Celebrity chef adds flavour to Carnival of Flowers

Much-loved MasterChef Australia winner, author and champion of local flavours and real cooking styles Julie Goodwin will be a special guest at this year’s Festival of Food and Wine at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Goodwin will be demonstrating on Saturday September 10 and Sunday 11 September at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm at the Festival of Food and Wine, showcasing a range of in-season produce from around the Toowoomba Region.

It was more than a decade ago that Goodwin became a household name overnight when she was crowned Australia’s first MasterChef.

Her family-focused cooking style and ‘mum next door’ persona has turned her passion into a hugely successful career with six successful books, TV appearances, Australian Women’s Weekly columnist, radio co-hosting job and many more successful partnerships and appearances across the nation.

In a tribute to Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, local brewer 4 Brothers Brewing is creating a signature floral beer especially for the event.

It will be on offer at the Festival Cocktail Bar and for the Tasting Room Program and at the brewery throughout September.

The beer, Carnivale, is an ale made from a recipe that includes nasturtium flowers.

The Toowoomba region’s first artisan distillery Pechey Distilling Co will feature its signature Homestead Gin, including heirloom kumquat and lemon myrtle from the homestead gardens, and their triple distilled 1868 Vodka at the festival.

The event will be home to more than 35 food and wine stalls and will feature the Botanical Society area, The Tasting Room Bar, Farm to Fork Demonstrations, beer and cocktail bars, the BBQ Pityard and more. Sixteen wineries will take part including Preston peak Winery, Symphony Hill Wines, Twisted Gum Wines, Kingsley Grove Wine, Golden Grove Wines, Jester Hill Wines and more.

Grazing boxes will be available for festival goers and include Kenilworth Dairy, Woombye and Awassi cheeses, cold meats from Grantham, Coolbardie Olives, Kokopod Chocolate, nuts, homemade chilli jam and edible flowers.

Grazing boxes can be pre-ordered. Click here for more information.  

The multi-award-winning Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will take place for the full month of September this year.

Taking centre stage over the new 30-day format will be over 190,000 flowers and local flavours, as the event blooms into a truly region-wide experience for both locals and visitors.

Visit the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers website for event tickets and the full program.