainment, children’s activities and all the fun of the fair for people who enjoy good food and a great day out.

More than 7,000 patrons are expected to eagerly sip, supp and sample the diverse range of products from throughout the Mid North Coast food bowl.

The venue is the Port Macquarie Race Course from 10am to 3pm, and entry is by gold coin donation.

The 2010 Holiday Coast Credit Union Tastings of the Hastings is a premier Mid North Coast food and wine event showcasing the best of fresh, seasonal local produce – value added product, wine, and beer enhanced with local specialties prepared by a growing band of leading local chefs.

As it enters its eighth successful year, The Holiday Coast Credit Union Tastings of the Hastings offers new displays and amusements for children and adults, an eclectic range of entertainment for all ages and great consumer prizes to be awarded throughout the day.

The Country Energy Cooking Demonstration Arena is a popular fixture in the food festival program, featuring a line-up of the region’s leading chefs at a series of free demonstrations throughout the day. The entertaining line-up of chefs, wine makers, and oyster farmers are ready to share their trade secrets and favourite recipes, assisted by popular ABC Mid North Coast guest commentators.

A dedicated Hastings Farmers’ Markets will serve up the best fresh, seasonal produce from throughout the Mid North Coast and a growing selection of quality gourmet product made from local produce.

More of the region’s restaurants and cafés join the line up alongside the farmers and food producers. Each will offer for sale a specialty dish made from a selection of local ingredients, continuing the theme of buying and serving fresh and local.

Leading local wineries and two local breweries will also be on show with their new and award winning products. It’s a great opportunity to meet the winemakers and brewers. Wine by the glass or bottle is available for eager foodies to enjoyed on the spot or taken home.

Entertainment will again be focused in the Cassegrain Entertainment Marquee, with cameo performances by an eclectic mix of local entertainers scheduled at other locations throughout the manicured lawns of the race course venue. The entertainment schedule will encourage patrons to stay, relax and enjoy. Increased seating will be available within the race club’s grand stand, in marquees or under the sun. The organisers also encourage people to bring picnic rugs, chairs, sun screen and to wear hats.

“We’ve also increased the variety and quality of children’s entertainment this year,” said coordinator, Sonia Fingleton.

A Camp Quality team will provide dedicated children’s entertainment and games throughout the day, and there are plenty of healthy alternatives including fresh fruits, juices, yoghurts, ice creams and homemade cakes and treats for hungry youngsters.

Lucky patrons will have the opportunity to win generous prizes throughout the day, including a Country Energy electricity voucher, Hastings Farmers’ Markets Hampers and educational packages for aspiring young chefs and farmers.

“It will be a great day out for those who love to eat drink, talk, and dance or simply relax,” said coordinator, Sonia Fingleton.

“For a complete events schedule, as well as some great value accommodation packages to entice visitors to come and experience our food and wine festival, go to: www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au or call the Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre on 1300 303 155.

Proudly Sponsored by: The Holiday Coast Credit Union, Country Energy, Greater Port Macquarie FOCUS, Radio 2MC and Star FM, Southern Cross Ten, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Greater Port Macquarie Tourism and Midwaste Regional Forum, Port Macquarie News, The Port Macquarie Panthers, North Coast Institute of TAFE and Newman Senior Technical College.

For further Media Information, contact: The Coordinator, Sonia Fingleton Phone: (02) 6585 9324 or 0414 376 868

  • grandma gerri

    hi there,
    i am unsure if this is the completely correct place to voice my opinion, but what the heck !

    i’ll start here and if others are not happy then they are able to hit the email reply themselves.

    i went to the TASTINGS on the HASTINGS today and was exceedingly disappointed.

    what is wrong with so many of the the food providers/caterers, even some restaurants in the area,(who admittedly were not in the main there today)

    that makes so many UNABLE to produce a tasty sample or product that a reasonably competent or adventurous cook is able to make at home.

    i find it totally disappointing that IN THE MAIN, unless the LOCAL produced food is asian or rather complicated indian food

    i can produce equally as tasty, frequently a better standard of the food at home.
    for example today i bought a fetta, pumpkin and spinach tart….all wonderful ingredients that i really enjoy
    however,
    there was no tang of wonderful local feta cheese,
    the spinach component was minimal
    and
    overall
    it just tasted of lots of egg and so was bland! bland! bland!.

    which makes me assume that they aim to use as little of the ingredients as possible.
    dear oh dear they are so bland and skint that i asume that the makers do not wish to expose their dire tasting filling to more than the bare necessity………

    my family, who are accustomed to eating a variety of meals would have been totally dismayed and disgusted if i had served it here at home.

    THEN A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY the GOAT meat at booma boers was WONDERFUL, and i am not at all surprised he had nearly sold out around 11 o’clock ish;

    they were providing tasty ,interesting produce which is what i had assumed the whole expo would be about.

    ALSO the GENEROUS honey man from the kempsey area was wonderful AND especially the display of bees; we bought some of his honey comb and he mentioned to some youngsters nearby about using the wax for candles after they had eaten the honey

    and just by the by, the INDIAN VEGETARIAN (no 74 ish) stall lost us as customers by overcharging……for heavens sake………..$1 for a pappadam. GET SERIOUS an entire packet of pappadam costs about or less than $1. ppl know that stalls like that are generally preaching to the converted and that price made it look rather greedy.

    SO, while none of my immediate family are trained chefs, we have been raised on and fed good quality ingredients, culturally diverse dishes, and above all encouraged to understand and appreciate food with TASTE, hence my disappointment today

    i really hope this expo continues but many stall holders, especially hot food providers need to be encouraged to display and provide quality tasty produce that reflects the potential of the area rather than what appears to be run of the mill local junk food .
    cheers
    gerri