Treat your taste buds at the Manly Food and Wine Festival

By Rod Bennett and Peter Bodkin

 with owner Ryan Austin

JAH Bar’s Ryan Austin was a little nervous in the lead-up to his Manly Food and Wine Festival debut tomorrow.

It’s the first year his restaurant has headed into the Manly CBD for the two-day festival which celebrates a beachside, gourmet lifestyle.

“I went to a meeting at Manly Council recently and people who have been involved with the festival for years said ‘you don’t know what’s coming - it’s big’,” he said.

Mr Austin said he had been reluctant to take part because of a lack of staff to run one of the demanding stalls.

“We prepare food fresh on the spot,” he said. “This year I think we are ready.”

Jah Bar, in Central Ave, puts an Aussie spin on Spanish tapas-style food. Mr Austin praised the festival’s concept for drawing more people to Manly.

“Everything is here,” he said.

“I think it highlights the fact you don’t need to go out of the area to discover great places. There are some really cool venues opening in Manly.”

Local restaurants will offer patrons food from around the world and 13 winemakers representing the state’s main wine-producing regions will offer their wares for tasting.

Several chefs from well-known local eateries such as China Beach and Manly Grill will provide free cooking demonstrations on a beachfront stage.

The festival attracts an estimated 30,000 patrons each year.

THE EVENT
*The 25th annual Manly Food, Wine and Sustainability Festival.
*Runs from 11.30am-5pm tomorrow and Sunday along The Corso, Sydney Rd and the Manly beachfront.
*Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of extra bike racks and cycle to the event or catch a bus, with extra STA services running to and from the festival.

WHAT TO DO
*Stalls from 13 NSW wineries, including De Bortoli, Lindeman’s and Rosemount Estate
*Nine beachfront and CBD stalls from local restaurants including Le Kiosk, China Beach and Ironbark
*A ``treat street’’ along Sydney Rd, with stalls from Sweet Sensations Patisserie, Infinity Sourdough Bakery and Organicus Kitchen & Pantry, among others
*Two stagesqlwith day-long entertainment from performers and local chefs providing demonstrations of cooking skills
*Teen pop sensation Jack Vidgen will be giving a special performance at 2.05pm today on the beachfront stage
*A sustainability hub with stalls from environmental organisations and green-friendly businesses