Nigella Lawson returns for Margaret River Gourmet Escape
Food writer returns for Australia's culinary fest
English celebrity food writer and television personality Nigella Lawson is back for a second helping of Margaret River Gourmet Escape 2018, one of Australia's top culinary events.
The festival, to be held within the Margaret River region in Western Australia from Nov 16 to 18, returns for its seventh annual instalment of food and wine.
Lawson, who attended it in 2016, told The New Paper in an e-mail interview: "What makes Gourmet Escape particularly special is how laid-back it is. It has a beautiful beachy vibe which is relaxed, enthusiastic, unpretentious and just so gorgeously welcoming."
The 58-year-old added: "I love the crowd. It is like hanging out with warm, like-minded people who create such an upbeat and joyous atmosphere.
"And (speaking) of fresh experiences (that Gourmet Escape will provide), I would very much love, in the not too distant future, to go to Singapore to eat. Everything I have read about Singapore and its food culture tells me it truly is a place for me."
Lawson will take part in a series of events over the festival weekend, including the iconic Gourmet Beach BBQ, Supper with Nigella at Xanadu Wines, Nigella's Tea Party at Howard Park Winery , as well as appearances and a book signing at the Gourmet Village at Leeuwin Estate.
Tickets to the event are at $250 a person (includes a pre-signed copy of Lawson's cookbook At My Table) and can be purchased from www.gourmetescape.com.au.
From now to Sept 30, Singapore Airlines is offering return economy class fares to Perth from $540 around the Gourmet Escape weekend, exclusively for Gourmet Escape subscribers.
Lawson said it is "hard to resist" Gourmet Escape's "combination of outstanding natural beauty, wonderful food and produce and excellent wine".
What excites her most is the seafood, like the yabby, marron, crab and rock lobster.
She said: "I love how simply they are prepared, so the exquisite textures and tastes are celebrated and not masked.
"On my last visit, I discovered finger lime and I'll certainly be on the lookout for it again.
"I also ate the most wonderful lamb - I remember every exquisite mouthful. And the Margaret River wood-fired bread is food of the gods."
On her top wine recommendations, she said: "I'd happily travel the 9,000 miles from London for a glass of anything from Cullen Wines. I think (its senior winemaker and managing director) Vanya Cullen's approach to wine-making goes to the heart of what is special about both Margaret River and Gourmet Escape, though my particular favourite is the Cullen Amber."
Lawson has a strong association with the food and beverage scene Down Under.
She has appeared twice on reality TV cooking series MasterChef Australia as a guest judge - in 2016 and in this year's recently concluded 10th season, won by Singapore-born Sashi Cheliah.
She said: "I think it is a given that the calibre of cooking on MasterChef Australia is just a cut above anything else.
"I love it not just because I eat so well on it, and find the range and talent of the contestants so inspiring, but because I respect the ethos of the programme so much."
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