Good Food & Wine Show Perth 2011

Jac and I both took a day off work on Friday and went to the Good Food & Wine Show at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

We went to Perth city by train and took with us the trolley we bought at last year’s show, anticipating that we’d have lots of goodies to carry home. We went for the food rather than the wine, so this post doesn’t include info about the wine aspect of the show. This year, we decided not to pre-book any classes and instead just have a wander around the show.

Good Food & Wine Show Perth

Good Food & Wine Show Perth

We hadn’t eaten breakfast and were both ravenous when we arrived. Like last year, one of the first stands we visited was C Lo Presti & Sons, where there were plenty of delicious things to sample – marinated olives, cheeses and dips with fresh bread. Jac fell in love with the marinated black olives and the Maasdam cheese. She came back later to get a cheese showbag (and grab another cube of Maasdam cheese :)).

C Lo Presti & Son - olives

C Lo Presti & Son – olives

C Lo Presti & Son - cheeses and dip

C Lo Presti & Son – cheeses and dip

Jac zipped around the stands while I moved like a snail, taking photographs and tweeting. I lost sight of her regularly but she’d reappear every now and then with some tasty morsel for me!

We shared a Mt Barker turkey schnitzel slider (AU$5). The schnitzel was tasty but our verdict was: too bready, not enough turkey.

Mt Barker turkey parmigiana slider (AU$5)

Mt Barker turkey parmigiana slider (AU$5)

I spotted the Jean Pierre Sancho delivery bicycle and their fresh crusty bread. Their stand was bursting with patisserie delights – macarons, breads, quiches, brioches, croissants and other pastries.

Jean Pierre Sancho's delivery bicycle

Jean Pierre Sancho’s delivery bicycle

Crusty bread (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Crusty bread (Jean Pierre Sancho)

The macarons were $2 each or $15 for a box of six – $3 just for the box, or bakers not so great at maths? :) They looked beautiful but I didn’t buy any as I didn’t want the hassle of carrying anything fragile home on public transport.

Macarons (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Macarons (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Brioches (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Brioches (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Almond croissants (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Almond croissants (Jean Pierre Sancho)

Last year we were too full by the time we got to the bratwurst stand – Eric’s Bratwurst Hut. This year, it wasn’t Eric’s, it was Andy’s Bratwurst Hut, and I was ready eat bratwurst!

Andy's Bratwurst Hut

Andy’s Bratwurst Hut

First, I took pictures of the man cooking the bratwursts, watching, mesmerised, as he flipped sausages in the pan.

Cooking bratwurst, Andy's Bratwurst Hut

Cooking bratwurst, Andy’s Bratwurst Hut

We joined the line and I watched someone else’s bratwurst hot dog being assembled. First, fries onions and sauerkraut, then a plump glistening sausage…

Assembling a bratwurst hot dog, Andy's Bratwurst Hut

Assembling a bratwurst hot dog, Andy’s Bratwurst Hut

Then, a generous squeeze of mustard all over that juicy bratwurst.

Adding mustard to bratwurst, Andy's Bratwurst Hut

Adding mustard to bratwurst, Andy’s Bratwurst Hut

We both liked the look of the traditional Bavarian meatloaf too – though there was no way we could fit that in as well!

I ordered a currywurst hot dog (AU$8). I watched with mouthwatering anticipation as the bratwurst man added fried onions and sauerkraut to a soft fresh bun that he held gently in a paper napkin. I asked for sauerkraut on half only – Jac loves it but I’m not a fan. The bratwurst man offered me a beef or pork sausage but told me pork sausage is the traditional one to have – of course I chose pork! He placed the sausage in the bun and swiftly cut a criss-cross pattern into it, then squirted plenty of curry ketchup all over, which soaked into slits he’d just made in the bratwurst. Last of all, he grabbed a shaker and sprinkled curry powder on the bratwurst.

Adding curry sauce to my bratwurst, Andy's Bratwurst Hut

Adding curry sauce to my bratwurst, Andy’s Bratwurst Hut

The hot dog was messy to eat but it tasted fantastic. If there weren’t so many good things to eat at the show, I’d have eaten a currywurst all to myself. Can’t wait to eat my next currywurst!

