Tasting Australia 2022: SA chef Karena Armstrong shares full program, including new Pie Life event

International guests are on the way as Tasting Australia’s new team reveals the full program for this year’s 10-day festival, including a special event celebrating the humble pie.

Overseas and interstate food lovers are already snapping up tickets for this year’s Tasting Australia festival, which is set to be the biggest one yet.

The full program for the annual 10-day food and drink extravaganza has finally been revealed, with an event celebrating the humble pie, Pie Life at the Lion Hotel, among the new additions.

Tasting Australia co-director Karena Armstrong said excitement was building for the April 29 to May 8 festival, as the state’s hospitality and border restrictions slowly ease.

“It’s been an incredibly tough two years for the industry. So the idea of going to something, and having a shared experience around food and wine, and people and places, is really exciting for people,” she said.

“We already know we’ve got some international and interstate guests coming via our tickets sales and that’s really exciting for our economy and for our state, to welcome them back – that’s huge.”

Tasting Australia co-director Karena Armstrong and executive chef for BSGM Hospitality Group Brendan Boothroyd with pies at The Lion Hotel for Tasting Australia's Pie Life event. Picture: Mark Brake

More than 200 events – up from last year’s 140 – in 11 regions make up this year’s Covid-safe program, which is available in The Advertiser on Saturday.

Salopian Inn founder Armstrong said she was especially looking forward to Pie Life, which will feature chefs including Justin James (Restaurant Botanic) and Terry Intarakhamhaeng (Soi 38) sharing their favourite pastry dishes.

These include a green chicken curry pie floater from Intarakhamhaeng, and a marron, scallop and sweetbread pie from James. Award-winning Sydney pastry chef Lauren Eldridge will whip up a pistachio and fig pithivier.

“The flavours you can build into a pie are extraordinary,” she said. “As a general rule, chefs love making them and they really evoke an emotion.”

It's piping hot, totally flavoursome and has fantastic pastry to filling ratio... We're talking about the beloved meat...

Posted by The Advertiser on Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The Botanic Gardens Restaurant has appointed Justin James as its new executive chef. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Other new festival highlights include a Mayura Station and Henschke Dinner at Callum Hann’s new restaurant, Eleven, and a $2000-a-head Tasting Table session at Mother Vine in the East End.

There’s also more affordable options such as the $40 Town Square Kitchen express lunches in the Victoria Square festival hub, featuring some of the world’s best chefs including Dave Pynt, from Singapore’s Michelin-starred Burnt Ends.

Tickets: tastingaustralia.com.au. New events on sale from Saturday, February 26, at 6am.