TASTE TEST
HOW T O CHIP IN FOR THE DINING INDUSTRY
TASMANIA’S biggest food and- wine festival might be cancelled this year, but you can still experience our little island’s best flavours and support our small producers this summer.
Taste of Tasmania stallholders over the years have featured unique dishes, desserts and beverages from faraway lands including Ethiopia, Nepal, Belgium, Taiwan and the Middle East.
Without a festival pulling together Tasmania’s most versatile flavours and smallscale producers, it can be tricky to track down the folks behind some of our favourite summer stalls.
Deep End Farm owner Dave Rolph said sales had been “decimated” by 80 per cent due to COVID- 19.
He and wife Cassandra Rolph were supposed to be bringing their signature Taiwanese steam buns from their Geeveston plot to Hobart’s vibrant waterfront over the past few days, but coronavirus had other plans.
“We love Taste, we’ve been going for a few years, our friends are there and we know the people who run it,” Mr Rolph said.
He said it wasn’t all bad, with his business scaling back drastically and conducting extra work around the farm to bring the property to its full potential.
Mr Rolph said locals and interstate travellers should “absolutely” seek out the usual stallholders outside the festival and take a holiday around regional Tasmania to visit producers.
Here’s our guide to where to find your favourite Taste of Tasmania treats.
START WITH SAVOURY Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Co.
A staple Tassie go- to with world- class washed rind, hard and white mould cheeses. Wash it all down with a Farm Ale or Cloudy Bay IPA.
Where to find it: Visit the cellar door at Great Bay, Bruny Island, grab your favourites on the go from the Hobart Farm Shop at Argyle St, North Hobart, catch the team at a local market or book private tastings and buy products online via brunyislandcheese.com.au
Danphe Nepalese
Slurp up some perfectly spiced dal bhaat or bite into a flavoursome momo dumpling from the popular Nepalese and Indian cuisine specialists at Danphe Nepalese.
Where to find it: Their usual offerings from the Taste can be found at their Collins St restaurant. More information danphenepa-lese.com.au
Deep End Farm
A sustainable produce gem at Geeveston known for its fastselling, puffy white Taiwanese steamed buns along with its Japanese Rice Bowl and Taiwanese Crepe.
Where to find it: Tours or visits to the farm at Judd Hills Rd, Geeveston are on hold, but you can get your fix at Street Eats Franko every Friday evening at Franklin Square, Hobart or Farm Gate Market, Hobart every second Sunday. More information deepend.farm or face-book.com/deependfarm
Maning Reef ( Tempura Vegetables and Mushrooms)
John Caire’s soft tempura mushrooms have been a Taste staple since the festival’s inception.
You can grab a serve at Sandy Bay Rd’s beloved Maning Reef Cafe.
Where to find it: Maning Reef Cafe, Sandy Bay for a dine- in experience, or try contactless home delivery via maningreefcafe.com.au
Flamecake
Flamecake offers Germanstyle pizzas and sandwiches with local toppings such as dry cured bacon, gruyere cheese, hot smoked wildcaught salmon and pulled Scottsdale BBQ pork. Where to find it: Head to its pop- up restaurants in Kettering and Snug, or visit its stalls at Salamanca Market and other southern festivals. More information facebook.com/flamecaketas
Harissa Moussaka, malai kofta and cauliflower and walnut bolognese fettuccine are just some of the affordable, plant- based offerings from Harissa’s Middle East- inspired kitchen.
Where to find it: Order and collect a meal at its New Town kitchen or order through its catering services. More information harissaho-bart.com
Mount Gnomon Farm
Fresh paddock- to- plate meals and meats from the remote farm bordering Dial Range near Penguin.
Where to find it: Sample its best offerings at Harvest Launceston market every Saturday or Farm Gate Market on the first and third Sundays of the month. Book tours, functions or catering, or request home delivery elivery via mountgnomonfarm.com.au
Munchies Street eet Food
Korean recipes with French techniques meld to create bao buns brimming with pork belly and street- style Korean fried chicken.
Where to find it:
Munchies makes a regular appearance at Hobart Twilight Market, but the Tasmanian Produce Market at Bellerive also hosts the stall. facebook.com/Munchiesstreetfood
Sea Urchin Dumpling
Spiny seafood d creatures have been transformed med into a tasty delicacy along g with other de delicious Chinese dishes. Where to find it: Visit the team at its restaurant on Invermay Rd, Mowbray or order online via Door Dash and Menulog. More information thefork.com.au/restaurant/sea-urchin-dumpling
SWIG IT DOWN
Clover Hill Wines The best of northern Tasmanian wines straight from the Piper’s River region; wash down your summer fare with a cool climate sparkling.
