Celebrate Asparagus Archive 2003

Special Event of the Season - Celebrate Asparagus Festival

The Australian Asparagus Council’s first Asparagus Festival - Celebrate Asparagus - was held on Saturday September 13, 2003 at the Cardinia Ranges Farmers’ Market at Pakenham Racecourse. Cardinia residents and visitors from far and wide, came out in droves bright and early to learn about the region’s treasured vegetable.

Over 2,500 people attended the farmers’ market to snap up the new season’s asparagus that was on offer from the dedicated growers of the Australian Asparagus Council including Michael Motta (see pictured bottom left) and Nella Butera (see pictured bottom right).

Visitors to the market were also entertained by some of Cardinia Ranges’ local chefs, including - Cardinia Ranges Mayor, Kate Lempriere, Peter Addison of the Good Life Cafe at the Cardinia Cultural Centre (see pictured right), Jackie Grangien of Country Eggs, Cheryl Quinn of Ray White Real Estate in Pakenham and Rosa Santo of Mama Rosa Pizza Café - who cooked up delicious dishes such as Gippsland beef and asparagus stir fry, Asparagus pasta and Creamy asparagus vol au vents.

The Woodnook Cooking Team - who brought everything but the kitchen sink to the Cooking Stage - whipped up dishes using fine food and wine from the regular Cardinia Ranges food and wine farmers market traders. They were delighted with the assistance from local chefs in training from Pakenham Secondary College (see story below).

40 Cardinia Ranges food and wine producers offered a smorgasbord of local culinary delights on the day, including aromatic sour dough breads, home made jams and sauces, boutique wines, farmhouse cheeses and literally truckloads of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Cardinia Ranges Farmers’ Market Coordintaor, Sophie O’Neil, cited Celebrate Asparagus! at the Cardinia Ranges Farmers’ Market as an enormous success, saying, “Farmers’ markets are all about educating us about what is grown around us and encouraging us to eat seasonal, fresh foods. The Celebrate Asparagus! Festival worked tremendously well. People were able to meet local asparagus farmers and learn how the vegetable is grown and then watch how to cook it at the cooking stage.”

Local Secondary College joins in the festivities!

The Australian Asparagus Council and Cardinia Ranges Farmers’ Market Coordintaor, Sophie O’Neil, were very grateful for the contribution of Pakenham Secondary College to the success of the Celebrate Asparagus Festival.

Led by energetic and enthusiastic Hospitality Teacher - Pam Park - the students worked cheerfully throughout the day (see pictured right). The Pakenham Secondary College team provided professional assistance at the Cooking Stage, and the Hospitality Marquee where growers could meet visiting media and local dignitaries. Pam Park and her team created delicious taste treats featuring local asparagus and freshly brewed coffee and tea for the marquee guests.

The Australian Asparagus Council thanks Pam Park and her team of students - Deanne Jackway, Leonie Nelson, Hollie Kilby, Amy Wanless, Melinda Tallot and Karli Azzopardi (see pictured left) - for their excellent work. And as if this fantastic support wasn’t enough, visitors were also serenaded by a talented group of musicians from Pakenham Secondary College. The mix of great music, fine food and wine, local growers and the talents from many sectors of the local community proved to be the best recipe of the day!

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