Cry the BelovedRiver: A loaf of bread, a glass of wine, a piece of coal. Living well and in a sustainable manner in the 21st Century.
The 16th Symposium of Australian Gastronomy will convene in the HunterValley, NSW, from Sunday 26th October until Wednesday 29thOctober May 2008.
The Symposium will draw attention to the Hunter as a river valley and examine its past, present and future with reference to sometimes incongruous industries. In the beginning the river provided sustenance to the indigenous population, then with European settlement it became a transport system for the logging industry leading to the development of river ports. In the 20th Century industrial emphasis shifted to mining, agriculture, market gardening, viticulture and now in the 21st Century, tourism and regional specialty foods. All these activities have had their impact on the River and provide a fertile ground for points of discussion regarding our ability to live well and sustainably. The ongoing problem of avoiding elitism whilst expounding the desirability of fresh and flavoursome food for all will also be a topic for discussion.
The 16th Symposium of Australian Gastronomy will be thought provoking, informative, entertaining and downright good fun - with a dash of in-depth academia thrown in for good measure. The programme runs over two full days, beginning at a small producer’s fair and including the presentation of academic and general papers, a bus trip to lunch and a dinner in what is arguably a very unusual venue!
If you are interested in food, history, sociology and futurism, this symposium is a must for you to attend. Come and join us for the camaraderie, the discussions and the culinary delights of the Hunter Valley.
