FOODIES and lovers of local products from across the region and beyond descended upon Tamworth at the weekend for Taste in the Park.
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Bicentennial Park turned into a food-lovers paradise with producers from across Tamworth, the New England, North West, Hunter and Central West.
Event co-ordinators Michaela Stevens and Meredith Abrams said the event was a success, with more stallholders and strong crowd numbers all day.
“It was fabulous,” Mrs Stevens said.
“We’ve had 50 stalls this year and we normally had mid-40s, so it’s the most we’ve had in a while. People started streaming in before 10 and we had a good range of stalls.”
There were brewers, wineries, local restaurants and cooking demonstrations, as well as producers of local non-food products, including soap and candles.
Previous My Kitchen Rules winner Bree May also gave cooking demonstrations throughout the day.
Miss Abrams said she hoped people would look at local produce with a new appreciation.
“We want people to leave with an appreciation for the hard work, skill and uniqueness that goes into the products supplied by local producers and farmers throughout the region,” she said.
Stallholders travelled from as far as Warren, Muswellbrook and Scone.
Another former My Kitchen Rules contestant, Jason Chesworth from Hunterbelle, said he was doing a roaring business.
“We have got a really good, loyal support from customers up here,” he said.
“The North West is very supportive of local business and handcrafted goods. We really enjoy coming up this way.”
The cheesemaker said it was all about making the best cheese they could from local milk.
Quambone’s Rosie Campbell of Rosie’s Honey Mustard Dressings was on her first visit to Taste.
“We are getting all new customers,” she said. “We get to promote the dressings and get it going in the New England area.”
Two businesses in Tamworth sell Mrs Campbell’s products, but she said she was always looking to find more stockists.
“We source our honey locally and try to use all local ingredients,” she said.
“It’s about supporting your region with high quality produce and putting money back into the community because we’re farmers ourselves.”
For the younger community members, Tamworth Organic Community Gardeners had a Good Bug, Bad Bug educational activity and Tamworth Oxley Scouts had a colouring competition and sold plenty of sausages.
The Taste Festival also saw two pop-up warehouse bars operating on Friday and Saturday nights, with record crowds.
