Minister Hames Handles The Heat In The Kitchen

Western Australian Tourism Minister Kim Hames swapped a suit and tie for chef’s whites last night at a dinner at the White Elephant Beach Café as part of the Food, Wine and China: A Tourism Perspective, an international tourism symposium.

Working alongside Margaret River Hospitality Group Executive Chef Tony Howell, Minister Hames proved he has what it takes to handle the heat of a commercial kitchen.

“He did a great job in the kitchen. To be honest, we couldn’t kick him out!” Howell said.

“The Minister is a very enthusiastic cook, he was just loving it. He got into it and helped with the prep, plating up and was also serving guests.

“In fact, we’d like to keep him on to help us with a function next weekend,” Howell quipped.

Howell said that the Minister had a good appreciation for produce and fitted in well with the kitchen team.

About 80 tourism industry guests enjoyed 10 dishes that showcased some of the best South West produce. The menu featured:

Entrée Canapé
Ceviche of Esperance scallops, gazpacho foam, migas, red capsicum reduction
Local mushroom, kale, balsamic and Yallingup wood fire wafers
Butter poached Pemberton Marron, apple and pinenut remoulade
Rare Margaret River venison, tuna mayonnaise, beetroot tapenade
Confit organic local tomatoes, goats cheese, basil
Yellow curry broth, Margaret River silken tofu, Asian herbs
Arkady lamb neck, sour cream pastry tartlet

Substantial Canapé
Sticky Big Red (David Hohnen) pork belly salad with noodles and ribbon vegetables
Tempura Augusta whiting, tartare, chips

Dessert
Toffee crusted Bahen and Co chocolate crème brulee

Food, Wine and China: A Tourism Perspective is organised by Curtin University’s Tourism Research Cluster in collaboration with the Asia Business Centre on February 4 and 5 at Curtin University Margaret River campus. It attracted leading tourism academics from interstate and overseas including United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan and New Zealand.

Topics include travel barriers for Chinese wine tourists, the importance of food events, an Italian perspective in response to Chinese wine tourists, an inbound tourism operator’s perspective and Chinese wine tourists in France. Tourism WA’s Taste 2020 Strategy was also presented.

For more information about the symposium, visit http://business.curtin.edu.au/our-research/conferences/2016-trc-symposium/

The White Elephant Beach Café has a stunning view over Gnarabup Bay and is open seven days from 7.30am until mid-afternoon and offers an alfresco deck, an 80sqm indoor area free wifi. It is available for function bookings also.


NOTES TO EDITORS:

Margaret River Hospitality Group owns and operates Morries, The Common, White Elephant Beach Café, Barefoot Beach Weddings, a catering company and has a new venue in development in Dunsborough.

Partners of the Margaret River Hospitality Group are entrepreneur Anthony Janssen, hospitality expert Alex Brooks and award-winning chef Tony Howell.

From MRHG: Anthony Janssen and Tony Howell are available for interview

From Curtin University: please contact Dianne Bortoletto on 0439 997 075 if you wish to set up an interview

Photos

High res images from last night available here - please credit Tom Pearsall Driftwood Photography

Other MRHG high res photos available here


Media Contact:
Dianne Bortoletto, Pronto PR, dianne@prontopr.com.au, 0439 997 075