Have you ever had a dining experience in a paddock, surrounded by the produce that you’re eating, and enjoying conversation with other people who share your interest in connecting with the people and places that their food comes from?
I have and it was amazing. Let me tell you about it.
Elizabeth and Tony are the creators of People, Plates & Places – outdoor long table plate to paddock dining experiences in the Greater Sunshine Coast region that showcase the best in local produce and chefs. Their final event for 2017 was a 5-course long table lunch at Blue Dog Farm in Mount Mee, 45 minutes north of Brisbane in the hinterland of the Moreton Bay region.
My partner Brett and I decided that after 9 years of focusing on being Mum and Dad to our two beautiful children, it was high time we indulged ourselves in an afternoon of uninterrupted eating and drinking, so we booked our places and eagerly awaited the day.
It dawned clear and sunny, and we pushed aside the usual weekend attire of shorts and t-shirts to find something a bit more glamorous to wear. After dropping the kids to their grandparents (thanks Mum and Dad), we pulled onto the Bruce Highway and headed south with the sounds of our own music playing and no-one yelling from the back seat “I’m hungry”!
It was a beautiful drive up Mt Mee to the farm, winding country roads, green rolling hills and stunning views back to the coast. We pulled up at Blue Dog Farm just before midday and owner Jacki Hinchey was just starting a talk about the property, where she grows fresh produce from locally sourced seed that is organic, open pollinated and often heirloom. Her garden is tended to entirely by hand – from the bed preparation and sowing to the weeding and harvesting. Blue dog lay at our feet, cows rested nearby in the shade and the chooks, ducks and geese scratched around and splashed in the pond. I can’t begin to describe the sense of wellbeing I had at the moment and total connection to place.
From here we headed about halfway up the paddock to where we would be dining, stopping under this glorious gum tree to enjoy a selection of canapés that included a delicious farm cottage terrine with local relish, and goat buffalo feta and micro herb balls. All the courses were matched with quality wine and beer from nearby Ocean View Estates Winery. My favourites were the Wild Fermented Chardonnay (chardonnay never went out of vogue for me) and the Ruby Cabernet. Brett’s were the Pale Ale and Shiraz. Jacki welcomed us to the farm, and Tony and Elizabeth shared their vision for People, Plates & Places and their desire that we all enjoy a relaxing and memorable afternoon filled with fabulous food and wine. Some people knew each other, some didn’t, but in this setting that connected us all conversation was effortless.
It’s hard not to feel relaxed after great food, bubbles and fresh air, so by the time we continued our walk further up the paddock to where our long table awaited, Brett and I were feeling very contented. Many of us took Jacki’s lead and removed our shoes on the way to feel the earth beneath our feet, what’s a cow pat or two between friends – and they were dry ones! We passed the marquees where Chef Sean Heyward was putting the finishing touches to the 5 courses that we were about to enjoy. Imagine the logistics involved in creating a fine dining experience for a large group of people in a paddock. The swags off to the side gave us an insight into the time and effort involved in hosting an event like this. Oh, and in case you’re wondering there was a portable loo so no need to find a tree or trek back to the house.
Writing this story a few months post-event, I’m right back there and so are my taste buds as I’m looking at the photos of the dishes we were served. What produce wasn’t grown on Blue Dog Farm came from the surrounding regions, and I’m hard pressed to pick a favourite. I’m a huge fan of goat cheese so I’d probably go with the Three cheese salad with Frolicking Goat Bûche and Bûche Noir, Little White Goat Persian feta, served with Blue Dog Farm gourmet leaf, heirloom tomatoes and native raspberry and lime vinaigrette. The Hickory-smoked Blue Dog Farm beef with buttered pak choy, served with a Vietnamese salad was also a highlight, as was the Lemon myrtle panna cotta with Blue Dog Farm tamarillo coulis and Woggoon wild honey glaze.
Before the lunch I thought 5 hours seemed like a long time, but at 5pm I couldn’t believe how quickly time had passed. If we hadn’t had children to collect, I would have been tempted to linger a while longer and stay nearby as many guests were doing. I’m a huge supporter of local and knowing where our food comes from. Our long table lunch hosted by People, Plates & Places at Blue Dog Farm wrapped all this up into a delightful and unique experience, that will have me telling people about it for many years to come.
