General News

Come to our Indian workshop and meal led by Reena Kumar, well known Jamberoo identity, and her colleague Archana Nakhate

Tea and coffee will be provided and if you want to add wine/beer please bring your own.  Dessert will be enjoyed before we finish our afternoon.

Time:  midday, Saturday 16 July, please be prompt, we will have lots to do together.

Place:  Jamberoo Youth Hall,  Allowrie Street, Jamberoo,
(access from behind the IGA or the adjoining park)

Tickets:  available at Try Booking https://www.trybooking.com//CAREY

Cost:     Slow Food members – $45, non Members – $55.

We will have a small raffle on the day so please bring some cash with you, we want to launch our Snail of Approval awards after the School Holidays and need to raise a bit of finance for expenses associated with the event.

If you can’t make the workshop and would like to obtain raffle tickets please contact Celia at jamberoo@icloud.com for details from 3 July onwards

Slow Food Saddleback members and friends shared a wonderful meal at Miss Arda in Kiama on Wednesday 22 June.  The menu included breads and dips and baked feta to start with followed by the most delicious slow roasted pomegranate lamb shoulder and vegetables for the main course and assorted baklava and kanafeh for dessert.

 

Exclusive Luncheon by Brendan Cato
Sunday 8th May 12pm – 3pm
Glass of bubbly on arrival
Entertainment by Mark Crotti
Tickets & Menu available via Eventbrite
https://pavilionluncheonbrendancato.eventbrite.com.au 

For Further Information visit http://www.thepavilionkiama.com.au
or Ph: 42 321419

The Pavilion Kiama, Brendan Cato and Slow Food Saddleback are teaming up as a part of the Revel in May festival.  You will enjoy an exclusive five course luncheon experience prepared by our own master chef Brendan Cato prior to jetting off overseas to advance his career.

Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and delve into Brendan’s extensive knowledge of the food industry.  During the lunch Brendan will be our guest speaker for a light hearted Q and A.

The luncheon will showcase foods from boutique producers, local farmers and artisans.  Brendan will also have his own wine available to purchase on the day to compliment your meal.  You will be entertained by Mark Crotti whilst taking in the breathtaking views overlooking Surf Beach Kiama and staying warm and dry at The Pavilion Kiama.

Why not spoil yourself or the family with an enjoyable Sunday lunch on Mother’s Day.  Enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling on arrival.

Tables and seating will be allocated once ticket sales cease and at the discretion of the venue.

When purchasing tickets please note maximum table numbers are 10 people per table.

Date:        Sunday 8 May
Time:       12pm-3pm
Venue:    The Pavilion Kiama
Cost:       $127 (a $10 discount for Slow Food Saddleback Members will be applied using an exclusive discount code: Slowfood10)
Bookings:   https://pavilionluncheonbrendancato.eventbrite.com.au

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TILL LATER IN THE YEAR DUE TO THE FARM REMAINING COMPLETELY SODDEN AND MOST OF THE VEGETABLE CROPS BECOMING ROTTEN DUE TO THE RECENT RAINS AND FLOODS.

Come and meet Lauren and James (the New Growers Jambaroo) on their vegetable farm in Jerrara Road, Jamberoo on Saturday 26 March at 11am.

We will meet at the farm for the tour and then go into Jamberoo for a pasta lunch, prepared by your Committee members.If anyone would like to contribute to lunch, please contact Celia Wade on info@slowfoodsaddleback.com.au.
We will also serve tea and coffee, and dessert.
Please bring your own drinks.

The New Growers Jamberoo will tell us their story, and their plans to be sustainable farmers producing only the healthiest produce, and the trials and tribulations of all this rain!

The farm is just up from the substation, where there is plenty of parking. Parking is also available along the road next to the farm.

Lunch will be in The Jamberoo Youth Hall in the main Park in Jamberoo. Access to the Hall is from the car park behind the IGA.

After a slow and often dreary time during lock down Slow Food Saddleback is inviting you and your friends to celebrate Terra Madre (Mother Earth Day) with us.
A delicious afternoon tea will be prepared by Slow Food Saddleback members and shared with friends. It will feature local produce and a home cooked and prepared celebration of our area and good, clean and fair food.

This will be followed by the screening of Rosemary’s Way, celebrating the remarkable Rosemary Kariuki and the group of vulnerable women from suburban Sydney whose lives she changes from isolation to connection.
It is a story of hope and transformation on a journey to homestay in Kiama and surrounds, where real friendships are formed.

