Melbourne Food and Wine Victoria Producers Market

Things were pretty busy down at the Melbourne Museum Commonwealth Games Livesite on Saturday March 18. First of all HRH Prince Edward was at the museum to open the Spirit of the Games exhibition. And, as he learned from museum CEO Dr Patrick Greene, a Victorian Producers Market was in full swing out on the plaza. I don't know if the prince took the opportunity to visit the stall after the opening ceremony. We certainly did.

It was only an hour before closing time but we decided it was time to take the weight off our feet and we dropped by the cooking demo marquee in time to catch Shane Delia, head chef at Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley, whisk up a very smart little dish of snapper and seared scallop with a moulded couscous and pumpkin salad. Shane (pictured above with MC Cameron Smith from Triple R's Eat It), was quick to advocate the use of instant couscous which "even my Lebanese mother-in-law" uses.

Presentation can make a dish look even better and Shane gave some tips, deftly shaping a quenelle of creme fraiche with a single spoon, and introducing many of the audience to one of the new culinary trends - herb sprouts. In this case it was tiny sprigs of coriander, their delicate leaves just emerging, and bursting with concentrated flavour, according to Shane. These formed part of the garnish, along with a couple of little chive spears and a deft drizzle of dressing. These chefs make it look so easy!

Out and about, the stalls showed evidence of a busy day. The pots of jams and chutneys had been well sampled by the punters, the falafels had sold out, ice cream and dessert wine seemed a popular mid-afternoon sugar injection and the stall holders looked ready for a cup of tea and a quiet rest.

But they were still all pretty cheerful, offering tastings of this and that, talking passionately about their wares and showing Victoria is alive and well and producing some darned fine treasures for the kitchen and pantry. Oils and artisan breads, puddings, cheeses, spices and herbs, honey, nuts, wine, cupcakes, fresh fruit, juice and other beverages.

Meanwhile on the big screen in the background, while we were consuming the calories, the Games athletes were out burning them up.

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