Oh Manu… oh yes I do!

Yes, I do love good food which is why I can never resist attending the Good Food & Wine Show every year it hits town (I’ve missed it once in the past 6 years and only because I was overseas at the time).

Even more exciting this year was the receipt of one media pass from Johanna at Stellar*, which not only got me into the Show for free, but also included access to the media lounge and the official Friday morning press conference featuring Gordon Ramsay.

The press conference started at 8.30am, a breakfast spread of coffee, juice, fruit and pastries put on for the waiting media. Lorraine and I parked ourselves next to the gigantic 10kg Channel 7 news camera as we waited for Gordon to arrive. He arrives in a whirl, rattles off a tightly scripted spiel and then races off stage left with no opportunity for questions, only a glimpse of a smile as he ignores a last-ditch question by the Channel 7 news reporter.

You can view my recording of the entire Gordon Ramsay media briefing here.

The best part about an early start? Getting a head-start on the crowds.

On the exhibition room floor at 8.15am Friday

View from above at 8.15am

View from above at 11.30am Friday

More crowds

Lorraine and I were lucky enough to score second row seats to Gordon’s first show at 9.30am. He emerged with black electrical tape over his mouth, a joking reference to his recent controversies in Melbourne.

Gordon Ramsay’s guarantee his mouth will not get him into trouble

No need to shave tomorrow Gordon?

To his credit, Gordon did apologise to Tracy Grimshaw again, acknowledging that he was rude and he was sorry. He also said if there’s one thing he’s learnt in Australia, it’s “don’t mess with the sheilas”.

Volunteers don’t realise what they’re in for

Audience members were quick to volunteer themselves in a bid to win prizes only to realise they’re entrapped in an on-stage version of “So You Think You Can Dance”.

We watched Gordon cook three dishes: cod and tomato chowder, glazed salmon with spinach and radish salad and poached pears in mulled wine. The cod soup looked particularly amazing, cooked in a fry pan with barley.

Back out amongst the exhibitors, there was plenty of see and taste, including cooking demonstrations featuring a few chefs you might recognise too…

Goan Cuisine chutneys

Absinthe

Absinthe for breakfast? Why not? At a harsh 60%, it’s recommended this drink be mixed with sugar syrup and other flavours. I found the flavour still quite harsh though.

Sugar spoon – traditionally used to hold a lump of sugar over a glass
whilst the absinthe is poured over it

Manu gets miked up

As I stood clicking away with photos at the Campbells stand watching Manu Fidel, an older lady sidled up to me and asked “who’s that?”.

“It’s Manu” I said simply.

“Oh MANU.” She motioned toward her friend with urgency and whispered “Look, look, it’s Manu, it’s Manu!” a wide smile spreading across her face.

Manu Fidel

Handmade chocolates from Adora

Chocolate pops from Adora

Campari

Campari samples

Pukara Estate olive oil

Chocolate-filled pretzels with rainbow sprinkles from Bretzel

Ben O’Donoghue at Barbeques Galore

Is it just me, or is Ben channelling a little bit of Mark Wahlberg

But I shouldn’t tease, because hey, you blog!

Wasabi peas

Cakes from Cake Connoisseur

Caramel macadamia mudcake from Cake Connoisseur

Mini flower cupcakes from Cake Connoisseur

Bread from the Grumpy Baker

Batlow apples

Teabah tea

Authentic Turkish Delight

Green & Black’s Organic chocolate

Cupcakes with decorations from Blackwood Lane

The latest taste sensation

Oh yes it’s cat food!

…which only reminded me of this media sensation.

Fardoulis Chocolates

Dried fruit and nut samples

Ferrero Rocher and chocolate Christmas tree by Edible Blooms

Whittakers chocolate samples

Matt Moran with fans

Nut clusters from Go Natural

Kimchee samples from the Korea Tourism Organisation

Organic Times chocolates

Organic Times Gems
described as the size of a Skittle, with the chocolate of a Smartie,
the shell of an M&M and all natural fruit flavours and colours

Nespresso coffee pods

I think the guys on the booth got sick of the requests for George Clooney!

Glenn Flood (you may recognise him from episodes of the
Melbourne Fifteen Restaurant by Jame Oliver)
undertakes cooking demonstration at Raw Materials

Cooking paella

Poaching pears

5kg of salted anchovies

SuperMi noodles

Justine Schofield and Gary Mehigan

The most popular show of the day at the BBC Australian Good Food Theatre was undoubtedly the appearance by Gary Mehigan with Masterchef show favourite Justine Schofield. As Gary later recounted in his Celebrity Theatre show, a clamouring horde of hormone-raging male high school students could not get enough of Justine. “Justine! Justine! Look this way! Justine” they chorused with whoops.

Will/did Justine win Masterchef (the final episode was filmed last Thursday)?

Gary and Justine could only feign ignorance and cross their fingers

Following the show, Gary and Justine valiantly spent a good ten minutes posing for photos with excited fans.

Gary poses for photos

Justine is the crowd favourite

Gary signs his autograph for a fan

Ritter Sport chocolate

Donut machine in action

Dilmah Exceptional tea

I love the Rose with French Vanilla version as a post-dinner tea.

