The Government of South Australia last night (Saturday) presented a Middle East showcase of its finest wines and food products, hosted by two high-profile personalities from the Australian food and wine industry.
South Australia’s own celebrity chef Peter Milosovic, best known for his appearances on Australian TV cookery programmes, together with the Intercontinental Dubai’s Regional Executive Chef Uwe Micheel, prepared and presented a mouth-watering degustación dinner featuring an outstanding selection of South Australia’s finest meats and seafood.
Leading Australian wine connoisseur Mr. Paul Van Der Lee from the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) began the evening by giving a wine master class to showcase some of the area’s premiere wines, specifically from the regions of Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Limestone Coast.
The event was part of a wider campaign by the South Australian Government to raise the profile of the region’s array of high quality indigenous produce and demonstrate the exciting ways they can be presented.
“We produce some outstanding wines and natural produce,” said Nicholas Alister-Jones, Director of the Government of South Australia Office in Dubai. “We are home to some of Australia’s best wine growing regions and we’re excited to be introducing them to the Middle East.”
Many of the Middle East’s top chefs and key players from the hospitality industry attended the event, eager for a taste of the exciting produce on offer, including the exceptionally tender milk-fed lamb and wagyu beef, said to rival the finest wagyu available in Japan.
To demonstrate the quality of South Australia’s seafood industry, regarded by some as one of the best in the world with more than 50 harvested or farmed species, Chef Peter Milovovic served up delights such as SA King Prawns, Southern Ocean Rock Lobster, Pacific Oysters and Kangaroo Island Freshwater Crayfish.
In an effort to further increase awareness of their produce in the UAE and it neighbouring countries, over 30 South Australian companies are participating in GulFood 2006 between 19-22 February. The exhibitors include the region’s top wineries and a diverse and exotic mix of food companies.
The Government of South Australia Commercial Representative Office, Dubai opened in February 2001 and plays a major role in facilitating trade and strengthening ties between South Australia and the Middle East.
