Press Release

 

21 November 2008

Tasmania's First Hands-On Cooking School

Visitors to Tasmania can now experience the State’s quality produce from the paddock to the plate at a sustainable farm-based cooking school established by chef Rodney Dunn and his wife Séverine Demanet, the Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne, announced today.

Ms O’Byrne officially opened The Agrarian Kitchen at Lachlan in the Derwent Valley.

“Rodney and Séverine arrived in Tasmania just over a year ago and in that short time have transformed the old 1887 schoolhouse and surrounds into Tasmania’s first hands-on, farm-based cooking school.

“This exciting new tourism business is a first for Tasmania and we’re delighted that they chose our island state to pursue their dream,” said Ms O’Byrne.

Classes are led by Rodney, a contributing food editor for Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine, and one-time apprentice to legendary Australian chef and Tasmanian produce advocate, Tetsuya Wakuda.

“The Agrarian Kitchen adds a new dimension to Tasmania’s highly regarded food and wine experiences.

“At the full-day classes, visitors can not only taste exceptional Tasmanian produce, but they will learn how it grows, harvest it from the earth and learn how to cook it with their own hands before enjoying it as part of a convivial feast.

“The Agrarian Kitchen gives visitors to Tasmania the chance to embark on a culinary journey and there is a wonderful opportunity to link this experience with other food, wine and wilderness experiences across the State,” she said.

Ms O’Byrne said the State Government was proud to have supported the development of The Agrarian Kitchen through the Tourism Promotion Plan’s Product and Experience Development Grant Program.

“The Agrarian Kitchen delivers an inspiring and engaging Tasmanian experience that aligns well with the Tasmanian brand, and brings benefits to the broader community and tourism industry.

“The purpose of the Produce and Experience Development Grant Program was to provide funding assistance to projects that are ‘market ready’, able to improve visitation in regions, and deliver a Tasmanian experience that exceeds visitor expectations.

“The Agrarian Kitchen certainly does this,” Ms O'Byrne said.

The $16 million Tourism Promotion Plan was established by the State Government  to develop programs to promote Tasmanian tourism following the sale of the Spirit of Tasmania III.