Our member Maria Baden will be hosting Rosemary once more, and she will join us at the afternoon to share her stories and be part of our celebration. The sharing of good and local food will again be part of the Slow Food ideal.

There will be an opportunity to make a donation to Rosemary’s work during the afternoon so please bring some money with you.

 

SLOWFOOD SADDLEBACK THANKS KIAMA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL FOR ITS SUPPORT OF THE SHOWING OF THE FILM ‘ROSEMARY’S WAY’.

 

Date:          Sunday 12 December
Time:           3:00pm
Cost:            Members: $25; Non-Members: $30
                       Schoolchildren: $10
Bookings:  http://www.trybooking.com/BVOYR

PLEASE NOTE: Proof of double vaccination will be required for entry.

Celia and Des have once again offered their wonderful property as the venue for our spring picnic. It’s a BYO event so you’ll need to bring food, drinks, utensils, plates, thermos etc.
Des will mow the paddock and set up picnic tables and small barbecue fire spaces.
We’re hoping for fine spring weather but can move undercover if there’s a light drizzle. If there’s heavy rain we’ll have to cancel as we are basing our numbers on outdoor Covid rules. 

There is plenty of parking but it’s always a good idea to car share. 
Children are welcome.

Venue:           193 Quarter Sessions Road, Jamberoo
                           (ring 0438 447 326 if you are lost)
Date:              Saturday 20 November 2021
Time:              12:30pm to 4:00pm
Bookings:    https://www.trybooking.com/BVDCY
Cost:               $10 to secure booking

This event was unfortunately cancelled due to wet weather.

The Slow Food Saddleback AGM was held at Silica Restaurant on 20 October 2021.

Committee members were elected as follows:

Convivium Leader:  Celia Wade 
Secretary:   Carolyn Evans 
Treasurer:   Rhonni Garven 

Committee Members:
Judith Ball 
Ros Markezic
Kaye Turnbull
Kate Blake

With the ever-changing impact of Covid on all our lives, the Slow Food Saddleback Committee has decided not to attempt to plan an event in August or September. We hope to be able to get together later in the year and an outline of our plans follows.

The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 20 October and we hope to continue our tradition with another special meal at Silica. Luke and the staff are looking forward to seeing us all again and we are working on plans to have another interesting speaker.

Our plan for November is a picnic-style meal at a new venue.

In December our focus is Terra Madre and exciting plans are underway to celebrate with a  focus on  the influence Slow Food has on many lives.

Some news about our Business Development Grant winners:

Kel and Mahlah at The Pines are working hard on their Regarians program and are already seeing the changes on the farm and Yale and Emily down at Haven Island Oysters have purchased their smoker and trials have begun. 

Two years ago Slow Food Saddleback concluded our Terra Madre Day event with an ode to Margaret Fulton featuring a selection of special desserts.

Back in the 70s, Margaret Fulton took us away from our meat and three veg mentality and, with the help of the Margaret Fulton Cookbook, Aussie cooks were encouraged for the first time to experiment with new and exciting recipes.

Now a musical biography of this Aussie legend is touring the country and will arrive in Bowral in August. This delightful musical is based on Margaret’s best selling autobiography and follows her journey from humble beginnings to super stardom.

DUE TO THE CURRENT COVID SITUATION THE EVENT ORGANISERS HAVE POSTPONED THIS EVENT TO 2022.

 

Congratulations to Haven Island Oysters and The Pines Kiama who are the recipients of the inaugural Slow Food Saddleback business development grant. Applications were invited from all Snail of Approval recipients and six very worthy applications were received. The Committee’s decision was a difficult one as the applications were all relevant to Slow Food principles and aims.

The grant was split between two projects. Haven Island Oysters will receive $1 200 to explore the commercial and practical viability of smoking oysters and will purchase a smoker as part of the project.

The Pines Kiama will receive a $1 500 contribution towards  a twelve month Regrarians training program designed to give practical knowledge and an integrated pathway forward in all aspects of their farm as an ongoing ecosystem with a particular focus on securing their waterways.

Thank you to our members and their guests whose continuing support for our events enables us to invest in the future of our local farmers and providers.

Our dinner at Silica showcasing produce from Buena Vista farm  didn’t disappoint. Around 50 Slow Fooders were treated to a wonderful 3 course meal created by Luke  and featuring Buena Vista cheeses, home grown vegetables and lovingly nurtured goat and chickens.

Fiona’s well-loved beetroot relish, tomato chilli jam,  chicken liver pate and whole egg custard were incorporated into the menu.

