NEWSLETTER

Dear Friends

Hope all is happy in your lives and you’re tasting wonderful things and exploring new flavours. Lots of competitions in this newsletter plus our fabulous Greek Island Safari just launched and a delicious smokey event this weekend in Sydney. 

Food Safari Fire

This week’s Food Safari Fire (Thursday, SBS 1 at 8pm) is the big generous world of spit roasting - Greek Easter lamb, Portuguese piri piri chicken, Argentinian a la cruz cooking and Sardinian suckling pig. Seriously inspires you to light a fire and have a party. Or to come on our Sardinian safari! We’ll be going again in June 2017. This year already full.

We are getting lots of great feedback on the Fire series from people who set their Thursday evening around our show. I’m also live tweeting as it goes to air so it you’re Twitter savvy you can chat with me #MaeveFoodSafari and while we’re talking social media, please follow me on Instagram - Maeve O’Meara. Or Facebook…same name.

This week SBS will launch a competition for viewers to win places on some of our safaris - which of course you are very welcome to participate in. Click on the following link to enter:
http://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2016/01/03/win-food-tour-maeve-omearas-gourmet-safaris

And here’s another great offer FROM Friday 12 February - if you pre-order the DVD of Food safari Fire using a special code, you will receive 25% off!  For orders over $40 – postage is free. Log on to: www.madman.com.au. Use the discount code ‘MAEVE’ at checkout. Offer valid until 29/02/2016 

Wine Selectors also have a promotion we should give you a heads up on - a discount on some of our upcoming safaris (though you need to be an existing member or customer - but hey, ordering wine isn’t the end of the world is it!) Click here to read more: https://www.wineselectors.com.au/selector-magazine/rewards/gourmet-safaris

Kangaroo Island - 21 - 26 November 2016

We’ve opened bookings for our beautiful week away on this quintessential Australian island off the coast of South Australia with its remarkable landscape, wildlife, artisan producers and inspiring food producers. Plus our own private chef Sue Pearson who creates magnificent feasts in some of the most picturesque parts of the island. We include a night in Adelaide, a dinner at one of the bets restaurants, lunch in McLaren Vale and special wine and olive oil tasting and many many money-can’t-buy moments.

Click here for sample itinerary.

I spent a happy hour today speaking with the legendary Margaret Throsby on ABC Classic FM on her special interview program which includes music. Thank god for our guide to the Greek world Liz Kaydos who steered me to a classic song that evokes Greece in all its glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68b7-sL62bs. Turn it up loud and think about joining us on our Greek Islands Safari this year - 6th to 18th September.

This year we will visit 4 islands - Evia, Limnos, Chios and Santorini. Click HERE for a sample itinerary.

Margaret Throsby interview

I rarely put things about me up in our newsletter but had such a lovely time talking with Margaret Throsby I thought I’d share the link for those of you interested. https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pe7Ldd5qVL?play=true

Our Gourmet Safari banquets got off to a great start last Sunday with chef Somer Sivrioglu sharing his tips on cooking over charcoal and kebab making as a fine art, plus some delicious salads and accompaniments, all served with Turkish wine. Magnificent and we are scheduling a seafood banquet at his new restaurant in September. 

There are places on the spectacular Greek Long Lunch at Alpha restaurant with Peter Conistis on Sunday 17^th April. Click here for more information.

If you’re in Melbourne this weekend join our exquisite French safari on Wheels on this Saturday 13 February, which features so many of the finest businesses including a jewel of a macaron shop. Click here for more information.

This weekend I’m attending a 2 day festival of Fire and cooking called Meatstock. (http://www.meatstock.com.au)

Its at Sydney Olympic Park...there will be many great tastes plus a barbecue competition and some great music. We have a stall there and Ill be signing books. It would be great to see you!

Here’s the link to come along: http://tickets.meatstock.com.au/?Event=56783

I want to share with you a lovely story in a publication called BeanScene. In getting the word out on Food Safari Fire, our clever publicist suggested chatting to a coffee publication. I realised I actually knew some skilled coffee people who happen to be part of our Gourmet Safaris family.  Aldo Cozzi at Di Lorenzo Coffee and Somer Sivrioglu who leads our Turkey Safari feature here. Click on the following link for the full article from BeanScene Magazine

https://www.beanscenemag.com.au/articles/view/maeve-turns-up-the-heat

I've joined my dear friend Guy Grossi, the talented Jane Kennedy and diversity champion Huss Mustafa, as Hero Ambassadors for the 2016 A Taste of Harmony campaign – a celebration of multiculturalism especially in the workplace. 

Now in its eighth year, A Taste of Harmony will run from 21 – 27 March. Workplaces across Australia will register to host lunches where everyone brings food from their different cultural backgrounds and shares their story. 

It's a cool idea - I've always thought that food brings people together and breaks down boundaries. Click here if you'd like to learn more.

We have places available on the following safaris in February and March.

Melbourne French - Saturday 13 February
Modern Turkish lunch at Pazar - Sunday 28 February
Melbourne Greek Walking safari - Saturday 20 February
Fairfield Walking Safari - Saturday 12 March
Greek Walking Safari - Saturday 12 March
Italian Walking Safari - Saturday 12 March
Spice Safari - Saturday 12 March
French on Wheels - Wednesday 16 March
Exotic Flavours of Lebanon - Saturday 19 March
Italian Classics - Saturday 19 March 

Hope you can join us.

All the best until next time,

Maeve and Suzy