Where to find it: Visit the Clover Hill Rd vineyard in Lebrina or order a bottle online. See its range of experiences including scenic flights and private oyster tours. clover-hillwines.com.au
Ghost Rock Wines
Cradle Coast’s Ghost Rock Wines boast a “supernatural range” with Pet Nat, Summer Skins, pinot noir and Pinot X along with their Ghost Rock range and single vineyard series.
Where to find it: Visit their cellar door and eatery for wine tastings and sales at
Port Sorell Rd, Northdown or order online. ghost-rock.com.au
Knocklofty
The West Hobart hills have fostered small- batch bat spirits including Penn G Gin featuring Tasmanian pepperberry, juniper and citrus, black vodka with Acacia catechu bark, lime and orange liqueur.
Where to find it: Tours and tastings can be arranged by appointment, with upcoming events to be announced and products available at several bottle shops and bars around Tasmania or online. More information knock-lofty.com.au
Morrison Brewery
Traditional English brews inspire this award- winning, eclectic range of limited releases including the session ale, Irish Stout, Tasmanian IPA and
English Bitter, perfect for a hot summer’s day.
Where to find it: The craft brewery can be found at Mowbray St, Invermay with products on tap at Tandy’s Alehouse and St John Craft Beer Bar in Launceston and Harlequin in Lenah Valley, or order tins from online. More information knock-lofty.com.au
Tasmanian Chilli Beer Company
Self- described as “unique, bold and sometimes a bit spicy”, Tasmanian Chilli Beer is a beloved brand for alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages alike. Try the sustainably handmade Local Mule ginger beer, Dark and Stormy, Ginger Chilli Beer or Lime Sparkling.
Where to find it: Non- alcoholic products are available at shops and restaurants around the state, or visit its Salamanca Market “cellar door”, or order online. More information tasmanianchil-libeercompany.com.au
Tasmanian Tonic Company
A perfect pairing for your gin of choice, tonic water syrups are flavoured with leatherwood honey, pepper berry, Mediterranean flavours and smoked eucalyptus. If you prefer soda over tonic, try the Southern Ocean soda syrups including smoked d cola, and leatherwood d honey and sea salt. alt.
Where to find d it: Hill St Stores, 9/ 11, Lipscombe Larder, Dan Murphy’s, Eumarrah, Hobart Brewing Co and more stock its fizzy zzy products, which are also available online. More information tasmaniantoniccom-pany.com.au
SOMETHING SWEET Island Berries Tasmania
It wouldn’t be the Taste of Tasmania without fresh berries and lashings of syrup. Island Berries has showcased pana cotta with raspberry coulis, chocolate sauce waffles and blueberry coulis pancakes to name a few items. Pana cotta, chocolate mousse, sauces, coulis, fruit pastes and jams can add a Tassie twist to your dessert this summer.
Where to find it: Buy its products at Woolworths, or online on at island-berriestasma-bernia.ncom.au
MIAM M French Crepes
A popular festival va staple, the French Fre authentic crepes, crepes left, include tantalising fi fillings like salted caramel, homemade raspberry jam and lemon curd, Nutella, maple syrup and rhubarb.
Where to find it: Salamanca Market hosts the stall every week, while Hobart Twilight Market can often bring in the crepes too. Big events like Festivale and Taste of the Huon have also brought the dessert around
Tasmania. More information miamfrenchcrepes.com
Soyoyoy
This business knows treats are for everyone, specialising in tasty plant- based items.
Go savoury with its tofu and tempeh products, or indulge in a creamy chocolate mousse without the dairy.
Where to find it: Soyoyoy stocks at Farm Gate Market, Eumarrah Hobart, the Organic Grocery Store in Launceston, Unpacked Kingston and The Olive Jar in Huonville. More information soyoyoy. com. au
Yeastie Beastie Doughnuts
Custard, cinnamon sugar and lemon drizzle – Yeastie Beastie has got it all wrapped up in its sourdough offerings.
Where to find it: These treats appear at plenty of markets in southern Tasmania, from Franko Street Eats to Cygnet Market. More information facebook.com/yeasti-ebeastiedoughnuts