Hunter Gatherer Dinner Club
The Hunter Gatherer Dinner Club is an association of leading chefs, food lovers, raconteurs and naturalists dedicated to proving that modern, urbanized humans are still hunter gatherers at heart. As hunter gatherers we trod lightly over the face of the Earth and all food was precious, never wasted. Food came in many forms from both animals and plants and was eaten raw, cooked or preserved for later. A feast was a major social occasion with a range of meats, seafoods, fruits and vegetables on offer. As it was then so it is today for the offering of a diversity of foods hunted and gathered from the backyard, the paddock, the water or your local providore brings together good food, good company and good times.
event is...Lunch
on The Cooper
Supper
at Birdsville
Brunch
over Lake Eyre
July 3rd and 4th 2010
The Hunter Gatherer Dinner Club heads to the centre to see a desert in bloom; the Channel Country rivers & creeks with their waters heading to Lake Eyre; a semi-arid land lush with pastures and flowers; Cooper’s Creek, The Diamantina and Goyder Lagoon alive with birds that have flown over a thousand kilometres just to be there and that once-in-a-lifetime experience - Lake Eyre with water.
The HGDC luncheon will feature regional food from one of the largest naturally organic production areas in the world along with specialities from our guests chefs:
James Kidman ex of the famous Otto’s in Sydney now of Parliament House Canberra and the National Gallery of Australia Canberra, James was first inspired to be a chef by a meal served at Brisbane’s Dennison restaurant some 2 decades ago. James joined the HGDC at the wonderful Mulloon Creek Natural Farms event this year and is keen to experience Australia’s corner country as he is the great, great nephew of that famous ex-local Sir Sidney Kidman.
PJ McMillan now of Harvey’s, James Street, New Farm, celebrated for his ‘comeback’ dishes was head chef at Ecco 95-88 winning Australia’s Best Restaurant, then at Arc winning Queensland’s Best New Restaurant, 1998 and American Express Best Bistro 1999,2000, 2001. After a break PJ is back in his own restaurant Harvey’s where his cooking is described by “there is an utterly delicious quality about everything he puts on a plate”(Tony Harper).
David Pugh of Brisbane’s iconic fine dining experience, Restaurant Two (one of Australia’s top 50), and long-time promoter of all the best that Australia produces. Restaurant Two is a two star rated restaurant (Gourmet Traveller) and one of Australia’s top 50 A list restaurants (John Lethlean/Necia Wilden) with David voted Queensland’s Chef of the Year 2009-2010.
And mystery chef....
THE EXPERIENCE STARTS...
- From Brisbane July 3rd on Skytrans charter, 8.20am Saturday arriving Windorah approx. 11.15am/ or from Sydney on Airtex charter departing Sydney at approx. 7.00am arriving @ 11.15am Windorah/ or from Longreach on Air Central West departing approx. 10.30am arriving Windorah @11.30am (passengers to book flights Qantas/Longreach on Friday, 2nd July, returning with QF flight Longreach Brisbane 4.15pm, Sunday July 4th)
- THE HGDC Lunch @ 12midday, on the banks of The Cooper. The team of chefs will be sourcing local specialities -- Channel Country Beef, Yapunya honey, yabbies, Warrigal Greens and will each bring a speciality dish
- Your charter flight will then continue from Windorah to Birdsville at approx. 3.00pm for sunset sight-seeing of The Mitchell Grass Downs, the massive water system that is The Channel Country and the mighty Diamantina.
- Supper at Birdsville will feature Desert Food as homage to the early Afghan cameleers...and then, of course, there’s the famous Birdsville Pub to finish off the day.
- Sunday morning it is back on the charter planes to fly over The Goyder Lagoon and North Lake Eyre prior to the Airtex charter heading back to Sydney via Broken Hill and the Brisbane charters via Thargomindah. The Air Central West charters are available to stopover at Innamincka before returning to Longreach for the Qantas flight to Brisbane.
(For those who want to spend a little more time in this amazing country there is a Master Class with the HGDC chefs & golf on the Golf Course-cum-Race Track at Windorah, Friday July 2nd . Regular flight Brisbane to Windorah available through Skytrans on Thursday July1st . For more information contact Deb on 07 38466250)
Skytrans operate Dash 8 36 passenger turbo jets that are air-conditioned, pressurized and offer in-flight services
Airtex operate 18 seater Metro111 twin turboprop (strict luggage and weight allowances)
Air Central West have Beechcraft Baron (5 seater with strict luggage and weight allowances)
SEAIR charters are also available ex-Brisbane flying Cessna Caravan (12 seater) @ similar price.
Costs
For the air charters as detailed above plus lunch, supper* & accommodation $2,200/hd
* beverage inclusive for lunch but not supper
(For those wishing to drive, we will meet you for lunch at Windorah at 11.30am on Saturday, July 3rd. Local advice is that the trip from Windorah to Birdsville will take approx. 3 hours but please refer to recommendations from RACQ as this road has been underwater. Once at Birdsville air charters can be arranged through Air Central West. To centralize your enquiries please call Deb Newell on 07 38466250)
For Lunch, supper and accommodation only $ 385/hd
For local (and not so local) residents and property owners who wish to join us for the Hunter Gatherer Dinner Club Lunch
Lunch (incl. of beverage) $ 220/hd
N.B. As accommodation at Birdsville is limited it is available on a twin or triple share basis only
To be a part of this wonderful weekend adventure please return email:
debnewell@iprimus.com.au or info@thehuntergathererdinnerclub.com.au
- the name/s wishing to attend
- your preferred travel arrangements
- your accommodation share partner/s (for singles or 3 x couple groups there are 3 per room options)
A registration form will be forwarded. Allocation of tickets will be on a first-in/paid and previous supporter basis.