One of Daylesford’s most celebrated chefs, Alla Wolf-Tasker, has predicted the popular township has only seen “the tip of the iceberg” in terms of its positioning as a food destination.
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Ms Wolf-Tasker is the executive chef and co-owner of Daylesford’s iconic Lake House restaurant, and is also founding chair of Daylesford Macedon Produce, which links farmers, chefs and retailers across the region.
She will this month feature on a high-profile panel of food industry influencers at the Fine Food Australia convention in Melbourne.
Ms Wolf-Tasker said since she moved to Daylesford more than three decades ago, the food world had changed dramatically.
“When we bought the land that Lake House stands on, Daylesford was a very down-at-heel struggling village. Like many rural areas, most of the traditional industries were in decline or failing,” Ms Wolf-Tasker said.
“There wasn’t a coffee machine in town.
“The town was surrounded pretty much by ‘big ag’ concerns where, with only a couple of exceptions, what was produced or grown was destined to be transported out of town.
“What a change to what we have now.”
She said when she and a small group of other foodies began Daylesford Macedon Produce 16 years ago, they could never have predicted “the kind of dynamic we were unleashing” by connecting chefs, growers and venues.
“There is rarely a local venue nowadays that doesn’t proudly trumpet the use of locally-grown and produced food on their menus,” Ms Wolf-Tasker said.
She now believes there are even bigger and better things to come for the Daylesford township.
“I believe we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of (Daylesford’s) propensity and suitability for not only food production but also for education around the subject,” she said.
“With the increasing interest in the provenance of food and good eating, the time is absolutely ripe.”
The Fine Food Convention will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 12 to 15.