Stroud’s 100 Mile Banquet has claimed its place on the region’s gourmet food calendar.
The lunch, held at Stroud Monastery on November 28, featured four courses of fresh, seasonal local produce gathered from within 100 miles (160km) of the village.
The event was organised and run entirely by a group of mums from Stroud Playgroup who raised more than $4,000 towards improving playground facilities in their community.
Stroud Playgroup coordinator Sheridan Thomas said the lunch was a “tremendous success” with many guests calling for it to become an annual event.
“It really seemed to strike a chord with people,” Ms Thomas said.
”The food and wine were excellent, the venue was inspiring, and the guests were extremely appreciative - we had all the ingredients for a wonderful afternoon.”
Ms Thomas said the lunch was inspired by a Canadian couple’s experiment to live for a whole year exclusively on food sourced from within 100 miles of their home.
“We wanted to showcase how locally raised and produced food is better tasting, better for the environment, better for local economies, and better for our health,” Ms Thomas said.
Stroud mum and chef, Angela Hutchins, was responsible for the gourmet menu which featured produce from local seafood, chicken, beef, lamb, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and wheat and bread.
Local suppliers included Fosterton Biodynamic Farm Bakery, Cornucopia Biodynamic Farm, Mill Creek Wines, Hunter Valley Premium Meats, Johnsons Farmgate, Jacobs Ladder Organic Farm, Tilligerry Organic Farm, Binnorie Dairy, Hunter Belle Cheese and Gordon Latimore Oysters.
Guests dined to the music of part-time Dungog duo Greg Wilson and Jackie Luke from ‘Springtide’.
Ms Thomas said much of the produce was donated or heavily discounted by suppliers and producers keen to showcase their produce and support local fundraising.
“The quality and diversity of produce was amazing and the generosity of our suppliers and producers was very much appreciated.”
Generous donations of produce for the raffle and sample bags came from Alderley Creek Wines, Hunter Organic Growers and Gloucester Seed Savers, King Street Kitchen, Peppers Mountain Fine Produce and Madura Tea.
During the lunch Fosterton Biodynamic Farm Bakery’s Simon Brownbridge detailed the workings of his biodynamic farm and bakery while Stroud’s Gap Hill Wines vigneron Brian Eastoe challenged guests to consider their carbon footprint. Helen Gillard spoke about appreciating wine, the environment and each other’s values.
Great Lakes Council’s deputy mayor John Weate said events like Stroud’s 100 Mile Banquet were the way of the future. Gloucester Shire Council councillor Julie Lyford described the event as “inspired.”
Ms Sheridan said the group was “seriously considering” hosting a similar event next year.
“We’ve only just started fundraising for playground equipment and we’ve got a long way to go, so we will almost certainly do something again next year, possibly in a different season.”
Visit http://100milebanquet.wordpress.c om for photos and full details.
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