Australia’s longest running regional food and wine festival is held in the emerging cool-climate wine region of Orange, in central west New South Wales, each year and in 2017 it’s on from March 31st until April 9th. Orange F.O.O.D Week was recently named one of the states’ premium events by destination NSW and the festival has been acclaimed as one of Australia’s top ten food festivals. Orange is only 3.5 hours drive from Sydney, a one hour flight or a super scenic train trip will get you there too!
Known as the birthplace of Australian poet, Banjo Paterson, and the discovery of the first payable gold in Australia, Orange has loads on offer and plenty of history to go with it. I can remember long drives out there in the eight-seater Mitsubishi with my crazy family to watch my brothers play rugby versus Kinross School. Even as a small child, I could feel how special the area was and learned how important regional country towns are for Australia’s economic wealth. “So much of our countries greatness comes from these towns….there’s more to us than the big cities and coastline. We can’t forget them, and we must visit them…..” my dad once said to us. He was spot on!
Running since 1991, Orange F.O.O.D Week (also known as the ‘food basket of NSW’) was created with an ethos of showcasing the region’s excellent fresh produce and award-winning cool climate wine, as well to provide a platform for its clever food producers, providores and innovative chefs, cooks and caterers. Hosting over 15000 visitors for 100 different events, Orange F.O.O.D week will serve up 10000 locally sourced meals and 6000 bottles of cool climate wine from the region.
The festival incorporates a number of signature events designed to appeal to both locals and visitors, and due to such popularity it will see the return of many events including the F.O.O.D week night market and Sunday’s producers’ market & brunch, both at a ridiculous price of a gold coin entry.
But the 100 mile dinner is the real deal experience at Orange F.O.O.D week! At $125 a head it’s a top seller, and why wouldn’t be including ALL food and ALL wine (new to 2017). The F.O.O.D Week committee and the people of Molong welcome guests for the fifth year to the iconic event under the stars on the Village Green in Molong. Food from Mudgee, Young, Cowra, Canowindra, Orange, Molong and Bathurst – and their wines – will be brought to you by these towns’ best chefs and cooks.
Visiting one of the cutest regions of NSW is a rewarding adventure in itself, but add to that a ten-day feast of the senses and Orange is a place you won’t want to miss this spring.
Stay up to date with all things F.O.O.D Week with the Orange NSW Smartphone App. The App includes details on all events during our 2017 Orange F.O.O.D Week festival, not to mention other info on how to enjoy this gorgeous town and it’s surrounds. For Forage-goers, there is also map with food and wine station details.
WHAT: Orange F.O.O.D week
WHEN: Friday 31st March – Sunday 9th April 2017
TICKETS: Signature event tickets ate on sale now at http://www.emagcloud.com/brandorange/FOODWeek2017
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