South East Queensland’s expansive celebration of its local produce, community, and flavours is back from June 29-July 7, and promises to be bigger than the camels on show at Summer Land farm!
With more than 90 events spanning the region, Scenic Rim Eat Local Week has been described as the “ultimate backstage pass” to the primary producers who supply all of us with the goods, only an hour away!
Aside from all the eating to be had (so much eating), Scenic Rim Eat Local Week is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with, and support the communities that truly act as our food bowl – last year’s Eat Local Week brought 37, 000 visitors to the region (save some cheese for us!).
While there’s a vast range of events on offer, the signature event is the Winter Harvest Festival, a whole-day celebration of local food, wine, beer, and community featuring the famed tractor-pulling contest! Held on Saturday, July 6 in the picturesque country town of Aratula, Winter Harvest Festival runs 10am-4pm and has everything from farm stalls (yes, there’s samples) to cooking demonstrations.
Beyond the Winter Harvest, we’ve rounded up five gourmand and five gourmet picks of Scenic Rim Eat Local Week’s events! Buckle up, Brisbanites, you’re going to want a bite of this.
Gourmand
Summer Land Camels Tour and Taste
Head to Summer Land at 11am from Sunday, June 30-Friday, June 5 for an up-close-and-personal experience with some of the farm’s 550+ wild camels! See behind-the-scenes at the training centre and dairy, and sample some of their award-winning camel milk cheese, chocolate, gelato and skincare products!
Camp Oven Tagalong at Scenic Rim Adventure Park
Get out of my dreams and into my car – we’re going on a self-guided four-wheel-driving tour through the lush Scenic Rim Adventure Park! Before heading off on your drive at 10am on June 29, set up a camp oven in the coals, ready to devour when you return! With all local ingredients, camp ovens, and country-chic dining table set-up provided, this is about as close as we’d like to get to camping in the middle of winter.
A to Z of local bites
Get snacking at this A to BYO event at the Boonah’s sweetest cafe, The Picnic Parlour, on Tuesday, July 2 and Thursday, July 4 from 6:30pm. Sample camel feta from your friends at Summer Land, smoked Moroccan chicken bruschetta from the local butcher, heirloom tomatoes from Veggie Patch Produce, and classic Vanilla slice made with the best local milk from 4 Real!
Beer banter at Scenic Rim Brewery
So much more than simply sampling the sweet sips of Scenic Rim Brewery (though we love that too), let head brewer Mike take you through the history of making beer at this free event, running at 11am, 1pm and 3:30pm on June 29 and 30.
Canungra Food, Beer, and Music Festival
Make the 29th a beer-filled day and stop by the Canungra Food, Beer, and Music Festival as well! Sip in uninterrupted mountain views from the Canungra Bowls Club, as well as gourmet local food stalls, makers markets, live entertainment, and great local brews!
Gourmet
Mount Tamborine Progressive Winery Dinner
Let someone else do the driving on Sunday, June 30 as you hop between Witches Falls, Mason Wines, Cedar Creek Estate and Vineyard, and Hampton Estate for a night of wining and dining. All food will feature Scenic Rim produce, and will be perfectly paired with wine from each vineyard!
Longest Lunch at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley
Phones at the ready – your Instagram followers are going to need to see this! On Sunday, June 30, celebrity chef Fenton Keogh will combine forces with O’Reilly’s executive chef Paula Sproul for a three-course shared lunch, served on a table winding through the vineyard. Enjoy local plates like Fassifern Valley carrot and ginger soup, whole roasted suckling pig, and macadamia pie sprinkled with praline crumble.
Moda in the Vines at Overflow Estate
Join Javier Codina of Brisbane’s esteemed Moda restaurant for a tapas and paella lunch among the vineyard on July 7. With a glass of wine from Overflow Estate on arrival, live jazz for entertainment, and stunning views of Lake Wyaralong, it’s sure to be a stunner of a Sunday lunch.
Sunset and Dinner at Royston House
Picture this: sunset canapes at the stunning Royston House, followed by a dinner cooked over an open fire by chef Simon Gelling. It could be yours on Friday, July 5, along with the sweeping twilight views of the Scenic Rim.
Austin House Degustation
Boonah’s favourite fine diner, Austin House is set to get delicious for lunch on June 30 and July 7, and for dinner on July 6. With chef Mitchell Fox demonstrating an ongoing commitment to unique local produce, the eight-course Austin House degustation for Scenic Rim Eat Local Week is sure to be a triumph of local flavours.
See you cheesin’ in the Scenic Rim June 29-July 7!
