Culinary feast for Thorpdale

by Nicholas Duck
Thorpdale will be the centre of attention next month when it plays host to a major event in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Taking place on the weekend of November 19 and 20, 'The Village Feast' will see the town transformed into a culinary hub for a weekend thanks to the efforts of expert producers, both local and visiting.
Pop-up food outlets will be a feature, run by a variety of chefs including interstate talent such as Danielle Alvarez (late of Fred's) and Tasmanian author and chef Analiese Gregory. The outlets include a celebration of Gippsland milk with That's Amore and Gippsland Jersey, cakes by Mali Bakes and pub favourites at The Travellers Rest Hotel.
Four unique ticketed events also will be available throughout the weekend, kicking off in Warragul with 'Embla x Hogget Kitchen', a family-style and flame-grilled opening night celebration at Hogget Kitchen on Friday November 18.
The next morning will see a 'Gippsland Farmers' Grazing Brunch' at the Warragul Farmers Market on Saturday November 19, where there will be the freshest breakfast essentials, live acoustic music, storytelling and plenty of excellent coffee to start the day right.
It's then off to Thorpdale for all the excitement of The Village Feast.
Saturday afternoon will see the Thorpdale public hall decked out for 'Provenance, Fire and Wine.' The event will be presented by chef Alejandro Saravia, from the Gippsland-centred Melbourne restaurant Farmer's Daughters and the new regional Victoria-focused restaurant 'Victoria.' Guests will be treated to a five-course menu cooked over a campfire and inspired by Saravia's love of Gippsland with European technique and his Latin American heritage, with wines from Wine Gippsland served by the winemakers themselves.
The festivities continue on Sunday November 20 with a full day Village Feast celebration, kickstarted with 'Wake Up with a Winemaker,' where breakfast will be served at a pop up wine bar. Guests can enjoy a Bellini on arrival, followed by wines poured by five Gippsland winemakers and Meeniyan's Trulli Pizzeria and Bakehouse will be on breakfast duties.
There will also be live entertainment from reputable acts, with names like Mia Wray, Grace Cummings and Dorsal Fins featuring on the main stage.
Gippsland Jersey's Sallie Jones said she was "super excited" to be involved in the event, which she was confident would be a roaring success.
"It's going to really put Gippsland on the map for a lot of people," she said.
"Having it local connects people to their food, a lot of people don't actually know where their food comes from so this will help them find out."
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Michael Leaney said he was "thrilled" to be welcoming the festival back to Baw Baw.
"On the back of the highly successful Village Takeover event at Jindivick in March 2019, this year's celebration will showcase our regions renowned producers alongside some of the biggest names in hospitality across the country in the township of Thorpdale," he said.
The Village Feast will be a ticketed event, and while road access to the town will be restricted, a free shuttle service will be running continuously from Trafalgar railway station.
Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au