Luke and his staff at Silica were very generous with their time, and the wine!

Likewise, Adam and Fiona from Buena Vista provided their produce at a generous discount.

We are lucky to have such enthusiastic and talented people in our area who are committed to Slow Food principles. You can support Buena Vista  https://buenavistafarm.com.au/at the weekly Kiama and Berry farmers markets or by buying their produce online.

Silica Restaurant and Bar https://silicakiama.com.au/ has eat in, takeaway and great value fish and chip and pasta nights each week.

Thanks to Luke and his staff and to Fiona and Adam for their contributions to a memorable night.

It seems like a lifetime ago that we were celebrating Margaret Fulton at our Terra Madre lunch in December 2019. To further acknowledge this true Aussie Legend we have secured a group booking to see Margaret Fulton the Musical – a musical biography based on her bestselling autobiography “I Sang for my Supper”.

Margaret Fulton reigned supreme on our country’s cooking scene for many years. Her Margaret Fulton Cookbook encouraged Australians to experiment with more interesting ingredients, straying from the old tradition of meat and three veg. She was awarded an OAM in 1983 and later identified as a National Living Treasure.

This delightful musical romp follows Margaret’s  journey from humble beginnings to super-stardom. It is presented byJally Entertainment, a progressive professional touring company, established in 2004 and based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

When:      2:00pm Sunday 8 August
Where:    Chevalier College Performing Arts Centre, Burradoo
Further details closer to the date

With recent research showing that good gut health is linked to a healthy body and mind, Slow Food Saddleback has arranged a workshop to explore this interesting and relevant topic.

Two local proponents of gut health,  Natural Medicine Practitioner Fiona Hopkin and Wholefoods Cook-Caterer Karina Shepherd are our workshop presenters.

The workshop will cover the digestive system, the human microbiome and what a ‘leaky gut’ is. Our experts will discuss the symptoms of poor gut health, possible causes and how to restore balance. You will gain a good understanding of what gut health means and how it relates to your overall wellness. The link with the brain and immune function will also be explored.

To complete the day we will discuss what foods are best for gut health and how to safely prepare them. Then we will get into the kitchen to prepare some gut healing and gut healthy recipes before sitting down to connect and eat as a group.

Where:         Gerringong Town Hall, Fern Street, Gerringong
When:           Sunday 27 June from 10.30 am to 3pm.
Cost:              $68 for Slow Food Members, $78 for non members.
Bookings:    Try Booking  https://www.trybooking.com/BRUOX
If you have dietary requirements please let us know well before the workshop.

The Snail of Approval is awarded each year by SlowFood Saddleback  to recognise local food producers, artisans, retail outlets and restaurants that promote the Slow Food message of good, clean and fair food, and the protection of biodiversity in the Kiama and Illawarra regions.

This year’s awards go to:

The Blue Swimmer at Seahaven
Buena Vista Farm
Haven Island Oysters
Harrods Garden – Dapto Community Farm
Blue Acres Farm and Tours 
Otis Deli
Miss Arda
Gungs Gourmet Thai
Silica Restaurant
Pecora Dairy
Moonacres Harvest Kitchen
Schotlanders
Valley Cheesemakers
Dandelion and Mallow
The Pines
Kombucha Loquacious
Ola Chola

Congratulations to all our awardees and we urge all our members and readers to support these local businesses.

The awards were presented at the Kiama Farmers Market on Wednesday 19 May.

 

 

Two of Slow Food Saddleback’s Snail of Approval local businesses will come together to present our May event.

Silica Restaurant’s Luke Basic will create a special dinner  featuring produce from  Buena Vista Farm, the home and working farm of Fiona and Adam Walmsley and their 3 children.

A three course meal with a welcome drink awaits you, with most of the ingredients coming from Buena Vista Farm, plus a few additions from Luke’s patch at the Dapto Community Garden. You will need to purchase your own drinks after your welcome bubbles.

Fiona and Adam returned to Buena Vista Farm in 2012 after a busy time living in Sydney. They quickly assembled a variety of animals and started cooking classes. On their 18 acres they now raise dairy goats to make cheese, have medicinal and cut flower gardens, meat chickens and laying hens, beef cattle and bees. Fiona and Adam will be our special guests for the evening and will tell us their story and future plans.

Date:             Wednesday 2 June at 6.30 for 7pm.
Cost:              Members $68; non members $78.
Bookings:   Try Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BRAKZ

Best to book early as places are limited.

If you have special dietary requirements, or any queries, please contact Celia – at jamberoo@icloud.com