By MELISSA MEEHAN
MELBOURNE’S Food and Wine Festival came to the Yarra Valley this month, with local producers keen to show off their produce.
The Herb and Chilli Festival was held on Saturday and Sunday, with thousands of visitors keen to get a taste of the hot stuff.
The new chilli chicken eating competition was a winner, with a number of contenders putting their hand up to take on the burning sauce.
Each of them devoured the chicken with tears streaming down every face, but a man named Gabi was able to finish first.
Last weekend, Yarra Ranges producers were able to showcase the very best of the area as nine Malaysian chefs toured Victoria.
Stopping for lunch at Thousand Candles winery in Wandin, the chefs were impressed with local trout, cheeses and beef – even hoping to secure a deal to have the produce at their own high class restaurants.
Herb and Chilli Festival organiser and member of Agribusiness Yarra Valley and chairman of Victorian Agribusiness Council Clive Larkman had his finger in both pies, and said he was especially proud that the Yarra Valley was able to be a part of the Food and Wine Festival.
“We have so much to offer here in the Yarra Valley,” he said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to showcase that.”
