Global food foray

Local producers of food, wine, and beer have been called on to take part in a free initiative to promote Australia’s food and wine experiences as part of the Restaurant Australia campaign.

The Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association is supporting the campaign and is asking operators for a 150-word submission with a high-quality photo.

All submissions will be included on the Restaurant Australia website, which is part of Tourism Australia’s latest campaign.

Partner in 34 Degrees South, Sharon Dunford, said she was happy to get behind anything that promoted the Margaret River region.

“I think it’s a marvellous idea, ” she said. “Anything that helps is good.

“I hope it reinforces the idea that Margaret River produces food, we’re a food-producing region.”

AMRTA chief executive Pip Close said foreigners’ opinions of Australia’s food and wine were positively influenced by a first-time visit.

“Research has found that for people who haven’t been to Australia, only 26 per cent associate the destination with a good food and wine, ” she said.

“But for those who have visited, we rank second across 15 major markets for our food and wine experiences, 60 per cent, behind France and ahead of Italy.

“We just have to convince those who haven’t yet visited that their next trip should be to Australia, for our exceptional food and wine experiences.”

Local businesses can submit a listing at restaurant.australia.com.

•WA’s signature dish has been awarded to Perth’s Rhiannon Birch for her lupin and za’atar crumbed Dorper lamb cutlets with Moroccan roast pumpkin and lupin salad.

Four finalists from the Gascoyne, Great Southern, Southern Forests and Perth regions battled it out in a live grand finale cook-off as part of Celebrate WA’s Come Out and Play event for WA Day.

Dishes were judged by a panel of high-profile food industry experts including Guillaume Brahimi of Bistro Guillaume, executive chef Crown Perth Ralf Vogt and The West Australian’s Rob Broadfield.