More top chefs head to WA
Top chefs Heston Blumenthal, Alex Atala, Sat Bains, Rick Stein, Neil Perry and Matt Moran have confirmed they will head to WA for this year's Margaret River Gourmet Escape.
Blumenthal, one of the world's most-respected and well-known chefs whose restaurants are among the best in the world, missed out on attending last year's event after two of his chefs were killed in a car crash in Hong Kong last November.
The chefs will be in Margaret River from November 22 to 24 for Gourmet Escape.
Brazilian chef Atala's restaurant D.O.M. is rated as the sixth-best restaurant in the world, according to the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants list, while Sat Bains' eponymous restaurant is a two Michelin-starred gem in Nottingham. Both chefs visited WA last year for the inaugural Gourmet Escape.
Sat Bains, whose eponymous restaurant is a two Michelin-starred gem in Nottingham, visited WA last year for the inaugural Gourmet Escape.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the event would enable WA's producers to showcase their products.
"Western Australia's food and wine is among the best in the world and now, through Margaret River Gourmet Escape, we’re showcasing it to chefs and foodies from around the globe," Mr Grylls said.
Tourism Minister Kim Hames said this year's event would be bigger and better and include additions to the program.
"Last year’s Margaret River Gourmet Escape was an outstanding success with sell-out crowds and priceless media exposure for the Margaret River region, the State and its premium produce and wine," he said.
"Gourmet Escape has instantly become one of Australia’s premier food and wine events and we expect it will develop into one of the best in the Asia-Pacific region."
A spokesperson for the event said the program would include "a jam-packed three days of beach barbecues, long table lunches set among the vines and new events including a pop-up Rockpool Bar & Grill restaurant with a rock twist, collaboration dinners with an exclusive culinary line-up set in picturesque wineries, an event held in a secret forest location [and] a series of lunch and dinners serving local produce and bush tucker".
Stein will host private masterclasses at Leeuwin Estate using seafood "straight from the Indian Ocean".
"The team from Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill restaurant will cook up a rock and roll menu showcasing a fusion of rotisserie meats, gourmet salads and fine wines," the spokesperson said.
"Held at McHenry Hohnen Winery, this inventive dinner will be supported with live music so guests can eat, drink and dance the night away.
"Acclaimed Australian chefs including Neil Perry and the team from Vasse Felix [will] collaborate in a spectacular feast while guests get up close and personal to Heston Blumenthal with an interactive Q&A."
Tickets will go on sale from July through Ticketek. For more information visit gourmetescape.com.au.
Source: The West Australian, 13 June 2013
