Karena Armstrong has built an enviable reputation as a chef, working at some of Australia’s best-known restaurants and now as co-owner and chef of The Salopian Inn in McLaren Vale.

This is Armstrong’s second year as co-festival director of Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel, having paired up once again with Darren Robertson to curate the event.

“My passion with food is around producers and, in particular, South Australian producers,” Armstrong said.

She said her approach to the offering in Town Square and across the wider festival was to highlight the breadth, depth, quality and versatility of the state’s food offering.

Tasting Australia festival co-director Karena Armstrong

“Someone like Phat Head, they’ll do the Vietnamese twist on really good South Australian pork,” she explained.

“But then you’ll get someone like One Sneaky Cheetah who make an awesome pizza and might use some of the amazing mushrooms we grow, or some of our salumis that are cured here.”

Armstrong is a planner – she confessed to planning her next meal as soon as she wakes up – and enjoyed the project management aspects of bringing together the festival, as well as the food.

“What I love about this Town Square curation is there are plenty of what I call light, fresh, vibrant foods too,” she said.

“You can get a huge mac and cheese, made by Paul Baker and his team at Chefs on Wheels, or you can get a gorgeous bowl of salad.”

The Salopian Inn’s ethos as a leading producer-based restaurant, – “We’re not fancy, we’re just a really down-to-earth regional restaurant” – plus Armstrong’s role as a mother of three young boys, means Town Square’s offering will be perfect for families.

“My kids loved coming in last year and there will be such a wide variety of food again – from vegan all the way through to Boston Bay Smallgoods [collaboration with Smokin’ Grillers] doing grilled and smoked meats,” she said.

Armstrong and Robertson’s curation has seen an exciting, new selection of vendors added to previous favourites, ensuring a culinary adventure for all tastes.

Kuti Shack will bring the best of the state’s seafood, from wok-tossed pipis finished with chilli jam and lemongrass, to KIN Southern bluefin tuna cheeseburger with Virginia cucumber pickles.

For diners looking for gluten-free options, or just authentic Mexican flavours, Taco Cartel’s trio of tacos or loaded fries are the perfect choice. Like many of the vendors, they will also have vegetarian and vegan dishes too.

Other newcomers include the savoury and sweet offerings of Crepe Bar, the iconic Peel St Restaurant, Mediterranean-inspired cooking from Victoria Park Social Club and Bowden’s CARŌclub.

Town Square is open from 11am every day during Tasting Australia

Not a vegetarian herself, but eating a lot of plant-based meals, Armstrong said she is particularly looking forward to the return of Hubba Hubba Hummus and their bowls bursting with Middle Eastern and Moroccan flavours and pickles.

Stopping in for a pre-dinner drink is encouraged, with the seven unique Town Square bars serving anything from whiskey tastings, to cocktails and, of course, “a great glass of wine”.

“But it’s all with a huge South Australian bias, which is what I love,” she said.

“There are lots of low alcohol or no alcohol options as well. We’ve got StrangeLove on board, who make beautiful mixers and soft drinks.”

The free Storyteller series will return, enabling ticket holders to see some of the country’s best chefs in conversation with host Mandy Hall or Armstrong, who added the event to last year’s program.

“I was really aware that for some of our super-top-level talent who’d come over, not everyone has access financially to go to one of their events,” she said.

The individual events in the Storyteller series are now sold out, however those eager to attend can be added to a waitlist.

Music is also on the menu with a line-up of live acoustic acts including My Cherie, Ella & Sienna, Lucas Day and Ollie English. With more shelter should the weather be less than perfect, plus heating, spending a few lazy hours in Town Square will be almost mandatory.

Armstrong expects the atmosphere in Town Square to be festive and celebratory, as it was last year.

“It was electric. Particularly late afternoon, early evening, the dance floor really got going, which was a surprise to everyone. But it was just amazing!” she said.

Town Square will be open 11am–midnight, Fridays and Saturdays and 11am–9pm Sunday to Thursday during Tasting Australia.

Town Square patrons can have their dishes served on a take-home, enamel Tasting Australia plate for $1, with all proceeds donated to the State Emergency Relief Fund to help South Australians impacted by the River Murray floods.