NEW AND EMERGING FOODIE FARE FOR THE TASTE OF TASMANIA

To whet the appetite of hungry foodies across the state, The Taste of Tasmania is excited to announce the first 26 vendors to be featured at Australia’s biggest and longest running food and wine Festival on Saturday 28 December 2019 - Friday 3 January 2020.

This tantalising taste of 100% Tassie stallholders are all first time or emerging producers and promise to bring an exciting array of flavours from all over the world to the stunning harbour-side Festival.

The Taste of Tasmania Food Curator Megan Quill said “We’re really pleased to be able to expand on last year’s program of new and emerging producers, bringing an even greater variety of food options for our Festival goers to enjoy.”

“This year new and emerging stallholders will be featured in a new dynamic space, The Marketplace, modelled off Tasmania’s roadside market stalls. Here guests to the Festival can support growing businesses and sample some truly unique offerings. There will also be many other new vendors dotted across the Festival site,” said Quill.

Festival Director Brooke Webb said “Community, innovation, provenance and pride of place are all major themes of the Festival program this year and these enterprising food and beverage offerings are really reflective of this. It gives visitors an opportunity to discover something new and help support new businesses in Tasmania’s thriving food industry.”

“Our program of producers is also one of the most multicultural ever seen at The Taste. Using 100% Tassie produce these producers will be introducing visitors to cuisines from all over the world including Nepal, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, Belgium, China, Thailand and Australian indigenous,” said Webb.  

Leah Galvin of Eat Well Tasmania said, “"Visitors to the Taste this year will be spoiled for choice with so many cuisines beautifully showcasing Tasmania's incredible diversity of tasty seasonal produce.” 

The new market place precinct shows perfectly just how dynamic Tasmania's food scene is and it's terrific the event is supporting so many small businesses for their first Taste outing. We are really looking forward to this year’s festival," said Galvin.

For the best seat in the house, The Taste of Tasmania offer reserved seating for visitors wanting a guaranteed seat amongst the action. With three, four hour long, sessions on offer each day, reserved seating costs $25 per person on the Waterfront or $50 per table on the Riverside. Tickets to reserve you spot are on sale now!

The first round of vendors announced for The Taste are:

THE MARKETPLACE

A dynamic space for new businesses to introduce themselves to Tasmania, The Marketplace features a wonderful and eclectic mix of vendors, including:

Chill Out Here: Brand new business serving creative cold drinks, snow cones and icy treats utilising fresh Tasmanian fruits and flavours.

Eliza's Restaurant: Launceston-based vegan food stall selling Eliza’s famous signature smoked paprika and coconut crumbed Tassie mushrooms with aioli – finally available in Hobart! Delicious and incidentally cruelty free.

Harissa: Fresh and innovative plant-based ethical eating, serving up a nourishing menu bursting with colour, with a dash of Middle Eastern-inspired flavours.

Iris Lane Espresso: A Salamanca market favourite!  Locally roasted coffee, refreshing cold drinks, espresso martinis and chocolate brownie s’mores.

Lake Barrington Estate: Sparkling wine producers from the northwest of the state, serving their wine alongside some deliciously fizzy cocktails. At The Taste from 31 Dec – 3 Jan.

Soyoyoy: Protein-packed plant-based deliciousness from Tasmania's only tofu producer, showcasing a range of soy products including tempeh, a decadent chocolate mousse, and some creative savoury dishes.

Taiwan Way: Authentic Taiwanese street food, including Chicken and Chips using free range Tasmanian chicken and  traditional recipes, accompanied by refreshing iced teas.

Tasmania Sea Urchin Dumplings: Innovative Launceston-based seafood exporters, turning Tasmania’s long-spined sea urchin problem into delicious ‘pestatarian’ Chinese dumplings.

Tasmanian Fruit Pies: Using all Tasmanian ingredients to create a range of delicious little fruit pies, perfectly handheld and packed with apple, rhubarb, blueberries and apricots.

