It seems that March is the month for food and wine festivals in Victoria. We've celebrated numerous festivals and shows across Melbourne and Geelong, and now it's Lara's turn.
Located 15 minutes from Geelong, Lara will be hosting the Lara Food And Wine Festival at the historic Pirra Homestead on Sunday March 25, between 10am and 4pm.
Masterchef judge Matt Preston will be a special guest at the Festival, adjudicating the Ultimate Chef Challenge; a competition where six chefs from esteemed local restaurants will have only 15 minutes to create a culinary masterpiece. The chefs that will be competing come from some of the best eating establishments around Geelong (including two chefs who headlined the Geelong Food And Wine Show several weeks ago), so you're guaranteed to see some amazing food creations as a result of this competition. Rosa Mitchell, celebrity chef and author of
My Cousin Rosa will also be on hand to give slow-cooking demonstrations, and sign copies of her new soon-to-be-released book.
Matt Preston will be one of the celebrity guests at the Lara Food And Wine Festival
Visitors to the festival will also be able to view entries for other competitions including photography, cup cakes (judged by a certified CWA judge), fruit and vegetable preserves (judged by renowned celebrity chef Gabriel Gate), and a kid's food and vegetable critter competition.
Meet the author of 'My Cousin Rosa'
If you'd prefer to eat and drink your way through the festival instead, there will be exhibitors from all over Victoria, with over 80 stalls celebrating local produce, wines, and gourmet foods. Some community groups and local businesses will also have promotional stalls, linked to the themes of food and wine.
There will also be live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, the chance to win a gate prize (for people who give a gold coin donation on entry), giveaways, a major raffle, magic tricks, an art exhibition, edible art, or you can bring a picnic rug and eat on the expansive lawns of Pirra Homestead.
With free entry and ample parking in the surrounding paddocks, there's really no reason not to go and enjoy the day's event.
