A Secret Foodie Paradise: Exploring Food and Wine in Tasmania
Located just a short, direct flight from Melbourne or Sydney, Tasmania has long been a well-kept secret among the Australians. After spending a week there, eating and drinking my way through the island state, I understood why they would want to keep it to themselves. Not only does Tassie (as the locals call it) have pristine wilderness, amazing wildlife and some of the cleanest air and
water in the world, it also hosts some of the best food and wine experiences in Australia.
While it is really known for its delicious cheeses, crisp white wines and sumptuous oysters, Tasmania also serves delicious salmon, beef, whiskeys and beer. All products are locally grown and produced, of course! Here are some of the best food, beer, wine and cuisine-related experiences you can enjoy in this beautiful state!
-Dine on delicious oysters at the famous Barilla Bay, just outside of Hobart.
-Tour and sample local beers at the rival breweries in Tasmania: Boag’s in Launceston and Cascade in Hobart.
-Take a cooking class at the Agrarian Kitchen, 25 minutes outside of Hobart. Classes are led by Rodney Dunn, former apprentice to the head chef at Tetsuya in Sydney, one of the world’s top restaurants.
-Sample handcrafted, award-winning wines at the quaint vineyard, Velo, located in the Tamar Valley.
One of my absolute favorite food and wine experiences, however, was dining under the stars in the Tasmanian bush. The “Bush Tucker Dinner” is hosted (and cooked) by Craig Williams, an Aussie who has been camping in the wild since he was eight. Using herbs and spices that are indigenous to the surroundings, he prepares a feast fit for a king.
Though the menu changes daily, you can usually expect a Tasmanian cheese platter (the wasabi cheese is heavenly), trout with native spices, venison burgers and wallaby tenderloins. All this is washed down with some delicious cool climate wines, while listening to the sounds of the animals stirring for the evening.
One of the true pleasures of travel is the opportunity sample local foods and beverages, discover new tastes and flavor combinations and be on the receiving end of the most gracious hospitality. And there’s no better place to do that than Tasmania, Australia. Once you eat and drink your way through its bounty, you’ll have a hard time keeping it a secret, too.
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Posted by Candice Heckel at 7/9/2010 4:46 AM 
Categories: Australia, Australia Travel Experts Advice, Insider Tips, travel agent, Meet The Locals
Categories: Australia, Australia Travel Experts Advice, Insider Tips, travel agent, Meet The Locals
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