After postponing its 2020 event – twice – Tasting Australia will return in 2021 from April 30 to May 9 with more than 140 events across 11 SA regions.
The chock-full program includes the return of Tasting Australia Airlines, with day trips to Coffin Bay and Kangaroo Island. Other festival highlights include a three-course “Autumn Harvest Feast” with Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co) and Dan Hunter (Brae) joining Coriole chef Tom Tilbury at Coriole Vineyards; and a Mexican feast at the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Pirate Life cooked by Alejandro Huerta (Chica Bonita), Daniela Guevara (La Popular Taqueria) and Greggory Hill (Hispanic Mechanic).
One of the more accessible events is dedicated to the art of sausage in bread – from the Argentinian choripan and South African boerewors to the Thai sai ua as well as English bangers, German bratwursts, American hotdogs and Serbian cevapcici – held at the University of Adelaide Cloisters and open to anyone.
Other guest-chefs include Lennox Hastie (Firedoor), Alanna Sapwell (Esmay), Paul Carmichael (Momofuku Seiobo), Morgan McGlone (Belles Hot Chicken), Louis Tikaram (Stanley), Analise Gregory (ex-Franklin). Local stars include Karena Armstrong, Emma McCaskill, Maggie Beer and Paul Baker.
Festival director Simon Bryant said the 2021 event would be more special than ever, paying homage to the hospitality industry that has done it tough in 2020.
“With a focus on brilliant homegrown talent from Australia curated by our food curator Darren Robertson, we have created a program that truly celebrates everything we do so well in South Australia. I think that more than ever before, the 2021 program has an event for everyone – from free events to family programming to events for craft beer enthusiasts – we have it all.”
Drinks curator Nick Stock is responsible for a strong showing of wine, beer and spirits across a suite of events and masterclasses, including the brand-new Tasting Table series.
“Whether you want to taste traditional sake in Leigh Street’s Shobosho, sip Krug at the Exeter front bar or taste the very best of New Zealand’s Pinot Noir at Mother Vine, you’ll find it at The Tasting Table,” says Stock.
The Tasting Australia festival hub, Town Square, will be back with a new look for 2021. (Town Square programming and vendors will be announced in January.)
Tasting Australia will run from Friday April 30 to Sunday May 9 across Adelaide and regional South Australia. Tickets are sale now.
