Three Food Icons: Cheong, Maggie and the Market – until June 2

South Australian photographer Tony Lewis presents a collection of his favourite food-orientated work for The Hawke Centre and Tasting Australia featuring the food of Cheong Liew and Maggie Beer and a look at life in the Adelaide Central Market. Lewis has worked with both Beer and Liew over a number of years, photographing many of their dishes. He is also a being a long-term devotee of the Central Market, and has documented aspects of life there not usually seen by its customers. The Three Food Icons exhibition can be viewed at the UniSA Kerry Packer Civic Gallery Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Thursdays until 7pm.

No Meat May – Until May 31

‘No Meat May’ is an initiative that challenges Australians to eliminate meat from their diets for 31 days. It aims to address four key issues related to the over-consumption of meat (environment, personal health, animal welfare and food equity), and challenge meat eaters to make more sustainable and animal-friendly food choices. Those who sign up for No Meat May can choose to donate or raise funds through sponsorship for its four aligned not-for-profit organisations: Greenpeace, Animals Australia, Cancer Council Australia and Oxfam Australia. Participants  will be provided with free vegetarian and vegan recipes, nutritional information and professional advice. More information can be found here.

Italian Cheese and Wine with Luigi Guffanti – May 3

Take a tasting tour of Italy through some of the world’s best-known cheeses paired with wines from the same region with The Smelly Cheese Shop’s affinatore (cheese ageing expert) Luigi Guffanti. Regional cheeses aged and hand-selected by Guffanti for the tasting include Parmigiano Reggiano from Emilia-Romagna, Gorgonzola and Taleggio from Lombardy and mixed milk white moulds from Piedmont. Cost is $80 per person. More information and bookings here.

2016 Food South Australia Summit: Thoughts for Food – May 4

If you are into food and you are growing, manufacturing or servicing the food industry, or you simply want to hear the latest thoughts about food issues, innovation, products and strategies, Thoughts for Food will explore current thinking on consumer attitudes and behaviour, sustainable development of the foods that we produce, the latest trends and innovations in food, and the opportunities and emerging challenges facing food manufacturers today. Thoughts for Food will be a full-day conference held at the Tasting Australia Town Square Conference Pavilion. Tickets cost from $250.

Single Sites Dinner – Tasting Australia – May 5

Join seven of South Australia’s award-winning winemakers as they pour and describe their single-vineyard wines matched to a degustation menu created by seven of the state’s outstanding chefs. Winemakers and chefs have been working collaboratively on the food and wine matches on the menu and include Kate Laurie (Deviation Road) paired with Lachlan Colwill (Hentley Farm Restaurant), Jeffrey Grosset (Grosset Wines) with Paul Baker (Botanic Gardens Restaurant), Kym Schroeter (Penfolds) with David Swain (Fino at Seppeltsfield), Stephen Pannell (SC Pannell Wines) with Duncan Welgemoed (Africola), Stephen Henschke (Henschke Wines) with Mark McNamara (Food Luddite); Sue Hodder (Wynns Coonawarra Estate) with Andy Davies (Press; Osteria Oggi), and Dudley Brown (Inkwell Wines) with Karena Armstrong (The Salopian Inn).  The Single Sites Dinner will be hosted by Tasting Australia creative director Paul Henry at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Tickets are $350 per person;  bookings and more information here. Tasting Australia runs until May 8.

Aussie Wine Month Single Vineyard Shiraz Masterclass and Degustation – May 7

Explore single-vineyard Shiraz with d’Arenberg Wines’ senior winemaker Jack Walton guiding you through a vertical tasting of three wines from the Amazing Sites range, followed by a seven-course degustation of local and seasonal produce at d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant complemented by wines from the d’Arenberg range. The wine masterclass starts at 1pm followed by lunch at 2.30pm. Tickets are $170 per person. For bookings call 8329 4822.

Mother’s Day at the Stamford Plaza – May 8

The Stamford Plaza Adelaide is offering a selection of special Mother’s Day events including a Mother’s Day Argentinean Brunch at La Boca Bar & Grill from 11am ($45 per adult, $20 per child under 12), a Mother’s Day Seafood Lunch at TG’s Restaurant from 12.30pm ($69 per adult, $35 per child under 12), and a Mother’s Day High Tea in the Boulevard Room from 2pm ($59 per person). More information about Stamford Plaza Mother’s Day events can be found here.

Mother’s Day lunch at Kersbrook Hill Wines & Cider – May 8

Adelaide Hills winery and cidery Kersbrook Hill is holding a Mother’s Day lunch among the barrels with gourmet pizzas, share platters of local produce and desserts. There will be live music and a glass of free sparkling for mums. Bookings are essential by phoning 8389 3301.