Tasmanian Spirits Bar: The Tasmanian Whisky and Spirits Association showcasing a range of small batch distillers and their products from across the state with a menu of delicious cocktails, whiskies and liqueurs.

Taylor & Smith Distilling Co.: An independently owned local micro-distillery serving cocktails crafted from their carefully made small batch gin, plus tasty nonalcoholic options, and bottle sales.

NEW TO THE TASTE

Dotted across the Festival site, these new stallholders promise to take taste-buds on a journey of discovery.

Danphe Nepalese: Authentic Nepalese food using quality local ingredients. Serving juicy momos (Nepalese dumplings), and rich goat thali among other specialty dishes.

Eden Pantry: Apple pies and creatively flavoured coconut ice cream using homegrown and locally sourced organic fruit from within the Huon Valley. Naturally dairy free/ vegan friendly.

Ko mi and Hobart Beverage Co.: Collaborative stall with Korean-Japanese street food using traditional fermented condiments, plus an array of delicious liquid refreshments.

Manneken Eats: Legit Belgian fries with a selection of indulgent sauces and freshly made plant-based burgers, served from their brand spanking new food van.

Monsoon Tapas: Delectable fusion dishes that merge Thai influences with excellent local produce, from local Hobart favourites Monsoon Thai Fusion and Thai Veggie Hutt.

Plenty Cider: Tasmania’s newest cider producer, from the heart of the Derwent Valley, premiering their business at The Taste. Try their unique Blueberry or ‘Apple and Rizza’ (riesling) cider varieties.

TummyThai: Authentic Thai menu from a local chef, including a spicy Thai northern sausage, and classic street food snacks, perfect for sharing.

Indonesian Flavours: A new concept from a festival favourite, serving delicious Mie Goreng (fried noodles), and Nasi Goreng (fried rice) with Tassie grown vegetables, as well as noodle making demonstrations on site.

EMERGING AND RETURNING

Some of last year’s emerging vendors are back at The Taste this year after a successful first outing at the Festival.

Absinthe Friends: Huon Valley-based producer of absinthe made from homegrown garden herbs and served in ice glasses, and a lush crème de cassis made from locally-sourced fruit.

Formosa Bites: A small family business with a passion and commitment to homegrown, high quality produce and Taiwanese cuisine. Serving delicious sesame noodle salad and their famous sustainably fished squidlipops!

Iraqi Cuisine: Family run stall selling delicious and authentic Iraqi beef kubba with garlic sauce made from a treasured recipe amongst other delights.

Kaki Lima Indonesian Street Food: Authentic, mouth-watering Indonesian street food using fresh local produce, served with a smile.

palawa kipli: Tasmania’s only Aboriginal street food business, offering innovative, tasty and sustainable dishes using native produce, from wallaby and local indigenous herbs to crickets.

Tassie Can Bar: Developed for the Taste last year, the Tassie Can Bar concept showcases canned beers and ciders from all across the state, with a focus on indie breweries. Enjoy daily tastings and Meet the Brewer sessions.

Yeastie Beastie Doughnuts: Freshly cooked and super tasty sourdough donuts generously topped with local jams and sauces, lemon drizzle or classic cinnamon sugar.

The Taste of Tasmania is Australia’s biggest and longest running food and wine Festival. With stunning waterfront views, awe-inspiring performances, live music and local gourmet offerings The Taste is summer’s not-to-be-missed community celebration.

Entry to The Taste of Tasmania is FREE, with premium events (New Year’s Eve and reserved seating) being ticketed.

WHAT: The Taste of Tasmania
WHERE & WHEN: Saturday 28 December 2019 – Friday 3 January 2020
Princes Wharf, Hobart, TAS, 7000

Website: www.thetasteoftasmania.com.au  
Facebook: facebook.com/thetasteoftasmania
Instagram: instagram.com/thetasteoftasmania