Sample Food Festival September 5

This year’s Sample Food Festival is promising to be one of the most exciting and entertaining yet! Celebrating local growers, chefs, and food artisans, the delightful village of Bangalow plays host to the iconic foodie event on Saturday 5th September. The 2015 festival welcomes celebrity guest chefs Adriano Zumbo (Zumbo), Steve Snow (Fins), Clayton Donovan (Jaaning Tree, Nambucca Heads) and James Viles (Biota Dining, Bowral).

The day starts from 8am with fresh food offerings at the Bangalow/Byron Farmer’s Market and then evolves into the largest gastronomic gathering in the Byron shire’s calendar. Thirty of the region’s best restaurants will offer a $5 and $10 tasting plate that will allow you to be satiated from morning till afternoon. In between plates, wander the marketplace and chat to local producers and designers about their wares. With over 200 exhibitors, you’ll easily discover products, gifts and homewares to enjoy and enrich your lifestyle.

Cooking demonstrations will be abundant from early morning at the highly regarded Northern Rivers Food cooking stage. Kicking off at 8am is trainer, celebrity and promoter of healthy living, Luke Hines. Luke will demonstrate one of his favourite breakfast recipes, using produce from the farmer’s market. Providing further entertainment is the competitive TAFE NSW North Coast cooking challenge involving Jody Vassalo and James Viles.

Keeping the children entertained is easy at the festival. The well-known Macadamia Castle will bring a host of baby animals for the little ones to pet and feed. And new to the festival this year is the creative cabin This Old Duck, featuring hands-on, imaginative craft ideas. And in the afternoon, keep an eye out for the ever-vibrant Shorty Brown who will wander the arena, making balloons come to life.

To help cleanse the palate over the day, the award winning local brewery Stone & Wood will offer a range of beers, alongside delectable wines from Cloudy Bay and effervescent Moet and Chandon. There will be three wine appreciation masterclasses on the day from midday until 3pm. Bookings are only available the morning of the festival at The Cellar Marquee. There will also be plenty of non-alcoholic beverages including Madura Tea, Mount Warning Spring Water and the new Organic Drink Co.

The festival offers visitors the chance to relax, take a plate and a drink, settle on the grass and enjoy the atmosphere, tastes and sounds of the event. Soak up the vibe from midday at the SAE Byron Bay Music stage, where local, professional artists will play a variety of genres including blues and roots, jazz and contemporary tunes. Sample is also thrilled to have former guitarist and songwriter of Powderfinger, Darren Middleton, closing the festival with his acoustic charm from 3pm.

Tickets upon entry are $5 per person with children free. Come and indulge your senses in this culinary, stunningly decadent event.

www.samplensw.com or Sample Food Festival Facebook Page for latest updates.