Taste recaptures that original festival vibe

THE Taste of Tasmania has returned to being a festival — much to the delight of stallholders and patrons.

In his 28th year of attending the event, stallholder Fred Peacock, of Bream Creek Vineyard, said the revamped Taste was flourishing.

About 35,000 patrons passed through on Saturday as the festival blended with Salamanca market.

“I like the revamp with good crowd movement throughout the shed,” Mr Peacock said.

“We are getting unsolicited comments from patrons of how they like the decorations and the extra shade under the trees. Interstate visitors are amazed by the festival being right on the waterfront, relaxed with a great variety of offerings.

“New Taste director Brooke Webb and her team have done an amazing job. Standards of stalls are much higher.”

Lost Pippin and The Lamb Baa’s Mark Robertson said changes to the Taste had been positive.

“We have had positive feedback about the minor changes, which have lifted the look and feel of the festival. It seems like the festival has been reinvigor- ated,” Mr Robertson said.

Kevin Sunquist, from Mawbanna in the Far North-West, loved the variety of foods, from pickled eel and braised lamb to the range of beers on offer.

“I even love the Cascade Blue caravan. It’s the best Taste I’ve been to,” Mr Sunquist said.

Jacques and Tanya Cawood, of Hobart, enjoyed the family fun with their children, Minette, 4, and Louis, 2.

“It’s been good for us, we live nearby so we come most evenings but today we had an early start,” Mr Cawood said.

Mrs Cawood said she regularly took her children to the family park section to play.

The festival was going really well, director Ms Webb said.

“I am looking forward to New Year’s Day recovery day when we have a host of great events,” she said.