Over a summers weekend you can make your way down to Cygnet to enjoy some enthralling live music from local and international artists. Musicians bash out their talents throughout the township at various venues, including the local park, pubs and churches. Not only is music on offer to entice, but there is a range of Tasmanian produce, food and craft stalls. Also putting on a good spread are the local butcher, Lotus Eaters Cafe and Red Velvet Lounge. This festival attracts many travellers who are in the region WWOOFing and fruit-picking this time of year, so it is a good opportunity to go out and meet new people or enjoy old company.
http://www.cygnetfolkfestival.org/
Here are some of the tasty treats I tried:
Silver Hill Fisch
Sausages are always a safe bet, and here is something a bit different for those health conscious people out there. Criticised by some for being a waste of salmon, Silver Hill Fisch have actually come up with a clever way to utilise salmon and ocean-trout. The use of various spices and herbs have been used to create a modest range, which are preservative free, and wholesomely Tasmanian! I had the herb salmon sausage which was served on a pide with some lettuce and mayo, delicious! Sausages are available at most festivals around Tasmania, Melville St Market on Sundays, and various delicatessens and small retailers.
http://www.silverhillfisch.com.au/
Living History Museum Sausage Fund-raiser
An adult serving of sausage in bread with lettuce and help yourself tomato sauce was most satisfying. Using Cradoc Hill Sausages made from humanely slaughtered beef at the local abattoir I was delighted by the quality and taste of the sausage, not too fatty, or too dry. Cradoc Hill offer specialist cuts of meat and products from selected producers and will process private stock.
http://cradoc-hill.com.au/
Tempura Huon Valley Mushrooms
These guys have been around for a long time, popping up at various festivals including the Taste. They can be a bit hit and miss, with the batter turning out to be thick and greasy. However, I can't resist as these tempura mushrooms are a favourite of mine, as i'm sure they are with many other Tasmanians. The queues at the stall were extensive and relentless all day, highlighting the popularity of the stall as an established icon of Tasmanian festival food. I was lucky this time, ordering a platter to share with friends, which was full of juicy young mushrooms encased in a crisp batter. Although the batter was a little heavy, it wasn't soggy or under-cooked as it has been on occasion. There are different sauces to choose from, but I always go for the spicy plum sauce and a bit of worcestershire sauce, perfect in matching the earthy flavours of the mushrooms.
© Tasmaniasfeast 2013.
This is a non-alcoholic beer, and has worked out really well. The recipe is simple to follow with very little mess. The result is a warming, gingery drink, with a light bubble for a thirst quenching effect. I use 2ltr plastic bottles to guard against explosive consequences and grating the ginger works better than chopping it. Enjoy!
For those gardening egg lovers out there with slug problems, here's a good way to use up those egg shells. I'm sure many of you already know, but spare a few egg shells from your compost, crush them up into small pieces and sprinkle around your leafy greens. The annoying sharp pieces deter slugs as they try to make their way to your crops. Eggs shells break down relatively quickly so you will need to replace them regularly. It has seemed to work well for me, but other old tricks such as beer traps are also a good match. Try combining the two if your slug situation is frightening. 