All images credit: Tasting Australia
Tasting Australia’s new creative team has been announced and with much loved stars joining the crew.
McLaren Vale’s Karena Armstrong alongside renowned culinary icon Darren Robertson have been appointed as Tasting Australia’s Co-Festival Directors.
They are joined by Emma McCaskill as the festival’s new Food Curator and Nick Stock returning as Drinks Curator while Simon Bryant moves on from his role.
Tasting Australia will run from Friday April 29 – Sunday 8 May 2022 across Adelaide and regional South Australia.
Presented by RAA Travel, Tasting Australia is set to evolve in 2022 with the new creative team taking the reins.
Karena Armstrong
Darren Robertson
Karena is well recognised for her roles with The Salopian Inn at McLaren Vale. As co-owner and chef, Karena has stretched her ideas and enthusiasm to develop a surprising, seasonal and ever-changing menu centred on Asian flavours and timeless techniques.
“Tasting Australia is an event close to my heart, since my first festival in 2014 I have had a strong connection to the event and I am excited to be appointed as the Co Festival Director,” Karena said.
London born Darren has a ‘real food’ philosophy and a passion for farm to table cooking. He has won loads of awards and is a popular personality for his TV host and media personality. He moved to Australia in 2001 and became Head Chef at Tetsuya’s, and is now the co-owner and chef at Three Blue Ducks, Byron Bay, Sydney and Brisbane and Rocker in Bondi.
“I have been involved with Tasting Australia for the past three years and it is truly one of the highlights of my year,” Darren said.
Emma aims to create deliciously crafted food with a big focus on clean, balanced flavours with a hugely successful international career. Meanwhile, Nick is one of Australia’s best-loved wine personalities and has one of the most widely experienced palates.
Emma McCaskill
Nick Stock
Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall said that Tasting Australia is a key event on SA’s event program which creates jobs and brings hundreds of tourists to our great city.
“Darren and Karena as Co-Festival Directors are the perfect duo to lead Tasting Australia, complemented with Emma McCaskill and Nick Stock in the curator roles,” Premier Marshall said.
“Tasting Australia is the country’s leading culinary tourism festival, it creates jobs, investment and showcases just how Adelaide is the most liveable city in the nation and third in the world.”
Outgoing Festival Director, Simon Bryant will move on from his role after eight years at the helm. Bryant will take on a new role within the festival as Patron, where he will pass on his knowledge of the event and the industry to a new creative team, providing mentorship and guidance to the incoming team.
Hitaf Rasheed, Executive Director of Events South Australia recognises and pays tribute to Bryant’s significant contribution to the festival and looks forward for what the new team will bring.
“Tasting Australia is all about telling the story of Australia and South Australia – promoting people, produce and place. It attracts some of the nation’s best culinary talent to South Australia and I am looking forward to seeing how the festival continues to evolve under a new creative team in 2022,” he said.
Former Tasting Australia Patron, Cheong Liew will be acknowledged as a Legend of Tasting Australia, a new category recognising individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on South Australia and previously held the position as festival Patron.
Cheong will be in good company, joining as a Tasting Australia Legend alongside Australian food icon and previous Patron Maggie Beer.
“It has been a great honour to be Patron for Tasting Australia for the past three years and I am truly just as honoured to be recognised as a Legend of Tasting Australia,” said Mr Liew.
Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel will take place across Adelaide and regional South Australia from 29 April – 8 May 2022.
The event program will be revealed in early December 2021. Visit Tasting Australia for more information on the festival.
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