By Natasha Rudra
Yes, it's Floriade season and this week is full of flowers to photograph, gnomes to paint and things to eat. But there are also quite a few foodie events on offer this week. We round up some of the highlights.
Miguel Maestre
Miguel Maestre is a guest at Floriade over the weekend.
Described as "effervescent" and always enthusiastic, the over-the-top Spanish chef is the star guest at Floriade on the weekend. There are plenty of chances to catch Miguel - he's going to do four cooking demonstrations at the Kitchen Company Tasting Plate. He will also do presentations at 10.30am and 11.30am at the Inspiration Hub, answering your questions about his life and his cooking. His cooking demonstrations are at 2pm and 4pm. He also hosts a session on local wine and produce with chocolatier Robyn Rowe, a chef from C Dine restaurant on the Kingston foreshore, Pialligo Estate and Gallagher Wines. 11am on Sunday, September 28.
Claude Fremy
Phillip Jones - creator of the Centini - will discuss what makes the perfect martini.Credit: Katherine Griffiths
Claude is a Frenchman who moved to Australia and has worked at the National Convention Centre and at the French, German and Algerian embassies. He will show you how to make a perfect dessert at the Kitchen Company Tasting Plate. 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Thursday, September 25.
The School of Beer
There are two sessions that are all about the art brewing a pint at home, both featuring brewers from the Canberra Brewers Association. The first session at 10am is a panel discussion with brewers from BentSpoke Brewing in Braddon. The second session at 3pm involves the folk at Plonk Wine and Beer from the Fyshwick markets. At the Inspiration Hub. 10am and 3pm, on Wednesday, September 24.
Spice and all things nice
This session discusses spice and herbs in wine and in food. What matches and what doesn't? The special guest is Ian Hemphill, better known to us as Herbie from Herbie's Spices. He'll be joined by winemakers and producers from Lerida Estate, Pialligo Estate and Dog Trap Vineyard. At the Inspiration Hub. 11am on Thursday, September 25.
The perfect martini
Learn from Canberra's mixologist and cocktail expert Phillip A. Jones, who joins a panel on the art of the perfect martini. To olive or not olive? To shake or stir? Jones has the answers at the Inspiration Hub. 10am on Wednesday, September 24.
Bootlegging Botanicals
This is where you get to meet the master distiller John Lark, whose Lark Distillery in Hobart has won acclaim for its whiskies and other spirits. He'll demonstrate how you can create different flavours of gin by simply infusing botanicals into the alcohol - some spices, some herbs you can forage for or grow. Inspiration Hub. 3pm on Friday, September 26.
NightFest Food and Wine
You can still get your food and wine fix at Floriade after dark. Many of the sessions are also held during NightFest, including the Spice is Nice sessions, the botanical gin sessions and wine matching. Among the highlights is the Canberra Times' wine critic Chris Shanahan's double session on Thursday night. At 7pm Chris will discuss spices in food and wine with Ian Hemphill, or Herbie, and other guests, and at 8pm he'll talk about wine and cheese. NightFest tickets are $10-$50.
See floriadeaustralia.com for more information.