Jasmyne Tea

'Liverpool Bites' Food and Wine Festival

Liverpool is turning 200 this year, and to celebrate, Liverpool City Council decided to hold a food and wine festival to showcase the many varied cultures that help make up the community. It went for two days over the 16th and 17th of October, and was held at Woodward Park.

The day I was available to go was the Sunday, and, as everyone had dogged me, I was going it alone. This made me feel incredibly conspicuous with my camera, but I was determined to check it out.

 
HTN and Tafe recruiting stalls

 

My first impression upon entering the area, other than "Oh God, what is that unholy wailing?", was that the number of stalls was very small - I counted about 10 - 15, plus rides. The noise turned out to be a stage that had been set up for "performers" - but to tell the truth, I'd rather listen to Japanese businessmen singing 'Like A Virgin'. Still, I wasn't there for the music, and so I bravely soldiered on towards the food stands, sticking out like a sore thumb among the family groups.

 
These guys were actually not so bad...

Starting from the back, I investigated a Turkish Gozleme stand, but upon finding out how expensive it was ($7.50 for a tiny cheese and spinach one!), I decided to buy some baklava to take home. At $3 a piece, I was hesitant, but I'm glad I bought it because it was delicious, moist and fresh.

 
Baklava, $3 each, two for $5

Desperate for some breakfast, I approached the Dutch Pancake stand, where for $7.50 you get 19 mini-pancakes with your choice of topping, and the option of cream and icing sugar. Service was slow, but you got to watch your food cooking, and the end result is worth it. It was deliciously warm and fluffy - I have no idea if those pancakes are Dutch style, having never eaten in Holland, but they were great.

 

 
19 mini-pancakes, $7.50

Next was an Eastern European bakery stand, and I was tempted to get the burek, but at $10 I felt it was safer to try a couple of other things instead. The hand-made doughnuts and ricotta pastries were fantastically fattening, and I bought a few to take home and share with Stephen.

 

 

 
Ricotta Pastry, $1.20 each

 

Doughnut, $1.00 each

Now, at a food and wine festival, you'd expect wine, right? For some reason there was only one wine stand, run by Narellan Estate Wines, and I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more variety. However, the wine that I tasted here was actually pretty decent, if limited in the way of selection: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Viognier were pretty much all they had. I tasted all of them and took home the Merlot and Viognier, both bottles together costing me $21.

There were other stands, mostly run by restaurants in the area, but having already had breakfast, and not being able to take these items home (like egg and bacon rolls), I stopped at my last stall, a cupcake stand run by a lady by the name of Karolina and her young son. Upon trying some free samples, I discovered Karolina not only makes great cupcakes, but short-bread, cookies and cakes for birthdays and special occasions, too. Everything was made at home, and she dreams of opening a shop soon. Taking home four of her cupcakes, I leave impressed.

 

 
A beautiful Christmas cake

 

 
The cutest Halloween cupcake in the world...

Liverpool City Council probably should have arranged this festival better in the way of advertising and securing stalls - really, the only way I knew about it is that it's right across the street from me. Also, the few stalls really didn't represent the 160-something cultures that we have here in Liverpool. And the "entertainment" really left a lot to be desired - it was one of the reasons I left so soon. Still, I'm willing to admit that this WAS the very first food festival in Liverpool, and I can only hope they do a lot better next time.

 

 

Karolina's Design Cakes

Phone: 0431 591 063

 

Narellan Estate Wines

1043 Cobbitty Rd

Narellan, NSW

2567

[email protected]

 

Cabramatta Moon Festival 2010

September is the month of cultural festivals it seems. This Sunday that just passed, a group of friends and I went to the Cabramatta Moon Festival, which is celebrated once a year at the vernal equinox.

 

 

 
 
 
 
After an initial slip up where we ended up at the annual Chilean Festival (don't ask!) , we were thrust into the teeming mass that was 90,000 people celebrating the time when the moon shines brightest. It sounds awfully pagan and decadent, doesn't it?

 

After having a look at the many stalls along John St, I was eager to try the cuisine being offered on the street.

 Red Lotus Dumpling, 80 cents

 Egg Custard Dumpling, 80 cents

 BBQ Pork Dumpling, 80 cents

Now, at the first stall they're selling dumplings, and when I see the prices I do a double take. I didn't even know you could still get things for 80 cents. Unbelievable! The red lotus dumpling was sweet and dense; the custard dumpling didn't have as much filling, but was still tasty; and the BBQ pork dumpling was delicious, with a sweet, crispy outer and tender, tasty filling.

 Sausage Roll, $2.00

I can't believe I have a friend who'd come to this multicultural mecca and order a sausage sizzle. Apparently it was good, but I couldn't bring myself to try it.

 Satay Chicken Stick, $3.00

There was lots of food on sticks on offer, but the only one I sampled was a satay chicken. It was tender and well-cooked, but the sauce they added right at the end wasn't great, although I guess you can't expect that much at a market-type scenario. The noodles from the same stall were good too, just a bit dry from the time it had spent out (cooking for crowds will do that).

 Fried Hokkien Noodles, $6.00

Finally, full to bursting, we buy ourselves some traditional Moon Cakes (very expensive - if trying for the first time, buy just one), and take them home to try, hoping we'll have room by then.

 Elegant Flower Moon Cake, $37.50 for 4 (with the Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer)

 Moon Cake (Traditional White Lotus flavour)

Moon Cakes are typically given to family, friends or business associates. Normally they are made with a sweet white lotus seed paste and salted duck egg yolks, and have a thin crust. It's considered a delicacy, which is why they're so expensive.

Upon sampling this cake, I'm struck by the contrast between the salted egg and the sweetness of the paste, but it definitely works. I'm not able to eat a whole lot, and I can see why normally this is served in small wedges with Chinese tea.

The Cabramatta Moon Festival is lots of fun, with great (cheap) food, free entertainment and a great, community atmosphere. Watch out for it next year!