Dining experiences, masterclasses at 2023 Taste Bundaberg Festival

Colin Fassnidge and Masterchef’s Kirsten Tibballs are among the celebrity chefs featuring in the 2023 Taste Bundaberg Festival’s celebration of local produce and culinary expertise.

Colin Fassnidge, Mark Olive and Masterchef’s Kirsten Tibballs are among the celebrity chefs featuring in the 2023 Taste Bundaberg Festival’s celebration of local produce and culinary expertise.

The 2023 Taste Bundaberg Festival is coming around again with a smorgasbord of options for sampling the culinary delights of local businesses and produce from regional growers.

The 10-day celebration of Bundaberg as Australia’s food bowl kicks off this Friday, August 4, with a packed program providing innovative dining experiences and masterclass opportunities with some of Australia’s leading celebrity chefs.

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Foodies on a budget will be best advised to head to the Taste Bundaberg Market at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct on Saturday from 7am-2pm.

The market will include stalls showcasing produce direct from local fields, trees and vines and meat sourced straight from the paddock, with cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs Mark Olive and Kirsten Tibballs alongside talented local chefs featuring the local produce.

Mark Olive, Kirsten Tibballs and My Kitchen Rules favourite Colin Fassnidge will deliver ticketed masterclasses at TAFE Bundaberg throughout the festival.

Mark, Kirsten and My Kitchen Rules favourite Colin Fassnidge will deliver ticketed masterclasses at Tafe Bundaberg throughout the festival, providing a rare opportunity to learn from some of Australia’s most innovative professional chefs in a training kitchen.

For those more keen on stimulating the senses, a range of dining experiences are on offer including a Pop-up Picnic for families and a romantic date night at mystery locations around the region to be disclosed two days prior to the event.

Some of Bundaberg’s favourite local businesses are featured in the program, with the recently refurbished Bert’s Restaurant offering a candlelit five-course degustation and cocktail masterclass, and the Ohana Winery providing a Paint & Sip evening combining a fruit bowl painting workshop with sampling of the winery’s handcrafted wines and ciders.

Local favourite Bert’s Restaurant is offering a candlelit five-course degustation and cocktail masterclass.

The Windmill Golden Ticket Search at Bargara’s Windmill Cafe is the best option for kids aged 7-12, providing fun make-your-own-pizza experiences, a treasure hunt and lolly bags to collect.

The festival includes a tours and tastings program, with opportunities to pick local strawberries from the fields of Bargara Berries, and to learn insider secrets of growing, harvesting, roasting and brewing coffee from Rod Walmsley of Bundaberg’s own Kadilly Coffee.

And these are just some of the more than 50 events and experiences on offer – Bundaberg Regional Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesman, councillor John Learmonth said there is something for everyone at this year’s Taste Bundaberg Festival.

A range of dining experiences under Nordic Tipis are on offer including a night of dining and entertainment with Colin Fassnidge.

“The Bundaberg Region food bowl is famous for its abundance of fresh produce, its range of talented local chefs, creators, distillers and brewers who showcase these flavours to perfection,” Mr Learmonth said.

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“Our culinary tourism status continues to grow, and the Taste Bundaberg Festival provides a stage on which we can display our food bowl status proudly.

“From barbecuing to sweet treats, coffee creations, strawberry sensations, picnics, cocktails and more – there will be plenty on offer.”

For more information and tickets go to the Taste Bundaberg Festival website.