LOCAL food producers are uniting in a culinary collaboration organised by local food tour operator Awia Markey.

Dedicated to shining the light on local food producers, Awia hopes the event will drive interest in the Coffs Coast as a destination of delectable freshly grown and made fare.

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On Saturday 29 April during a gourmet two-course lunch, provided by Wylde Oak Café, four local food producers will tell their food stories, in conversation with Awia, who is also food reviewer for Harbour magazine.

The local specialist producers will be talking about their expertise across four topics: chocolate, black garlic, Afghan cuisine and organic farming.

“As owner of Bite Food Tours, it’s vital for me to visit cafés and meet local producers,” Awia told News Of The Area.

“I’m a food lover and through my foodie research for tours, I’ve discovered our area continues to offer fantastic produce, passionate suppliers, and low food miles.”

The idea behind the Coffs Food Lovers Long Lunch is for the audience to meet the people behind their products and learn how to use them, in a relaxed and conversational interview format.

Wylde Oak Café chefs Ben Wilson and Scott Tarlinton will serve dishes from their autumn menu.

Catherine Scarborough, founder of Catherine’s Black Garlic, lives in the Orara Valley where she creates Black Garlic from both Russian and Elephant garlic.

Black Garlic contains more antioxidants than regular garlic and has a rich, creamy texture that can be spread on bread like butter.

It is slightly sweet, tangy, and savoury.

Black Garlic is ready to eat or cook with and Catherine will discuss its flavour profile, and how you can use this unique umami flavour to enhance your home cooking.

Known as the Chocolate Dr, Dave Ricko is a Coffs Harbour chocolatier who loves to experiment with what he calls “enhanced chocolate”.

From chai flavoured white chocolate, Kraken flavoured dark chocolate, or chocolate bars containing Lion’s Mane Mushroom, Dave’s kitchen is full of new chocolate ideas and inspirations, using single origin cocoa grown in Samoa, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Dave will share his passion for chocolate creation and describe the process of bean to bar chocolate.

Sapphire Beach farmers Alice Williams and Darren Smith, who run their five-generation-family-owned New Life Farm in Wakelands Road, will discuss ‘what do farmers eat for lunch and what’s it like to be a farmer in 2023?’

Regenerative farmers Alice and Darren have a busy farm shop on site and their super fresh farm produce is eaten by many people on the Coffs Coast.

The pair will discuss the highs and the challenges of farming and what drew them into the world of microbes, muddy boots, and low food miles.

Zarin Asady from Silk Road Afghan supermarket will talk about Afghan cuisine and how to use the ingredients.

Run with Zarin’s partner, Sayed Maseh, the store stocks a diverse range of ingredients, including fresh baklava home made by Zarin, who is a passionate cook.

Zarin will describe the culture of her homeland of Afghanistan, and its cuisine from a woman’s perspective.

“There’s a Q and A at the end for any foodie questions, and there will be a Lucky Door Prize that includes gourmet samples,” added Awia.

“My aim is to support local food producers and promote the Coffs Coast as a food tourism destination.”

For more information visit www.facebook.com/bitetours/ or connect on Instagram: www.instagram.com/bitefoodtours/ @bitefoodtours.

By Andrea FERRARI