From May 2 – 4, Langley Park is set to host three days of food-lovers’ heaven as the latest and greatest of Perth’s restaurant scene come together for the inaugural Taste Of Perth festival.
Imagine being able to design your own menu comprised of how ever many dishes you’d like from the city’s most popular eateries – you might choose to start with a selection of fresh-from-the-sea sashimi from Nobu, then chow down on a hearty hunk of kangaroo from Greenhouse before satisfying your sweet tooth with a pannacotta with roasted cocoa and walnut crumble from Lalla Rookh.
This imagination will become reality at the inaugural Taste Of Perth festival, the food finale of the City of Perth’s month-long food celebration, Eat Drink Perth.
Organised by the folks at Brand Events (they own and operate the much-loved Margaret River Gourmet Escape), Taste Of Perth is also the latest addition to the global Taste Festival line-up – a worldwide sensation, the festivals are held in 18 cities around the world all well known for their premium food and wine offerings, including London, Cape Town, Milan, Dubai and Toronto, as well as, of course, Melbourne and Sydney.
Visitors to the Perth incarnation next month can look forward to sampling tasty treats prepared by a selection of the city’s most innovative eateries, each of whom will rustle-up short menus of their key dishes.
From creations from the fine dining end of the spectrum – such as renowned inner-city establishment Print Hall’s Linley Valley pork cheek with beluga lentils, smoked lardo and date – to more unusual offerings – dare to try the fried crickets with a side of mezcal (tequila’s big brother) from hip Mexican joint el Pùblico – it’s degustation dining, but not as you’ve ever experienced before.
Elsewhere you’ll find live cooking demonstrations, interactive cooking classes, expert wine tastings, master classes and plenty of live entertainment. There will even be a special beer hall at Langley Plaza where aficionados in all things brew can bring their crew and indulge in local and imported beers and ciders.
The buzz generating around the event goes beyond the lips of local foodies too –there’s also a palpable sense of excitement about the new event in kitchens across the city.
“Taste Of Perth is something fresh and exciting for Perth people and a chance to work alongside some great chefs,” el Pùblico’s Head Chef Sam Ward says. “We felt like it was a great opportunity to showcase what we do at el Pùblico to a broader audience.”
“It’s exciting for us to get out and spread the flavour of what we do at Print Hall to the broader public,” Print Hall’s Executive Chef Shane Watson agrees. “It’s also nice for the chefs to see daylight every once in a while…”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tasteofperth.com.au.
JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