Curry bratwurst, Andy's Bratwurst Hut

Curry bratwurst, Andy’s Bratwurst Hut

I’ve been following Malaysia Kitchen on Twitter for a while and was looking forward to checking out their stand at the show. Malaysia Kitchen promotes Malaysian cuisine in Australia.

Their free tasting menu featured dishes cooked by local Malaysian restaurants. We were there in time to sample Mum’s nyonya chicken by Leederville restaurant Ria Authentic Malaysian.

Malaysia Kitchen free tastings menu

Malaysia Kitchen free tastings menu

I got a free mini Malaysian cookbook as I waited in line. In the booklet are recipes for classic Malaysian dishes including chicken satay, nasi lemak, char kway teow, beef rendang and more.

Free mini Malaysian cookbook, Malaysian Kitchen

Free mini Malaysian cookbook, Malaysian Kitchen

Mum’s nyonya chicken was ladled into little dishes shaped like boats, served with freshly steamed rice. The chicken was succulent and the gravy reminded me of my mum’s chicken curry. I’d have happily eaten a full-sized portion of this dish. I thought about holding the boat up to my lips and tipping it so I could drink every last drop of gravy. :)

Mum's nyonya chicken, Malaysia Kitchen

Mum’s nyonya chicken, Malaysia Kitchen

In between tastings, we checked out kitchen equipment and gadgets. I laughed at the thought of carrying pots and pans home on the train (we didn’t buy any).

Pots and pans

Pots and pans

Jac is fascinated by kitchen gadget demos and almost always stops to watch; I have the attention span of a gnat unless there’s food to eat at the end of the demo. :) I left Jac watching this fellow demonstrating the Ezy-Aussie prawn peeler. Later when I asked if she bought a prawn peeler she told me she’d bought three for $20 – Jac can’t resist a show special.

Prawn peeler demo

Prawn peeler demo

I love ginger beer and enjoyed tasting Rochester Ginger, a non-alcoholic ginger drink – nice and gingery without too much of that hot ginger bite. The man pouring the drinks told us it’s made from an authentic Dickensian recipe that dates back to the 1870s and can be drunk neat, on the rocks or used as a mixer.

Rochester Ginger drink

Rochester Ginger drink

I was thrilled to see the Beerenberg Farm stand. We’re big fans of Beerenberg Farm products and have their sauces and jams in our pantry and fridge.

Beerenberg Farm stand

Beerenberg Farm stand

They had a show special – any three products for $10. We’ve tried and love their Taka Tala sauce and marinade, so I was very interested to discover and taste the Taka Tala dressing and Taka Tala chutney. The dressing was creamy and tasted like a sweet mustard. The chutney was like sweet and spicy (not super hot). We also tasted the caramelised onion relish (with lots of sweet onion in it) and red pepper relish (like a sweet chilli sauce with tiny pieces of red capsicum). In the end, we chose the Taka Tala dressing and chutney and a jar of red pepper relish.

Beerenberg Farm products/tastings

Beerenberg Farm products/tastings

The two fellows running the Beerenberg Farm stand were very friendly and happy for us to try any of their products. Next time Jac makes burgers at home I’m going to have red pepper relish in mine.

Beerenberg Farm products/tastings

Beerenberg Farm products/tastings

There were game and bush products to try at the Mahogany Creek stand.

Tastings at Mahogany Creek

Tastings at Mahogany Creek

One of my favourite new products was the Crema Caffe – Italian coffee cream, from Dolce Crema. The handsome man behind the dolce crema machine was a favourite with the ladies clustered around the stand.

Un bel ragazzo Italiano at Dolce Crema

Un bel ragazzo Italiano at Dolce Crema

I asked where Dolce Crema is available and was told it is new to Perth – they are currently targeting cafes and restaurants. According to their Facebook page, you can get Dolce Crema at Delissimo Continental Deli (the Swansea Street Markets) on Swansea St in East Victoria Park.

Dolce Crema (Italian coffee cream dessert)

Dolce Crema (Italian coffee cream dessert)

We enjoyed hot chips with chilli salt at the Chilli Salt stand. The chilli salt was finger-sucking good.

