Chinese visitors get a taste of the Canberra Region
A visiting group of Chinese culinary professionals were dished up a taste of the capital last week with a series of hands-on events.
From making their own bacon at Pialligo Estate, to wine tasting at Mt Majura and truffle hunting, the group were treated to a sample of the best of Canberra.
Through the Pialligo Estate Academy, smokehouse manager Alex Petryk led them on a tour of the smokehouse, and then a masterclass on curing bacon, where they got to learn about the process by selecting their own herbs and spices and massaging them into a piece of pork. They toured the gardens of the estate, digging their own vegetables, some for the first time.
Canberra-based manager of Creative Food Australia, Jing Zhao, who organised the tour said it was a unique experience for the group.
“It’s a different experience for them,” she said.
“Most of them are from the city, they’ve never seen farms, or seen how things grow, we dug up some vegetables out and cooked with them, what an experience.”
Academy development manager Diana Ryan said it had long been a vision of the brand to launch into the global market and this was a significant step to get the region of Canberra and Pialligo Estate recognised internationally.
“Our team is very excited to be hosting this unique program which has inspired a wealth of talent to see first-hand the diverse local produce and culinary skills our region has to offer.”
For Mount Majura Vineyard, the opportunity to be included in the culinary program, and to collaborate with Pialligo Estate was something winemaker Frank van de Loo was happy to be involved in.
“There are great synergies and significant respect between Mount Majura and Pialligo Estate,” he said.
“We are both truly authentic Canberra businesses providing great rural experiences just minutes from the city.
“This program is a great example of the things we can continue to do as the Majura Valley develops into Canberra’s culinary tourism destination.”
Courtesy of Karen Hardy, Canberra Times.
