South West’s Samira Damirova excited to showcase her culture using local produce at Manjimup truffle event

A South West artisan food producer and photographer is excited to showcase her culture using fresh Southern Forest produce at one of Western Australia’s largest food industry events in Manjimup later this month. Azerbaijan-born food lover Samira Damirova will host an intimate cooking masterclass at the Truffle Kerfuffle on June 25 where she intends to blend her culture with local produce including marron and, of course, truffles. Damirova splits her time between her home in Margaret River and her farm in Pemberton, where she engages in food photography and cooking masterclasses, utilising the vast array of fine local produce the region. Damirova said she was excited to showcase her local region. “It is important to talk about our region and all of the beautiful produce we have,” she said, “not just in winter time, not just the truffles but so much more... we’ve got so much here to offer. “I always say Pemberton chose us — it’s great to be able to do something that I love while showcasing our town’s produce.” During the intimate Truffle Kerfuffle cooking masterclass, Damirova said participants would learn how to combine culture with local produce which she would demonstrate through her Southampton chicken and truffle dumplings. “Two things I like to focus on is the local produce and showcasing my culture because Australia is a melting pot of multiculturalism,” she said. “We’ve got so many cultures and I think it’s a great event to showcase my country.” The 2018 MasterChef participant said she was looking forward to the event and attending as a part of the fantastic line-up of culinary talent, including Colin Fassnidge, Analiese Gregory and Jake Kellie. “I’m looking forward to mingling with like-minded people, tasting more truffles — obviously there will be quite an ample choice — and tasting the food,” she said. “I’ve been to Truffle Kerfuffle but usually as a visitor, and I love tasting all of the different creations that farm owners come up with. “There’s always something new to taste — it’s exciting.”