The Curious Squire’s Mother’s Day special – May 8

For every table booked on Mother’s Day, The Curious Squire is offering mothers a free serve of “Ma’s Apple Pie”, its signature dessert dish made with James Squire “Orchard Crush” cider compote and served with vanilla ice-cream, maple syrup and creme anglaise. For bookings phone 7017 5767.

The Curious Squire’s ‘Ma’s Apple Pie’.

Georges on Waymouth Cognac Masterclass – May 12

Taste some of the finest cognacs produced at this aperitif and digestif masterclass presented by Cerbaco’s Mikael Gillard. Hosted by award-winning Georges on Waymouth, the masterclass includes the following liqueurs: Pineau Blanc Francois Voyer, Cognac Paul Giraud VSOP, Cognac Jean Filloux 1992, Armagnac Delord 1985, Armagnac Comte de Lamaestre 1979, Calvados VG 2000, and Rum Chairman Reserve St Lucia. Tickets are $65 per person including food and drinks. Bookings essential by calling 8211 6960.

Stone Ground at Leonard’s Mill Restaurant – May 13

Step back in time at Leonard’s Mill Restaurant for Stone Ground, a three-course candlelit buffet dinner of 1880s fare celebrating the 2016 History Festival. Guests, who are encouraged to dress in a costume from the era, will enjoy a night of food, music and glimpses of performance from Sealand Theatre. The event starts at 5.30pm with the launch of Leonards Mill’s historic plaque at the start of the Second Valley Historical Walking Trail and a welcome glass of mulled wine; the dinner will then be hosted in the 1880s Wheat Shed with entertainment including live music by The Fiddle Chicks. Tickets are limited to 80 guests and cost $65 per head. For information and tickets, phone 8598 4184.

Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend – May 13 to 16

The annual Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend offers a variety of events highlighting the region’s food, wine and hospitality. As well as cluster events such as the Gourmet Hub and Clare Valley Cuisine’s Gourmet Market Day, there are ticketed culinary events and day-trip options, weekend packages and more. Mitchell Wines of Sevenhill and Terroir restaurant of Auburn are teaming up to host a breakfast picnic at the winery on Sunday, May 15, featuring grilled Moroccan-style merguez sausages with broccolini, mushrooms, baked beans and corn bread; haloumi with minted pea yoghurt and fattoush salad; crab and potato cakes with sourdough, smoked almond slaw and citrus creme fraiche; and two Riesling cocktails created with the help of Lotus Lounge. The Mitchell Wines breakfast picnic begins at 8.30am. Dishes are $12 each or $20 with a cocktail. Visit the Clare Valley Wine Facebook page for details.

Clare Valley vineyards in Autumn.

The Future of Australian Wines dinner @ 2KW – May 17

Offering four courses matched with wine from Daosa, Kaesler, Tappanapa and Yarra Yering, this unique event promises great food, iconic wine and lively debate from two Australian heroes of wine – Brian Croser and Ed Peter. Cost is $165 per person. Bookings essential by phoning 8212 5511.

Howard Twelftree Memorial Stir – May 22

Mushrooms are the ingredient of choice for the seasonal South-West City community cooking competition at the Duke of Brunswick Hotel. Chef Cheong Liew will judge the autumn competition, which will take place at 12.30pm on May 22. Information and expressions of interest for entries can be directed to the hotel manager.

Waywood Wines Long Table Lunch Series #4 – May 28

Celebrate Aussie Wine Month with Waywood Wines at its McLaren Vale cellar door in May and enjoy a four-course banquet prepared by caterers Luscious Red, matched with a selection of Waywood’s favourite McLaren Vale Cabernets. Limited tickets are available at $120 per person. Bookings and more information here.

Sea & Vines – June 10 to 13

Now in its 24th year, the McLaren Vale Sea & Vines Festival celebrates the region’s culinary and wine traditions. Showcasing 25 wineries and 35 food and wine events over the June long weekend, this year’s festival includes highlights such as a five-course degustation dinner event with jazz virtuoso James Morrison; a dinner at Salopian Inn matched to wines selected by Matt Dunne, sommelier at Sydney’s Aria; a six-course long lunch at Serafino prepared by former MasterChef contestant Jessie Spiby and executive chef Sarah Contin; and a collection of seafood masterclasses led by Michael Angelakis and Michael Keelan. The full program can be found here.

Losing the plot – until June 26, 2016

Losing the Plot: food gardening in South Australia is a Migration Museum exhibition that is also featured on the Tasting Australia program. Losing the Plot explores the history of growing food in South Australia and examines the stories behind the food on our plates, from Aboriginal food production and school and community gardens to the home garden and market gardens in SA. The exhibition is accompanied by a program of workshops and talks focussing on food gardening and the use of garden produce in preserving and cooking.

A school garden at Rowland Flat, 1945.

News, tips and information?

The Forager would love to hear about your news, events and suggestions. Please contact us at [email protected].