Fresh produce celebrated at Produce Dinner

Fresh produce - the heart of the Lockyer Valley, was showcased and celebrated at Saturday's Lockyer Valley Produce Dinner.

Held at Ocean View Estates Winery and Restaurant, the evening brought together some of the region's finest producers for an evening that was all about the food.

Council's Mayor Tanya Milligan said the producers on show included Bauer's Organic Farm, 9Dorf Farm, Emmo's Fine Food, Lerch's Farm, UB's Farm at Helidon and Schulte's Meat Tavern.

Everyone who attended the Lockyer Valley Produce Dinner shared in a passion and commitment for local produce.

Given the region has the seventh most fertile soil on earth, it was a fitting way to showcase produce that matched such an impressive title, Mayor Milligan said.

Ocean View's chef, Tony Tierney grew up in the Lockyer Valley and knows well just how impressive the region's produce is.

His menu included:

• UB's Heirloom tomato, Lerch's brassica, Emmo's goats curd, garlic oil, ruby cab vinegar and crispy beetroot
• 9Dorf Farm Murray Cod, Schulte's roasted bacon, Bauer's organic pumpkin and roasted chicken broth
• 9Dorf Farm pasture-raised chicken, Bauer's organic truffled Dutch cream potato, Lerch's deep fried broccoli, ruby cab jus and UB's candied eggplant
• Lerch's beetroot mille fuille, beetroot custard, beetroot raspberry sorbet, beetroot jelly and beetroot puree.

Bronwyn Neuendorf of 9Dorf Pty Ltd, who showcased their Murray Cod and pasture-raised chicken, said the Produce Dinner was the perfect opportunity to showcase their quality produce.

The Lockyer Valley has diversified from mainstream fruit and vegetables and we wanted to highlight that.

There is a big market for what we do, particularly the pastured chicken, but more so we are finding people want to know where their food is coming from.

Saturday's Produce Dinner was an opportunity for us to open the lines of communication, with both our customers and the wider public and show everyone what we're doing and how it has changed.

Tony Tierney is a wonderful and talented chef and to see him do great things with our produce was very rewarding, she said.

Around 110 guests attended, and enjoyed hearing from the producers during the course of the evening.

On behalf of Council, I would like to extend sincere thanks to the owners of Ocean View Estates, Kate and Thomas Honnef, for their hospitality, Mayor Milligan said.