The Chronicle

Our food scene on the rise

Chef commends our foodies

- TOBI LOFTUS Tobi.Loftus@thechronic­le.com.au

TOOWOOMBA has a unique and emerging food scene that’s different to anywhere else in Australia.

That is according to celebrity chef Andrew McLeod, who was in Toowoomba on Sunday to perform some cooking demonstrat­ions at Grand Central.

“New York isn’t Paris, London isn’t Rome, Toowoomba has a very different vibration and moves differentl­y to Brisbane,” Mr McLeod said.

“I love the fact that there is an emerging food scene that has its own identity.”

During the demonstrat­ions, Mr McLeod also got the crowd to sing happy birthday to 11year-old Kevin O’Donohoe.

Kevin said he wanted to celebrate his birthday watching Mr McLeod’s demonstrat­ions as he loved cooking.

“Desserts are my favourite,” he said.

“I just enjoyed watching the sessions and seeing the cooking.”

Toowoomba woman Michelle Casius-Smith also won a competitio­n by Grand Central to help Mr McLeod on stage during the demonstrat­ions.

Mr McLeod said while meat based proteins remained similar throughout the year, there were a number of different winter vegetables that were still in season at the moment.

“There are potatoes being dug out of the ground in the Lockyer Valley,” he said.

“Kale, cauliflowe­r, broccoli, all those lovely leafy greens, there are plenty of parsnips around as well.”

Mr McLeod will film a segment for a Channel 7 lifestyle show today, before returning to Toowoomba for the It’s A Bloke Thing fundraisin­g lunch at Wellcamp Airport later this year.

 ?? Photo: Bev Lacey ?? KEEN COOKS: Chef Alastair McLeod (centre) passes on a few tips to Kevin O’Donohoe (left) and Michelle Casius-Smith at Grand Central.
Photo: Bev Lacey KEEN COOKS: Chef Alastair McLeod (centre) passes on a few tips to Kevin O’Donohoe (left) and Michelle Casius-Smith at Grand Central.

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