Free chilli salt fries

Free chilli salt fries

There was a wall of chilli salt and different chilli sauces to taste. I wasn’t game to try the sauce labeled “Ballistic” :).

Chilli salt and sauces

Chilli salt and sauces

We sampled chocolate-covered coffee beans at the Captain Coffee stand (dark chocolate for me, milk chocolate for Jac). I asked this gentleman if he is Captain Coffee himself. He is! And he told me he has a sail boat! :)

Captain Coffee

Captain Coffee

The smoking trout at the Bradley Smoker stand looked interesting.

Bradley smoker

Bradley smoker

We tried some delicious Argentinian roasted vegetable dips at El Asador.

El Asador, Argentinian food

El Asador, Argentinian food

There’s a free iPhone app for the Australian Good Food & Travel Guide. I haven’t downloaded it yet – have any of you?

Australian Good Food & Travel Guide - free iPhone app

Australian Good Food & Travel Guide – free iPhone app

The Luv-A-Duck stand was back and very popular. We sampled crispy duck fat roast potatoes fresh out of the oven and juicy pieces of pan-fried duck breast. We watched a cooking demo – Jac was interested in learning how to make an orange sauce for the duck; I was more interested in eating the duck!

Luv-A-Duck cooking demo - slicing up duck breast

Luv-A-Duck cooking demo – slicing up duck breast

We walked past where radio station 6PR was broadcasting live from the show – and saw Masterchef Australia Season 2 contestant, food writer, presenter and cookbook author Marion Grasby being interviewed. Which reminded me – I really wanted to taste Marion’s and Poh’s desserts (AU$8 each) at the Oxford Landing Estate restaurant at the show.

Marion Grasby interview on 6PR

Marion Grasby interview on 6PR

At this year’s show restaurant, there are two menus (each with starter, main course and dessert) – a menu by Marion Grasby and a menu by Poh Ling Yeow (Masterchef Australia Season 1 runner-up). You have to buy dining currency which you exchange for dishes at the restaurant. I know it’s designed to simplify the restaurant service – you give the staff your dining currency, they give you the food, no stuffing around with change. But it felt silly, “buying money”. :)

Jac took one look at the queues and said she’d look after our trolley while I got the desserts.

As it turned out, the time saved by using dining currency was nullified by one annoying detail – you were not able to get your own cutlery and staff did not seem to think of giving you cutlery when handing you your food at the counter. By the time I’d realised I had to go back to ask staff for cutlery, the poor sago pudding had started to collapse.

Oxford Landing Estate - show restaurant

Oxford Landing Estate – show restaurant

There were no free tables in the restaurant, so we found a spot along the wall and had a carpet picnic sitting outside the restaurant.

First: Poh’s dessert – Malaysian sago pudding. The delicate little sago pearls tasted good with the coconut cream and palm sugar syrup, but I thought there should’ve been more syrup as the pearls are quite bland and really need sauce. Jac didn’t like hint of saltiness in this dessert. We checked the recipe that’s in the free restaurant booklet we picked up – yes, there is salt in the recipe. I didn’t mind the salty-sweet flavour.

Poh Ling Yeow's dessert: Malaysian sago pudding

Poh Ling Yeow’s dessert: Malaysian sago pudding

Second: Marion’s dessert – coconut and kaffir lime panna cotta with strawberries and lime syrup. The panna cotta was soft and silky with flavours of Thai cuisine. It was lovely, but deceptively rich. The lime syrup was extremely sweet – you definitely need a sweet tooth for this dessert – I was glad I had Jac to share it with me.

Marion Grasby's dessert: lime panna cotta with strawberries and lime syrup

Marion Grasby’s dessert: lime panna cotta with strawberries and lime syrup

So whose dessert won? For both of us, Marion’s was the winner!

We kept on walking and saw quite a crowd around the the Rekorderlig Cider stand. I rather liked the sound of pear cider, and Jac was keen to sample wild berry cider.

Rekorderlig pear cider being poured for me

Rekorderlig pear cider being poured for me

I don’t usually drink alcohol and if I do, drink it for the taste rather than to get “merry” :). This cider was refreshing, fruity and quite delicious.