Cupcakes from Symphony Fine Food

Decorated cookies from Cookie Couture

Macarons and carousel cake Cookie Couture

Bunny rabbit family of cookies from Cookie Couture

Decorated penguin and elephant gingerbread cookies Cookie Couture

Sparkling honey drinks by Beechworth Honey

The honey ginger version was deliciously intense.

Vitek Vodka Infusions rose with almond and lime

Maple sugar chips from Le Cordon Bleu

Cupcakes by Yaels Cakes of Distinction

Lemon slice samples by Yaels Cakes of Distinction

Cheese samples

Offering samples of Japanese umeshu plum wine

Fresh seafood on display at the Market Pride stand
by the Sydney Fish Market

La Muscadine (Grand Marnier) handmade chocolates

Shiraz chocolate barrels

George Calombaris in the media lounge

I spotted George in the media lounge just before his Masterchef Live appearance in the Celebrity Theatre, and had I known his apparent dislike of all bloggers, perhaps I would’ve engaged him for a right of reply!

Because apparently George doesn’t like bloggers. He can’t stand them because they pick on him for licking his knife. Come now, George? Surely you can stand a little bit of heat in the kitchen?

I’m not sure I understand the blanket ban or sweeping disparagement for every single blogger in Australia. Sure he’s copped some ribbing but look at how Matt Preston has turned the public’s cravat cringe into a fashion statement and eventual utter public endearment.

You can watch George’s original comment requesting all bloggers to please leave the theatre in my video footage here (and yes, that’s Chocolatesuze giggling beside me)

Why don’t you like bloggers, George?

Gary and George are soon joined by Matt Preston…

Matt Preston arrives with a boxful of butter

and Justine Schofield…

Justine helps Gary in the kitchen

Gary drinks the best ever potato thickshake

As per many a Masterchef episode, the highlights of the show come from Matt, including his best attempt at an impromptu food analogy on Gary’s cooking, telling us about his “roast beef” and showing the crowd his best food tasting facial expressions. Watch Matt Preston here.

Matt Preston entertains the crowd

Pasta samples made by the Kitchenaid pasta attachment

Tsingtao beer

Palm heart samples – they taste like a mild version of artichokes

Palmitos hearts of palm

The friendly team at Latin Deli

Dude Where’s the Food – a cookbook for blokes!

Slicing salami

Marinated chicken samples

Friendliest stall?

Chocolatesuze at The Biscuit Tree

The Biscuit Tree of course. If she wasn’t serving customers with handmade biscotti and shortbread, she was roaming the floor being recognised by readers (a new record of 25 fans on Saturday, I hear) or twittering updates and free tickets.

Biscotti and shortbread by The Biscuit Tree

Gluten-free biscotti

I kept Suze company on a late lunch break to the Lindeman’s Early Harvest Restaurant, serving all the dishes demonstrated by chefs in the Celebrity Theatre (clever marketing, no?).

All dishes pictured were the sample plates positioned on each counter.

Gordon Ramsay: Cod and tomato chowder $16
includes a glass of Lindemans Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Gordon Ramsay: Glazed salmon with spinach and radish salad $24
includes a glass of Lindemans Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Gordon Ramsay: Poached pears in mulled wine $8

Tobie Puttock: Bresaola $16
with parmesan, lemon, horseradish and rye bread
served with a glass of Lindemans Reserve cabernet merlot

Tobie Puttock: Veal osso bucco $24
served with a glass of Lindemans Reserve cabernet merlot

Tobie Puttock: Caramelised brioche with forest berries $8

Alastair McLeod: Antipasto $16
Seared haloumi and salsa rossa, field mushroom bruscetta and
marinated gympie farm goats cheese with pickled beets
served with a glass of Lindemans Early Harvest sparkling

Alastair McLeod: Peppered beef salad $24
with roasted tomatoes, kipfler potatoes and horseradish cream
served with a glass of Lindemans Early Harvest Rose

Alastair McLeod: Chocolate creme brulee $8
with Irish whiskey roasted strawberries and almond biscotti

Matt Moran: Prawn tempura with remoulade sauce $16
served with a glass of Lindemans Early Harvest sparkling

Matt Moran: Chicken saute with chorizo and chickpeas $24
served with a glass of Lindemans Reserve shiraz

Matt Moran: Raspberry tart with champagn sabayon $8

The Gordon Ramsay chef prepares Chocolatesuze’s glazed salmon

Gordon Ramsay: Glazed salmon with spinach and radish salad $24
includes a glass of Lindemans Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

We found the salmon a touch overcooked, not so much flaking as peeling off in layers.

And the love is free by blogger Jules Clancy

Finally Suze and I also tracked down Jules Clancy, food blogger and now self-published author with her cook book And the love is free. I couldn’t resist buying a signed copy of the book – the recipes look great – and it’s a wonderful and heartfelt tribute to her mother June Clancy. Sydneysiders can attend her book launch Sunday July 19, 4pm-8pm at the Tilbury Hotel in Woolloomooloo.

And that’s it! The Good Food Show 2009 in 108 photos and 3 videos – a new Grab Your Fork longest post record!

The Good Food & Wine Show was held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre 3-5 July 2009.

Related GrabYourFork posts:
Gordon Ramsay at David Jones Food Hall, Oct 06
Good Food & Wine Show 2008
Good Food & Wine Show 2006
Good Food & Wine Show 2005
Good Food & Wine Show 2004

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