Popular event a Must for one of State’s stars
One of Perth’s most acclaimed chefs enjoys Taste Great Southern so much he has returned year after year for a decade.
Must Winebar director and chef Russell Blaikie is a fierce supporter of the gastronomical feat and is excited to be coming back to take part in two events this year.
“I was asked by one of the original organisers of the event to come down and cook and I enjoyed it hugely … I have put my hand up to come back most years,” he said.
“It is something I look forward to every year … the highlight for me is the people and the produce.
“Without fail, the people that attend Taste Great Southern events are so into their food … so eager to taste fantastic wine and beers and other booze, have a great time and experience a food and wine gig that is just amazing.”
This year, Blaikie will face off against respected cook Anna Gare under the stars at a night market in the picturesque surrounds of Denmark’s Rockcliffe Wines.
“Bev and Howard Shapland are supplying some vegies for the cook-off and it is always a pleasure to cook with their produce,” he said.
“They are expert growers who have developed such a great following for their produce in the region,” he said.
The next day, Blaikie will team up with longtime collaborator Albany chef Amy Hamilton, who completed her apprenticeship at Must and these days runs the revamped Liberte at the London Hotel.
“I think Albany has a great asset in Amy,” he said.
“She is a bloody terrific cook.”
He said the cuisine at the French-Vietnamese fusion banquet-style luncheon would be “amazing”.
“We will be giving people our take on the French influence on Vietnamese food,” he said.
“We are going to have fun … and we want people at the end of the day having a fantastic knees-up.”
He said menu highlights would be Amy’s crumbed, deep fried rice paper rolls and his slow-cooked beef clay pot and Vietnamese twist on French classic duck a l’Orange.
