Herb and Chilli Festival 2012

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Sat 17 Mar 2012 - Sun 18 Mar 2012

Bursts of flavours, tastes from paradise, herbs and chillies excite the palate like nothing else. They have so much more than just flavour, there is an aura, enriched feelings of wellbeing, followed by satisfaction that is deep in your psyche. Your inner self has found a place to wallow in something out of this world, a secret garden for the senses.



It's a slow build up from meat and two veg, to the colourful landscape of herbs and spices. When you first have them you pull back, they jar the tongue. "I'm not eating this foreign rubbish". But sooner or later you will, if you stick with it, experience something out of your world. You probably won't realise it first off, but once you get the taste, this will enhance your life.



I've tried a bit of bloated prose to go with this story, to try to get you into the first steps of trying something new, and if you're still stuck on chops and boiled veggies, boy, you don't know what you are missing.

So here is something to give you a bit of an introductory course to start you off and maybe broaden the tastes you've already acquired. "Oh no, I don't believe in all that acquired taste rubbish, if I don't like it, I don't like it, I know my tastes" - mankind, would still be in the cave if it had been left to you.

The

A celebration of herbs and chillies, that have enriched our lives. This festival highlights the flavours, benefits and many uses that have advanced Australian food and wine.

What better setting than in the Yarra Valley. You will be spoiled with a wonderful selection of over 300 herb varieties as well as chilli plants and fruits, with the added treat of being able to sample them freshly prepared.

This is part of the 20th Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and will be held on the weekend of the 17th and 18th March, from 10am to 4pm, both days.

There are all sorts of things you'll enjoy. When you arrive, you receive a free herb and chilli festival show bag containing a plant, fertilizer, a magazine plus a lot more (valued at $20) which virtually covers the cost of admission. There will be many stalls offering samples and selling a huge variety of chilli sauces, dips, and pickles as well as dried, fresh and cooked delights.

You won't be disappointed by the big range of fruits, berries, tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, nuts and truffles.

Discussions will be held along with displays by some of the experts in the field. They will share their experience of growing and manufacturing products, through to the many uses these gifts of nature can be used for.

Cooking demonstrations will highlight the many uses of herbs and chilli for you to learn and put into practice at home.

Just feast your senses on all these lovely things, chilli beers, local wines, ciders, ales, fresh fruits and produce, an array of Mexican food (my favourite), freshly made halloumi, dukkhas, harissas, beef chilli pies, locally produced ice cream, fruit smoothies, distilled lavender oil, coffee, with you've guessed it, herb and chilli varieties and a whole lot more.

Plus there is a special opportunity to hear from horticultural societies, including the Lavender Growers and the Victorian Herb Society.

If this wasn't enough, you can whoop it up, with music and dancing.

It's a wonderful day for all the family as the kids are catered for with lots of activities including pony rides, face painting and the perennial favourite, a jumping castle.

They've also got Red Horse's Apache smoke dance, which will be held outside as this is a no smoking venue (only joking).

One last thing, there is a competition, on who can grow the biggest chilli, it's probably too late to start from scratch, but if you are already growing them and you've got one that has stretched the boundaries, well sign up and get all the rules here .

All this and much, much more. Book your tickets online . Children under 14 free.

#festivals
#food_wine
#yarra_valley
#wandin_north
!date 17/03/2012 -- 18/03/2012
%wnmelbourne