Rekorderlig cider

Rekorderlig cider – apple, wild berry, pear and strawberry-lime

We stopped by the Whittingtons stand where we chose five mustards for $15.

Whittingtons mustards

Whittingtons mustards

There were Manjimup truffles on display at the Whittingtons stand.

Manjimup truffles

Manjimup truffles

They told me this beauty is worth around AU$1000. The man at the stand let me photograph it and when I was done, he whisked it away for safe keeping. Shortly after this, they brought out truffle butter for us to sample. Jac was successfully lured to buy another show special: a jar of spicy cranberries and a tiny tub of truffle butter for AU$15. There’s going to be some great eating going on at our house!

A truffle (est. worth AU$1000)

A truffle (est. worth AU$1000)

At the Kikkoman soy sauce stand, a show special of any four bottles for $10. We’ve got plenty of soy sauce at home so decided not to buy any.

Kikkoman soy sauce (Any 4 bottles for $10)

Kikkoman soy sauce (Any 4 bottles for $10)

At the Linley Valley pork stand, they were making gourmet pork burgers. The happy chap cooking the pork was at the Linley Valley stand at the Fine Food Western Australia show which I attended back in April.

Cooking Linley Valley pork

Cooking Linley Valley pork

The Regal smoked salmon stand was one of the busiest. The staff worked non-stop, prepping up smoked salmon platters.

Regal smoked salmon

Regal smoked salmon

It was time to head home. By now, our trolley was bulging and we couldn’t really fit much more in it!

Our bulging trolley

Our bulging trolley

I didn’t know exactly what was in the trolley until I unpacked it back home. Jac had made a few purchases while I was busy taking photographs and tweeting. I didn’t mind!

The contents of our trolley

The contents of our trolley

In our Chilli Salt showbag – hot Thai sweet chilli sauce, chilli salt and a bottle of hickory barbecue flavoured liquid smoke.

Chilli salt showbag

Chilli salt showbag

In addition to the cheese showbag (mini toasts, Maasdam, parmesan, pepato and brie cheeses), Jac bought a jar of dried porcini mushrooms at the C Lo Presti & Son stand.

Dried porcini mushrooms

Dried porcini mushrooms

Our Whittingtons mustards: left to right: Australian Chardonnay White Wine, Gourmet Whiskey, Australian Shiraz, Australian Beer and Gourmet German.

Whittington's mustards (5 for $15)

Whittington’s mustards (5 for $15)

We also bought six mini jams from Alpine Berry Farm for $10. I love little jam jars! Now I can pretend I’m having breakfast buffet at home! We each chose three flavours – can you guess who chose what?

Six mini Alpine Berry Farm jams for $10

Six mini Alpine Berry Farm jams

From another product demo, Jac also bought a Kleva knife sharpener, which came with a free micro grater. She used the sharpener this evening and was pleased to see it works well. She also bought a tub of capsicum spread from the Turkish bakery stand and a pesto salami with basil and mint from Smallgoods of the Riverland.

2011 Good Food & Wine Show observations

  • There are plenty of free tastings at the show. We spent money on food e.g. bratwurst, desserts from the restaurant – but you could easily fill up on freebie samples alone. We didn’t try everything on offer.
  • The majority of food stands are the same as last year. There are new things, of course, but there were many familiar products, some stands in exactly the same position as last year. If you liked Cheesebuddy last year, they’re back again, with three varieties to sample – original, herb and chilli! :)
  • My favourites from this year’s show were: Malaysia Kitchen, Captain Coffee, Rekorderlig Cider, Dolce Crema and Beerenberg Farm. My favourite item of the day was that currywurst from Andy’s Bratwurst Hut.

Did you go to the show? I’d love to know what you thought, and what your favourites were.

I had a great foodie Friday off. Thanks again to the Good Food & Wine Show for our tickets and for the tickets won by three lucky readers. We spent a few hours at the show, went home for a rest, then returned in the evening for a special Malaysia Kitchen bloggers dinner with Alvin Quah from Masterchef Australia Season 2.

Good Food & Wine Show Perth
Visit www.goodfoodshow.com.au for details including ticket prices
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
One day left – Sunday 17 July, 10am to 5pm

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