After the success of the inaugural Autumn Graze in 2018, organisation is well under way for the second Autumn Grazing Dinner in Blayney.
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A signature event on the FOOD Week calendar, the dinner this year is being put together by award-winning chef Richard Learmonth.
Hailing from New Zealand and with an extensive background that includes some of Sydney's finest restaurants that includes Bistro Moncur – a French restaurant in Woollahra, and grew to lead teams in highly rated kitchens such as Porteno, Restaurant Pendolino and the Unicorn Hotel.
Mr Learmonth said that he was attracted to the region by its great produce, and for the past year has been head chef at Sisters Rock restaurant at Borrodell.
“I continuously use local produce out at the restaurant so it won’t be that much of a challenge when it comes to creating the menu, because I’m already using it,” he said.
One of the dishes will be pork belly sourced from around Blayney and stuffed with brandied cherries from the orchard at Borrodell.
So successful was last year’s event that organisers are expecting up to 350 visitors who will take part in the 2019 graze.
Mr Learmonth said that organising such a large number of meals takes a lot of preparation and logistics, but it’s much like another event that many of us are familiar with.
“It’s very similar to a wedding in many ways except for the large numbers that we’re hoping to attract,” he said.
Like a wedding, both Carrington Park and the Blayney Community Centre will be decked out with thousands of lights and music will be provided by local musicians throughout the night.
The Autumn Graze will commence in Carrington Park where guests will enjoy some appetisers and local wines before heading to the community centre for the main attraction.
Similar to a wedding in many ways except for the large numbers.
- Richard Learmonth
Teams of volunteers will also be at hand to serve the food and transport the appetisers from the community centre to Carrington Park.
Last year the hospitality students from Blayney High showed their skills by working with the kitchen staff and organisers to bring the food to the long tables that are set up in the centre, a role they will reprise again in 2019.
The Autumn Graze is on Monday, April 8 (tickets $135). Reservations at www.orangefoodweek.com.au.
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Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
