Knysna to Host Major Spring Food Event

The town of Knysna in the Southern Cape will host a major food event in September to highlight its fast-growing reputation as one of the country's major culinary centres. Called Gastronomica, the festival, planned as an annual event, is scheduled for the school holidays from 23 September to 1 October.

Plans for the event were announced by Pat Mulder, chairperson of the organising committee, at a launch function in Knysna on Friday (3 June).

"The purpose of the event is to showcase Knysna and the Garden Route from a different perspective as a major tourist destination for both South Africans and overseas visitors,"Mulder said."Over the last few years a quiet revolution has taken place in the town on a culinary front, backed by an increasingly varied agricultural output ranging from organic produce, exotic fruits and nuts to home-grown meat, wine and cheese making.

"Although everything is built around food, Gastronomica is much more than just eating and tasting. Fashion, music, the visual and performing arts, all form part of the festival, but every offering will be food-related. As an example, there will be a cinema event during which famous movies with a food theme will be screened."

Features of the event include a chocolate patisserie -making competition, with the winners being flown to Switzerland on holiday and the opportunity to work for a week with a world-famous chocolatier. Other major events will be cooking demonstrations by international and local chefs such as Jody Adams of the famous Rialto Restaurant in Boston and Reuben Riffel of the award-winning Franschhoek restaurant that bears his name; a restaurant route that snakes through the town; and Femme Fatale, a gala dinner celebrating the role of women in gastronomy.

These and other events will be backed up by farmers' markets, wine tastings, exhibitions of the latest in culinary equipment, as well as master classes for culinary professionals, presented by Jody Adams.

Although events are being scheduled at venues across Knysna, the main activities will be centred in Thesen Harbour Town, the vibey commercial hub of the new Thesen Islands development in the Knysna lagoon. Ample parking will be available.

Mulder said Knysna was very well equipped to host such a festival."We are used to catering for large numbers of visitors. There are a growing number of quality restaurants in the town, while excellent accommodation is offered across the spectrum.

"The town's environs also offer the visitor much to do and see - boat trips on the lagoon, safe beaches, invigorating forest walks, visits to cheese-makers in the area, etc. We are also organising a trip on the Garden Route's train trolleys for visitors to go on guided wild mushroom hunts in neighbouring pine plantations."

Mulder said Gastronomica also had an important community development function."We are involving as many members of the community as possible in all aspects of the event. Tourism is a major source of income for the town, but training facilities do not exist locally for people who need an opportunity to participate in a meaningful way. By instituting extensive mentoring programmes as part of the event, we hope to be able to equip them for a career in the tourism industry,"Mulder said.