Chefs, foodies get ‘on-farm’ through tour of Manjimup

A group of West Australian chefs and food service providers toured Manjimup last week to experience some of the finest food, produce and beverages the region has to offer. The Genuinely Extraordinary Southern Forests Food and Farm Chef Tour was a collaboration between the Southern Forests Food Council, getFresh Merchants and Buy West Eat Best to showcase the diversity of the region’s local produce and build closer relationships from “paddock to plate”. The group, pictured, arrived from Perth last Monday and kicked things off with a sundowner at Tall Timbers Brewery. On Tuesday, the tour began with a hot cup of coffee at Southern Roasting Co, followed by visits to Planted Passion Nursery, Yanmah Pasture Raised Pork, Willarra Gold, NewLeaf Orchard and Truffle Hill. Warders Hotel and Emily Taylor general manager Timothy Buckton was on the tour and said he valued being able to build a deeper understanding between farmers and chefs. “To be ‘on-farm’ and see the passion all the farmers and producers put into their produce allows chefs and restaurant owners to really appreciate the product we use and understand everyone’s back story,” he said. “I feel it is also beneficial for the local farmers with an opportunity to hear how we use their products in our operations and understand the finished restaurant product, which results in happy customers and how much we appreciate their input.” The tour was originally scheduled for April 2020 and then again for April this year but was cancelled multiple times due to COVID-19 restrictions. Southern Forests Food Council chair Kieran Kinsella said the tour was a great way to reconnect customers and growers after such a difficult year in 2020. “Nothing compares to the experience of being in the region and meeting our growers,” he said. “Last year was a major challenge for our region to keep our place in the hearts and minds of our customers, who are chefs, grocery buyers and distributors. “We are so pleased to have been able to go ahead with the tour.”